Pre-Purchase Guidance and Thinking Points

[97WhiteCobra]

You can also buy the ford controller (and module) and add it if you want the fully integrated factory system. About $250 iirc and then it integrates with the center screen and you trailer settings.

IMO anything above a few thousand pounds should be using a brake controller. A quick google says anything over 3000lbs requires it.

I still don't understand why Ford cannot put the brake controller on Max Tow, OR tow tech, OR as a stand alone package. Previously if you got a truck with max tow but not tow tech you didn't get a controller, which is just insane IMO. This makes more sense but its still silly that its only on one package.

Thanks for the option. That makes a lot of sense and a great Plan B if I can’t find a truck with the package. I agree the way they’ve got a package does not make sense at all.

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[Jonny Lightning]

You can also buy the ford controller (and module) and add it if you want the fully integrated factory system. About $250 iirc and then it integrates with the center screen and you trailer settings.

IMO anything above a few thousand pounds should be using a brake controller. A quick google says anything over 3000lbs requires it.

I still don't understand why Ford cannot put the brake controller on Max Tow, OR tow tech, OR as a stand alone package. Previously if you got a truck with max tow but not tow tech you didn't get a controller, which is just insane IMO. This makes more sense but its still silly that its only on one package.

My 2025 Lariat ER has been at the dealership 3 times now due to them trying to get a brake controller to work. Ford says it won’t work but the dealer assured me they could do it. First trip they said they must have got a bad module from Ford (I don’t believe it) and the second time they “got a good module but the dash slider for the gain wasn’t good”. Now it’s back in for the third time and they still can’t make it work. I told them to forget it and put it back to factory settings and I’ll just get a Curt Bluetooth controller. Now they are having to work with Ford to get my computer back to factory settings. It has been an absolute nightmare.

I really want the OEM controller to be integrated into the truck but from all that I have read it just can’t be done without the Max Tow package…which is STUPID! Ford really started dropping the ball on needed features in 2024.

 

[Jonny Lightning]

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...r-to-24-flash-for-cheaper-than-the-kit.25518/

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...rd-in-dash-brake-controller.13908/post-368931

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/dealer-issue-installing-brake-controller.27566/

May have to dig into it yourself

My thing is how can some random dude on the internet with FORSCAN make it work but an actual FORD dealer can’t? It’s just frustrating because I’m not going to go into the computer and poke around and potentially void my warranty. It’s just mind boggling.

 

[97WhiteCobra]

My 2025 Lariat ER has been at the dealership 3 times now due to them trying to get a brake controller to work. Ford says it won’t work but the dealer assured me they could do it. First trip they said they must have got a bad module from Ford (I don’t believe it) and the second time they “got a good module but the dash slider for the gain wasn’t good”. Now it’s back in for the third time and they still can’t make it work. I told them to forget it and put it back to factory settings and I’ll just get a Curt Bluetooth controller. Now they are having to work with Ford to get my computer back to factory settings. It has been an absolute nightmare.

I really want the OEM controller to be integrated into the truck but from all that I have read it just can’t be done without the Max Tow package…which is STUPID! Ford really started dropping the ball on needed features in 2024.

Thanks for the heads up. I’ll hold out for the package. Sorry it’s not worked out for you too.

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