Recommendation and Installation of Brake Controller on 2008 Ford F-150 With Tow Package  

Question:

Expert Reply:

If your 2008 Ford F-150 has a factory 7-Way or 4-Flat connector it will have a factory brake controller port located under the dash, near the center console. I am including a link to a video of a brake controller and wiring adapter being installed on a 2004 Ford F-150. It will show where the factory brake controller port is normally located.

I would recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller, part # 90885 for your vehicle. This is our most popular brake controller. It is a proportional controller which means it will apply power to the trailers brakes in proportion to the braking in your tow vehicle. I am including a link to the instructions on the Prodigy P2 brake controller.

You will also need the Tekonsha Plug-In Wiring Adapter, part # 3035-P. This adapter will plug into the rear of the brake controller and the plug on the other end of the adapter will plug into the factory brake controller port under your dash.

The only other item you will need is if your Ford F-150 has the 4-Flat connector you will need to install the Hopkins Adapter 4 Flat to 7 Way and 4 Flat, part # 37185, to get a 7-Way on your vehicle. This adapter will plug into the 4-Flat on your vehicle and give you a 7-Way and 4-Flat connector at the rear of your vehicle. After plugging in your 4-Flat to the back of the # 37185 adapter there will be four extra wires that will need to be hardwired to your vehicle.

The white wire will attach to the truck frame, the purple wire will attach to the reverse light circuit behind one of the tail lights. If reverse lights are not needed on the trailer, this wire can be tapped up and stowed out of the way.

For the blue and black wires, you might be able to follow the wires from the back of the 4-Flat connector along the drivers side frame rail and find a blue and black wire in the wiring harness to tap into.

If not you will need about 25 feet of wire # 10-2-1 to run the blue and black wires up to the front of the vehicle. Attach the black wire from the adapter to the black wire in the harness. Attach the blue wire on the adapter to the white wire in the harness. Route the wire under the truck, avoiding areas that may pinch or burn the wire, to the engine compartment.

Under the hood, separate the 2 wires and route the white wire through the firewall into the cab of the truck and near where the brake controller plugs in. Cut the blue wire from the back of the brake controller so that you still have enough wire to attach it to the white wire you routed through the firewall.

Next, you will go back under the hood and connect the black wire first to a 40 amp circuit breaker, part # PK54540, and then from the circuit breaker to the positive battery terminal.

I am including a link to a video of a brake controller, # 3035-P adapter, and the # 37185 adapter being installed on a 2004 Ford E-450. The vehicle is different, but the wiring principle is the same.

expert reply by: Jeff D

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