Is a 2010 Ford F-450 Integrated Brake Controller Compatible a Generation 5 Hydrastar HBA-10

Question:

we have a 2010 F450 with fords in dash brake controller the horse trailer has the Gen 5 Hba-10 by the serial # and it seems to work fine using the foot brake pedal but will sometimes show trailer not connected when we use the manual slide bar but the brakes on the trailer work even with the error msg on the dash is this a concern as not once have the brakes failed to activate?

asked by: Rick P

Expert Reply:

I can tell you that Cargo Towing Solutions, the company that makes the HydraStar actuators, only recommends using aftermarket brake controllers that are compatible with electric-over-hydraulic brakes with generation 5 and older HydraStar actuators.

He said some OEM brake controllers, mainly Ford, have worked with the older actuators, but, as you are experiencing, the older units did not always provide the amount of resistance required by OEM brake controllers. This is most likely what is causing the trailer not connected warning. It is good that the brakes are still working now, but we cannot guarantee that they will always work.

If you begin to have problems, the most cost effective options would be to use an aftermarket controller like the Prodigy P3, # 90195, and bypass the OEM controller.

expert reply by: Michael H