Urgent recs for brake cont and wdh. I know nothing 🤣

[oldwave]

Matt -

Referring to this article, and as mentioned by Lyle in the previous post, given that you have a 7-pin connector, it seems likely your 2014 Flex may be pre-wired with an OE connector under/behind the dashboard for addition of a 'plug-and-play' aftermarket brake controller (e.g. the popular Tekonsha Prodigy or similar) with a simple adaptor pigtail. That 'adaptor pigtail' would connect to the controller and then plug-in to the connector already existing under/behind your dash.

If that's the case then adding that sort of controller would be very easy, not requiring any additional wiring in your vehicle. You might check with your Ford dealer or a competent hitch installation shop to see if that's the case.

Good Luck!

That was the case in my 2004 f150 when I bought it the wiring and relay were unopened in the glove box, the relay was installed and the tekonsha plugged right in and worked. Took an hour. Check that the f150 your borrowing has the built in brake controller on the dash, most new ones do.

 

[Ron in BC]

F150 or not, IMO you still need a brake controller.

I have never owned a Ford so take this with a grain of salt:

Yup, big grain of salt.

My F150 with the trailer package came with a built-in controller. Didn't need to install the one that I pulled from my Ranger.

Ron

 

[CharlesinGA]

Tekonsha has custom harnesses for many cars including the Flex with trailer package.

https://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-3036-P-Control-Wiring-Adapter/dp/B007HGK7SU

The discussion in the Flex forum will help you locate the connector under the steering column that the harness plugs into.

https://www.fordflex.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14501#google_vignette

Then all you need is a controller. I have the Teknosha P3 and it works well. If you chose another brand, you can use the Custom harness and cut the controller end off and splice on the end provided with the other brand controller.

https://www.amazon.com/Kessocco-Prodigy-Controller-Electronic-Electric/dp/B0CP5PXNV6

Charles

 

[MarkinVan]

Agree on the Tekonsha P3.
Our tow package included a connector under dash the P3 plugged into.
Works well.

 

[Mike G]

I like my Prodigy P3. Plug and play on my '08 Lexus GX470 (except for attaching a ground wire with a screw, IIRC, but it's been 9 years). I don't use an anti-sway device, but if I were getting one I would strongly consider buying another Andersen No-Sway. They are so easy to stow away when not in use and they weigh much less than almost all the other WD hitches with built-in sway control. I had one with a previous trailer, and when I sold the trailer the buyer insisted that I include it. They do take a lot of the jiggling out of the ride, too, btw.

 

[BigPapa]

The P3 adapter FIT the Flex!

Thanks everyone for the help! Thanks to you all and another forum i was able to identify the wires under the steering wheel and plug that bad boy in! The actual P3 doesnt come till friday or saturday so have to wait to see if it works.

Thanks for being awesome!
Matt

 

[RSB]

I've used the Curt Echo USB wireless break controller for a couple of years now and it works very well, requiring no under dash box only your cell phone for set up and control. I originally purchased it while towing a midsized pop-up with breaks and have recently begun using it to control the breaks on an Escape 17A. It works quite well on that installation too. You simply plug it into your 7 pin plug then the trailer pig tail directly into the controller. There is a simple to follow app you download into your phone then follow the instructions. Once it's set up, it will automatically recognize your trailer each time you connect it and resumes the same settings as before.

 

[NCBill-ESC]

FWIW, my F150 came with a factory tow package 4 and 7 pin connectors and NO brake controller.i bought a Ford factory controller, was made to fit in the dash. One issue is the F150 does not recognize the controller unless you hook up the truck to the dealers computer to tell it you have the controller.

In my case, even though that is a five minute job the st(d)ealer charges one hour labor minimum, so I had them install the controller too.

If you need to stop in an emergency, the lack of trailer brakes puts you and everyone else at risk. All it takes is for a car to pull out in front of you.

I’d never tow my E19 without a functional brake controller. Have the seller deliver it to you or to the shop of your choice.

 

[brroberts]

I've used the Curt Echo USB wireless break controller for a couple of years now and it works very well, requiring no under dash box only your cell phone for set up and control. I originally purchased it while towing a midsized pop-up with breaks and have recently begun using it to control the breaks on an Escape 17A. It works quite well on that installation too. You simply plug it into your 7 pin plug then the trailer pig tail directly into the controller. There is a simple to follow app you download into your phone then follow the instructions. Once it's set up, it will automatically recognize your trailer each time you connect it and resumes the same settings as before.

If I needed those trailer brakes in a hurry, I wouldn’t want to be tying to open an app on my phone. I want immediate physical control.

 

[oldwave]

Thanks everyone for the help! Thanks to you all and another forum i was able to identify the wires under the steering wheel and plug that bad boy in! The actual P3 doesnt come till friday or saturday so have to wait to see if it works.

