2011 HD Tow Brake Controller Question

[GlennSullivan]

Hi All
Ive got 2017 and 2011 Limited Expys, both with HD Tow. Ive never towed with the 2011 as I had an Excursion up until I acquired the 2017.

Id like to do some towing with the 2011 but unlike the 2017 it has no trailer brake controller. I seem to remember when equipped with HD Tow, the 2011s came prewired under the dash for a TBC.

Questions are
Am I correct that the 2011s with HD Towcame prewired for TBC?
If so, where is the connector located under the dash and what type of connector would I be looking for?
If so, is the prewiring for a specific make / model TBC?

 

[x1050er]

Yes, the 2011 is prewired for the brake controller. I have a 2011 ssv with the tow package. The connection is under the panel to the right of the scanner(ecu port)

I ordered mine from etrailer.com along with the wire harness.....plug and play

Good idea to clean the ground to the frame above the spare tire, mine was nasty

 

[GlennSullivan]

Yes, the 2011 is prewired for the brake controller. I have a 2011 ssv with the tow package. The connection is under the panel to the right of the scanner(ecu port)

I ordered mine from etrailer.com along with the wire harness.....plug and play

Good idea to clean the ground to the frame above the spare tire, mine was nasty

Thank you for the info.

What make / model controller did you end up purchasing and how did you determine which to buy or do all TBC have the same connector? Did you literally plug the connector from the TBC to the connector under the dash?

I believe the one on my Excursion was a Draw-Tite. It was installed by the dealer I purchased the trailer from.

 

[GlennSullivan]

Thank you for the info.

What make / model controller did you end up purchasing and how did you determine which to buy or do all TBC have the same connector? Did you literally plug the connector from the TBC to the connector under the dash?

I believe the one on my Excursion was a Draw-Tite. It was installed by the dealer I purchased the trailer from.

I just looked on their site and they provide the correct adapter cable if you choose the correct model / year and 7 connector plug! Thanks again!

 

[Gary Waugh]

The brake controller is only a 4 pin plug, not 7!! As stated the car is pre-wired for it and the plug is located behind the panel under the steering wheel (where the drivers knees are located).

Gary

 

[Roast4570]

You can get a 4 to 7 adapter for the rear and there is generally a blue brake controller wire wrapped and capped in the harness leading to your factory four pin. I honestly went to o’reily’s and got the controller and the 7 pin. It may or may not have wiring there for your trailer aux power and your back up lights. The aux power was relatively easy to wire from the battery to the rear of the car along the frame with an inline fuse and 10 gauge wire. I just capped off my backup light wire, as it’s not vital to me.

 

[GlennSullivan]

The brake controller is only a 4 pin plug, not 7!! As stated the car is pre-wired for it and the plug is located behind the panel under the steering wheel (where the drivers knees are located).

Gary

Sorry for the confusion, when I wrote 7 connector plug, I was referring to the vehicle to trailer connector. When I looked up 2011 Expedition on Etrailer, they list the part numbers / packages for vehicles that have either a flat 4 pin or a round 7 pin trailer connector. I guess that is how they differentiate 2011 Expys with and without HD tow and provide the correct connection cord for each. See below.

Hayes Trailer Brake Controller with Adapter - 2011 Ford Expedition​

with factory 7-Way​

=============================

Hayes Trailer Brake Controller with Adapter - 2011 Ford Expedition​

with factory 4-Flat​

 

[x1050er]

I picked up the Tekonsha TK90160 with a 3035-p wiring harness.
Very easy job, works well. Was just over $100

 

[GlennSullivan]

Thanks I'll look into that model.

 

[chuck s]

Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller on my '07 Expedition for 10 years. Plug-n-play under the dashboard with a $15 pigtail. Without HD Tow, though, you're limited to 6000 pounds and will need to fit the Bargman connector and find the blue brake wire. It should all be back there. My '17 HD tow has the wonderful built-in brake controller which is smart enough to spot bad brake lights on the trailer as I found out the first time I towed with it.

--Chuck

 

[plumcolr]

Ditto on the Tekonsha with plug n play pigtail for earlier expys, and ditto on the '17 built-in (which I needed to add on my '17, using Forscan. And ditto on finding the blue brake lead bundled at the rear. PS mine told me the trailer's left blinker was O/D. That was a surprise!

 

[GlennSullivan]

Thank you all for the info. My 17 has the HD tow and I really do like it, I did not know that it will warn if a trailer tail light is out, thanks!

My 11, which I’m looking to add the TBC, also has HD Tow, so based on the info provided herein this should be plug and play with the adapter cable for the selected controller plugging into the Ford provided underdash connector.

 

[chuck s]

HD Tow comes standard with two trailer connectors at the rear bumper. 4-pole "boat/utility trailer" connector on the left of the hitch receiver and a 7-pole "Bargman/RV" connector on the right. If the 7-pole connector ain't there the truck does not have HD tow. The connector can be added but that won't increase the towing capacity like the full HD Tow package.

Connecting the Tekonsha Prodigy to an Expedition equipped with HD Tow is as simple as mounting the controller (does not have to be level) and connecting the Tekonsha pigtail under the dash. All power comes via that connection. Plug-n-Play. In some cases you'll need to mount the relay and fuse that was included in the glove compartment when the truck was new (and could have been pilfered since then) in the under-hood fuse box.

-- Chuck