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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Ford brake controller
Post Info TOPIC: Ford brake controller
bacardiron


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Ford brake controller
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We have a 2008 Mobile suites 32tk3 and pull it with a 2008 Ford F450. We purhased both used about 6 months ago and have only had the chance to pull it twice for abot 100 miles aty a time. The unit drives and pulls nicely but the trucks computer keeps saying trailer disconnected and the gain control flashes. As soon as I apply the brakes it re-connects again. I have heard that the ford controller of that year is not compatable with hydrollic over electric brakes which the mobile suites has on it. Does anyone know if this is true and is there a fix? My dealer does not know.



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Bought our dream truck and 5er

32TK3 mobile Suites and 2008 Ford F450
Bill and Linda


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The factory brake controllers on Ford’s or Chevy’s, etc. will not work with the electric over hydraulic systems. There is no "fix" for the truck. This is a known condition and simply due to design choices by Ford, etc..  They were only designed to work with the electric only brakes.  “Depending” on the hydraulic system in the MS (they are usually Carlisle in the MS) there is an adapter that can be installed in the trailer to work with the factory units.  (There are some know issues with this adapter.  Perhaps they have been addressed by now. "I" wouldn't use one myself due to these know conditions.But that is my opinion.)

From experience I would recommend putting an aftermarket controller in your truck.  The Tekonsha P2 is an excellent choice for price vs. performance.  This aftermarket controller is superior, IMO, to all factory units as it is much more proportion than the linear factory units.

Bill



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Bill & Linda
Terry and Jo


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The Carlisle item that Bill is referring to is a HBA-CAM (I think I've got the right letters on the front end) and it definitely works with the electric over hydraulic.  At least it does on our 2010 model Mobile Suites.  When we first got our trailer, our truck's computer did as you described.  Then, once we had the HBA-CAM installed, the issue went away.

I don't know what "issues" there are with them, as Bill referred to, but we also haven't towed our coach all that much.  We are still "static" full-timers with only a few "excursions" under our belts.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug
Bill and Linda


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Terry and Jo wrote:

I don't know what "issues" there are with them, as Bill referred to, but we also haven't towed our coach all that much.  We are still "static" full-timers with only a few "excursions" under our belts.

Terry

Now that the “issue” question, indirectly, has been raised:

The “issues” concern the “adapters” burning up.  They have been known to lockup the trailer brakes.  This issue may or may not have been corrected with the adapters.  There was a non-published, as I was informed, recall.  That’s just one of the reasons I would opt for the aftermarket controller in the truck as I did with mine.  YMMV

Bill



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Bill & Linda
igotjam


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As the previous owner of an 08 F-450 and an 07 Suite who tried the HBA-Cam (which didn't work in my particular case) save yourself some trouble and instal an aftermarket brake controller. After a lot of trial and error, its the only thing that worked for me. JUst a hint....do not unplug the Ford system, just cut into the wires with your aftermarket controller. If you unplug the Ford brake controller the truck computer will sense it and show a problem message on the instrument cluster.

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TheHarveys


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I have a 2008 F450 and pull a 2010 Carriage Carri-Lite that has electric over hydraulic disc brakes. After reading up on the issues, I did not even tyr to use the factory brake controller. I had a Tekonsha P3 installed in the truck. It works very well.

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Cindy and Jeff Harvey
2007 International 4400 Hauler (The Big Boss)
2010 Carriage Carri-Lite MAX1

"There are seven days in the week...and none of them are called someday".
NWescapee


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Does anyone know if this is still an issue with the newer Ford F450's? Ours is a 2012, Dale is towing the trailer home now and we weren't aware that this might be an issue.

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FT - July 2013

 

2010 38TKSB3 DRV Mobile Suites

2012 Ford F450

 

Dale and Ruth Travelling with Tazzy Kat!

 

IMAG0142_zps070d30d8.jpg

 

 

 

 
Bill and Linda


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My source of info was wrong, so I removed the post.  There’s enough incomplete info on the internet as it is.  {Grin}  Bill

 



-- Edited by Bill and Linda on Friday 26th of April 2013 06:58:28 AM

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Bill & Linda
Terry and Jo


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Ruth,

Read the manual.  I'm not trying to be "snarky" here, but I mention that because I "heard" that the newer trucks may have some kind of "menu" into which one can go and select a particular setting to work with the electric over hydraulic brakes.  Sadly, I don't remember whether that applied to all of the brands, so that is my reason for mentioning the manual.  Having a 2008 model, ours doesn't have any such option of selecting a certain configuration.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug
NWescapee


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Terry - I couldn't look at the manual - Dale has the manual since he has the truck and is enroute. I sent him a link to this discussion and he looked through the manual and found that the 2012 F450 does have a setting for EOH so he made the change.

Just thought I'd update everyone on the 2012 edition of the F450.


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FT - July 2013

 

2010 38TKSB3 DRV Mobile Suites

2012 Ford F450

 

Dale and Ruth Travelling with Tazzy Kat!

 

IMAG0142_zps070d30d8.jpg

 

 

 

 
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