So I towed for the first time this weekend and had 2 issues. The first one I ran into to is that when I went to change the gain on the brake controller it said no trailer, but it was being shown on the trailer info. Any ideas?

​​​​​​The other issue I ran into is that with the passenger mirror being convex, you can't see very well to back up accurately. I have to fit through a doorway and it's very hard to judge the distance. I only have a few inches on either side and the mirror makes it almost impossible. Any solutions other than spending $1500 for tow mirrors?

 

Check the 7-pin cable/socket connection -- it's not as positive an insertion as my previous setups so there is a bit of play. I've noticed that my 2016's is working its way loose while towing on rough roads. The truck starts complaining about the lights, brakes, or no trailer. It can fix itself (its intermittent) but I've had to hop out and jiggle it back into place.

 

If your trailer is taller and wider than your tailgate, then you need the Ford OEM tow mirrors. If you didn't order them as optional equipment on your new F-150, then shame on you. However, you can replace your itty bitty rearview mirrors with Ford OEM tow mirrors for a lot less than $1,500. You could do what I did - replace the fancy small OEM Lariat mirrors with the not-so-fancy XL or XLT tow mirrors.


The key to a good price is to find them in the Ford F-150 accessories catalog - not the over-the-counter parts catalog. Way back when I ordered tow mirrors for my 2012 F-150, the XLT tow mirrors were in the accessories catalog. But right now I don't see them for a 2015-up yet. So the XL manual tow mirrors are available for around $270 for the pair, but not the XLT power tow mirrors for about $400 I paid.
https://parts.autonationfordwhitebea...bC12Ni1nYXM%3D


It requires about 15 minutes per side to R&R the mirrors, or about a half-hour to swap both fancy but small stock mirrors for the plain tow mirrors. Since my tow mirrors have power glass, I have left then installed all the time for the last 5 years. I intended to R&R the mirrors between towing trips, but just haven't found a round toit.



Of course, if you want to spend the big bucks to get the tow mirrors to math the factory trim, you can get them from the parts catalog. Here's the tow mirrors for a 2016 F-150. Note those prices are for each side, so somewhere between $1,000 and $1,450 for the pair from this discount Ford dealer, depending on features such as cameras.
https://parts.autonationfordwhitebea...e-mirrors-scat

 

I noticed this weekend that if I don't get the 7 pin in firmly, the trailer doesn't connect. Also, you can add either **** or K-Source mirrors for under $50.

 

I didn't order them with my truck mostly because I didn't order my truck. I purchased it off of the dealership lot. I still can't figure out why they don't come with the max tow package.

 

These work just fine. K Source. $43 plus shipping.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ksc-81810/overview/

 

The 2016 ones have a bit more mirror to them, the match the OEM height. I have both brands, and prefer the **** since they don't shake like the K-source ones.

I also found out they dont touch the housing when installed, there is a slight gap inside, the only thing actually touching the shell is the clamp which has rubber padding. The K-Source have a rubber strip inside to make a gap between it and the mirror housing. Either one of them is safe to use without scratching the housing.

 

I think because a lot of people didnt like them on the previous generation of trucks. I am not sure why, I love them with or without a trailer attached.