Trailer Brake Controller
 

Hello everyone. I have a 2015 F150 Super Crew XLT with tow package, 3.55 gears on the rear-end and transmission cooler. 3 questions:


1. Is the Integrated Brake Controller required, or just something nice to have?
2. Should I use something like a Bully Dog monitor to monitor exhaust gas temp along with other critical engine functions while towing?
3. Should I have an engine oil cooler installed?


Thanks and hope you all are loving your F150's as much as I am!


BZ :D

I'll answer #1. It is required if you have a travel trailer with brakes. You can buy the OEM trailer brake controller, it is plug and play. The wire harness is already under your dash. Then you just have to turn on the controller using something like FORscan, or take it to the dealer and have them turn it on.

1. The integrated brake controller is not required if you have a trailer with electric brakes, a brake controller is required. Ford's is considered superior by most, but you aren't required to use theirs.

2. I suggest you read your manual. Specific functions ARE monitored by the truck including transmission temp, don't know why you would need anything else.

3. Truck is designed to tow, so no.

I'd strongly suggest you read threads on this section of the forum and make sure you understand your PAYLOAD and what that restricts you to as far as how heavy a trailer you can tow.

As Ricktwuhk noted, you must have a trailer brake controller, but not necessarily the Ford factory ITBC. However, the ITBC is an excellent controller, You won't find anaftermarket controller that functions better than the ITBC. So if you don't already have a less-capable controller, then you should spend a bit extra and install the Ford ITBC.


No. EGT is important on a diesel, but not on a gas engine.

The only critical temp you should worry about is tranny temp. You have a tranny temp gauge on the dash. It's accurate, but it's an "idiot gauge", so you have to watch it like a hawk when stressing the drivetrain, such as climbing a mountain pass in hot weather. Ford uses weird logic for their tranny temp gauge. White zone means go, but yellow zone means stop and cool off with elevated RPM. Red zone means your tranny is probably toast. The yellow zone is small, so you have to watch closely and the instant the gauge jumps from white to yellow you must stop and cool off.


If your XLT has the gauges display in the display screen on the dash, then that contains a digital tranny temp gauge that is accurate and useable. 225° is the red line, so if the gauge gets up over 220°, then watch it very closely and don't allow more than 225°.

If you don't have a digital gauge for tranny temp, then watch your idiot gauge very closely when stressing the drivetrain. Or maybe invest in something like a Bully Dog that plugs into the OBD-II port under the dash and will give you digital tranny temp.

Not needed. If you don't overheat the tranny, then you won't overhead the engine. So worry about tranny temp.

But it won't hurt anything. If you're a belt and suspenders man, they make a "sandwich" adapter that goes between the block and the oil filter, with outlet for a remote oil cooler.
Example: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hda-205/overview/


Fairly easy DIY project to install it. Don't forget to top off the crankcase because the remote oil cooler requires another quart or so of motor oil. The above link does not include the remote cooler (heat exchanger), but you can order one from the same source as the sandwich adapter.