Trailer Towing question

BB_TX · Oct 17, 2002

Mike - I have a 97 Lariat that I ordered with the optional trailer towing package. It also has the 7 prong plug and I just assumed it had the brake controller as part of the towing package. The only trailers I have towed did not have brakes so I don't know if it has it or not. Were there instructions in your owners manual about the controller and how to activate it if it was there?

Anonymous Poster · Oct 17, 2002

Jeff, we have found our trailer really only differs one link. This is just to help keep thing level does it really have to change probably not, but I can keep some weight forward and tighten it up a link and she just pulls perfect, no wagging= no pucker factor. Remember check your break settings! and a little weight forward is better than weight to the rear. Probably if our suit cases didn't get loaded in the front we wouldn't be tightening up the chains. I don't bring much but the better half...well.... it's a good thing we did't buy a 28' I'd spend most of the time unpacking.
When you are done loading stand back compare the way your rig sat before and after, if the trailer sits nose down crank it up a link or two if sitting high move your load forward some. If your going a distance take a test drive then... just watch out for fast passing semi trucks and crosswinds.

Tony

RobS · Oct 17, 2002

Jeff, I'd take his response as a blow off answer. Even with load equalizing it is important to have the proper tongue weight %. Don't get me wrong, you don't have to have it within a couple of pounds but if it's way off you'll experience some unusual handling. You'll probably be alright just estimating where your car's center of gravity is and loading it in so that point is a foot or two in front of the trailer axles /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

RobertN · Oct 17, 2002

Your positioning of the car is pretty limited. Load engine forward so the weight transfer is toward your truck. From there, I'm guessing you won't have much room for positioning.

Also, make sure you have plenty of chain and binder. It's a different system, but a buddy of mine had a Ford Ranger come loose of a car dolly. He had it bound on both sides, but did not use an auxillary safety chain. The truck amazingly wound up a few hundred feet off the freeway, in an orchard, without hitting the trees. It just had a couple scratches where it went through the chain link fence on the side of the freeway.

cowboydoc · Oct 17, 2002

AFter going through more controllers and money than I care to remember the prodigy is by far the best I've ever had.

cowboydoc · Oct 17, 2002

I'm not sure what you did but I've had a 2000 Ford Lariat and now have a 2002 Lariat and neither one of them had it. Yes you are right about the fuse but that's not a brake controller. I'm really confused how you got brakes to work on the trailer. What activates them? This is really strange.

Jeff396 · Oct 17, 2002

I asked the question about tongue weight again when I reserved the trailer. This guy told me that I WOULD have to be careful that the trailer is tongue heavy but that there really isn't a whole lot of adjustment for and aft I will be able to do concerning the vehicle.

I have also purchased 4 ratchet straps and 4 axle straps each with 10,000 lbs breaking strength and 3000 lbs of working strength. The guy at the place also told me to put my straps to the rear of the vehicle in an X so as to keep the car from moving side to side.

Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I used to drive semis for a while in another life but this is a whole new animal for me.

It's time to say goodbye to my Vette.

Jeff

hazmat · Oct 17, 2002

I'm not sure what you did but I've had a 2000 Ford Lariat and now have a 2002 Lariat and neither one of them had it. Yes you are right about the fuse but that's not a brake controller. I'm really confused how you got brakes to work on the trailer. What activates them? This is really strange

When I was truck shopping, I thought I remembered something about the truck coming with a brake controller, but searching the ford vehicle & towing guide websites, I came up empty. Maybe it came wired for the controller.

Did see on the website that they dropped the V-10 engine. new 6.0L diesel w/ 325HP & 560ft-lbs torque available in January! Also 5 speed auto trans.

mikim · Oct 17, 2002

I'm not sure either! It was actually 2 relays that I installed that were provided in a plastic baggy in the glovebox. There were also some instructions. "Two relays (FOAB-14B192-A & F57B-14B192-A) have been provided with the trailer tow kit for installation. These relays must be installed to the relay box, located in the engine compartment of the vehicle on the drivers side, in order for the trailer tow system to function properly." I put 'em in and was skeptical so took the empty trailer onto some gravel to check. Had a fella watching to see if I could lock the trailer brakes at least a little to see if they worked and he said they did - feels like it when it's loaded too. Don't know what to tell you, but if they didn't work I'd sure think I'd know it going down rocky hill with the tractor loaded on behind my little F150. I still wonder where the surge sensor is and how do I adjust it for sensitivity? I talked to the fella that sold me the trailer and he confirmed it was right --- but you sure got me wonderin' again -- this is the first time I've ever had elect brakes on a trailer so I could most certainly be wrong.... yeah like that's never happened before!/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif I guess I figured it was just part of the factory tow package that I ordered. Now I want to check a lot better. maybe have the wife ride on the trailer watching a multi-meter hooked into the plug to see if I get voltage when I hit the brakes hard/w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif you betcha tim

hazmat · Oct 17, 2002

Now I want to check a lot better. maybe have the wife ride on the trailer watching a multi-meter hooked into the plug to see if I get voltage when I hit the brakes hard you betcha tim 

There is a serious flaw in your plan. You will be the one riding in the trailer, not wifey/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

This is just a wild guess but: You may not even need the trailer to test it. Simply push the brake & see if you get voltage at the connector.