Potential Brake controller issue
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Fort St John, BC
Potential Brake controller issue
Hey everyone. I have a new 2018 F150 XLT. It has a factory brake controller installed. My question is; on my 2010 f150 I had an after market one installed and when I had the gain set at 4.5 on my holiday trailer I could lock up the brakes manually when doing a tug test. I have tried every gain setting on the new one and can not lock up the tires on the trailer. I have it maxed out and I don’t notice much help from it when breaking while on the highway etc. The display bar while hitting the brakes only shows 1-3 increments of braking power to the trailer. Is is now speed dependant with breaking force on the new f150? Is this normal on the new f150 or do I have an issue?
Thanks In advance
Last edited by Kram27; Aug 6, 2018 at 07:16 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 600
Likes: 98
From: Port Huron, Michigan
You have any RV dealers or shops around? They will likely have a tester that will tell you voltage and current output on the 7 pin connector then you max it out. Might cost you a few bucks but it will let you know if its a controller issue or something else, i had to do it to prove to the rv dealer that my controler was fine and the brakes on my new camper were just crap. Other option is to take the truck and trailer to the ford dealer and let them figure it out but good luck with that LOL.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Fort St John, BC
Mine does the same. Did it lock up the trailer brakes? My old f-150 used to lock up the braces at a gain setting of 4.5 when I’d engage the brakes on the controller this one won’t. My main concern is there isn’t enough power going to the trailer brakes.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 600
Likes: 98
From: Port Huron, Michigan
no, mine will not come close to locking up, but thats because of the crap undersized axles/brakes heartland used on my camper. i had my controller checked and it put out over 12v and about 14 amps set at 10 and the manual emergency lever max which is more than magnets need.
Do yours work at all? Do you hear the magnets click when someone hits the brakes? I would check the output voltage at the plug and make sure that you get around 12v with everything maxed. I would also try with another truck just to be sure, maybe something happened on the camper end since you last pulled it? If your not getting the correct voltage drag the camper to the dealer and try it on another f150.
The way it works does feel different than most aftermarket controllers. i have a prodigy p3 in my jeep for when i was pulling my old camper and it is a very nice, proportional unit but the way it applied the brakes was more abrupt than the controller in my f150.
Do yours work at all? Do you hear the magnets click when someone hits the brakes? I would check the output voltage at the plug and make sure that you get around 12v with everything maxed. I would also try with another truck just to be sure, maybe something happened on the camper end since you last pulled it? If your not getting the correct voltage drag the camper to the dealer and try it on another f150.
The way it works does feel different than most aftermarket controllers. i have a prodigy p3 in my jeep for when i was pulling my old camper and it is a very nice, proportional unit but the way it applied the brakes was more abrupt than the controller in my f150.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Fort St John, BC
They do work. Using the levers for testing it will slow everything down, I guess I’m just used to the abrupt stopping from my old truck and controller. I really appreciate the help. What’s the easiest way to test the voltage just to be safe.