Thanks for being awesome!
Matt

Make sure the relay is also in place. I had to install it on my 2004 f150, though it came with the wire kit factory supplied.

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

FYI, on a Ford, this is what the integral trailer brake controller manual override control looks like on a 2019 Ford F150 & Expedition...

the knob on top of my pic is very optional, thats a 'trailer backup option' which I've never successfully used, I just back up my trailer the old fashion way, often involving a lot of muttered bad language its the paddles on the bottom with the + and - buttons... squeeze the paddles together to manually engage the trailer brakes (for example, to control sway), and use the + and - buttons to set the trailer brake gain (if you are on a dirt road where you might have to brake on a sharp turn its a VERY good idea to reduce the gain so the trailer tires don't slide). All of this is on the lower part of the dashboard, between the steering wheel and center console, like right above my right knee.

 

[CharlesinGA]

An alternate suggestion for a controller is the Redarc unit. Most of the unit mounts under the dash (but must be solidly mounted) and only a knob is mounted in the dash. They don't have custom harnesses so you take the stub harness they give you that plugs to the controller and a Tekonsha harness for your car, and make one by cutting off the black end of the one shown above and using inline splices you connect the four wires of the stub harness to the four where you cut off the Teknosha plug, you just have to splice them in the correct order.

https://www.redarcelectronics.com/us/tow-pro-liberty-electric-brake-controller

Charles

 

[Rossue]

If I needed those trailer brakes in a hurry, I wouldn’t want to be tying to open an app on my phone. I want immediate physical control.

I use the Curt Echo withe the Transit van and use a spare cellphone mounted in a ohone holder withe app open. It has a large orange circle one would push to activate.

Ford got weird with their OEM controllers around 2020 and makes it virtually impossible to install afterwards. The 2021 van has HD Tow, yet a brake controller is a separate option. My 2019 Expedition has HD Tow and came with the factory controller, however that package was about $1,500 vs. around $500 for the van. Had the Expedition not had one I could have installed the factory xontroller.

 

[Rossue]

If I needed those trailer brakes in a hurry, I wouldn’t want to be tying to open an app on my phone. I want immediate physical control.

I use the Curt Echo with the Transit van and use a spare cellphone mounted in a phone holder withe app open. It has a large orange circle one would push to activate.

Ford got weird with their OEM controllers around 2020 and makes it virtually impossible to install afterwards. The 2021 van has HD Tow, yet a brake controller is a separate option. My 2019 Expedition has HD Tow and came with the factory controller, however that package was about $1,500 vs. around $500 for the van. Had the Expedition not had one I could have installed the factory xontroller.

 

[Rossue]

If I needed those trailer brakes in a hurry, I wouldn’t want to be tying to open an app on my phone. I want immediate physical control.

I use the Curt Echo with the Transit van and use a spare cellphone mounted in a phone holder withe app open. It has a large orange circle one would push to activate.

When I first started towing a 17B in 2013 I bought a Tekonsha RF Prodigy and it worked well, however for the
Transit a hitch shop explained why the Curt Echo was better- and even if your cellphone controller isn't on it remembers what the most recent settings are.

Ford got weird with their OEM controllers around 2020 and makes it virtually impossible to install afterwards. The 2021 van has HD Tow, yet a brake controller is a separate option. My 2019 Expedition has HD Tow and came with the factory controller, however that package was about $1,500 vs. around $500 for the van. Had the Expedition not had one I could have installed the factory xontroller.

 

[cityofdestiny]

We had problems with the Tekonsha RF. It didn't behave well with our solar equipped 21. Then there's the issue of it pulsing the brakes when we put the hazard lights on because the tow vehicle went into limp mode on a hill. Installation was pretty straightforward at least. I dropped the prodigy RF in favor of a Tekonsha P3 and an much happier.

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

Ford got weird with their OEM controllers around 2020 and makes it virtually impossible to install afterwards. The 2021 van has HD Tow, yet a brake controller is a separate option. My 2019 Expedition has HD Tow and came with the factory controller, however that package was about $1,500 vs. around $500 for the van. Had the Expedition not had one I could have installed the factory xontroller.

I'm glad my 2019 Expy came with it, thats for sure. But it too has the HD tow option, I don't know whether that included the brake controller or what. Mine has the Limited Stealth package, which means its pretty much loaded.

All my previous tugs had various Tekonsha brake controllers I or a previous owner installed, using the Tekonsha harness for whatever vehicle.

 

[JeffinBC]

OP...what did you end up doing? Sounds like a brake controller would be an easy install for you but if urgent, I agree that renting a decent pickup (3/4 ton would be what I'd do with no trailer brakes) or getting a tow truck with flat deck to deliver it.