Can a Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Work On a 2024 Ford Ranger With Factory 7-Way?
Question:
I am about to order a 2024 Ford Ranger to tow our 2017 25’ Airstream Flying Cloud FB and had an “XL” model priced out with the bare bones tow package hitch, 7-pin wiring that does NOT include the integrated Ford brake controller or their “we’ll turn the steering wheel for you” dial which doesn’t interest me. Presumably that optional factory ‘7-pin’ wiring goes somewhere up front. Can a normal Tekonsha brake controller work? If not I would have to move up one model to get the Ford deluxe tow package and end up paying another $3,000 - $4,000 dollars.
asked by: David R
Expert Reply:
Yes, you can easily install a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller # 90195 on your 2024 Ford Ranger which already has a 7-way trailer connector. Under your dash there are going to be 4 terminated wires that will splice to the pigtail included with the Tekonsha brake controller. I have linked an install video near the bottom of this page we did on a 2021 Ranger which will show you the location of the wires around the 14:20 time in video.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Proportional Controller
- Electric
- Electric over Hydraulic
- Automatic Leveling
- Under-Dash Box
- Dash Mount
- Up to 4 Axles
- LCD Display
- Up to 360 Degrees
- Tekonsha
more information >
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David R.
5/23/2024
Thanks for the info and the reference to the video. I gather from the install procedure that the particular 2021 Ranger installation did not have Ford’s ‘automatic emergency braking’ system. A concern I have encountered while reading about the subject is the brake controller’s manual brake lever possibly back feeding into the system and damaging the electronics; some controller connection harnesses include a diode on the blue braking wire but it seems to me the diode should be installed on the tow vehicle wiring harness to prevent current traveling the wrong way. Another reference I came across suggested connecting the controller red wire to the vehicle CHMSL rather than the actual brake lights, perhaps because many trucks now have LED lighting which may not require 12 volts, but that may not be the reason - I lost the thread before I could get a clear picture.