How do you add a Brake Controller to a '03 XLT with a towing package?

[timp123]

It appears from the tidbits that I can find, that mine should be prewired for a Brake Controller with possibly a "flat 4" wire?

Where do I check it, to see that it is there.. and then is it simply finding a good Brake Controller & plugging it in & thats it?

Thanks in advance!

If I have missed a good write up, please let me know. I tried looking but I couldn't find anything specific..

 

[skeeter123]

Check out the Towing section of this forum at:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=134

There's a sticky for brake controller info.

Since you've got the Towing package, you should have a 7-pin connector already installed by the hitch. The cable to attach to the brake controller should be tucked up behind the glove box (that's where mine was on my '02 XLT).

etrailer.com has lots of stuff for towing, including brake controllers; and they have installation instructions as well. I'd recommend buying the appropriate adapter cable for your model so you don't have to splice/cut any of the brake controller wires.

http://www.etrailer.com/instructions.aspx?pn=90195

hope this helps.

 

[Alan Lloys]

Your mention of a flat 4 wire connector worries me a little. I hope you don't mean the flat 4 wire connector for the trailer by the hitch.
First you have to ensure that you do in fact have the tow package.
If you do, you will have the 2" reciever instead of the smaller 1 1/4" and you will have the 7 pin connector instead of the flat 4 pin by the trailer hitch.

If you have these items the quick connect for the brake controller will be behind the glovebox. On my 02 Mountaineer I had to flip the glove compartment out to get to it and it was kind of tucked away. I bought the adapter cable and it was only barely reaching from the connector to the brake controller in the driver's foot well.

If you are all go for this I recommend to get the intertia based brake controllers. They are a little bit more expensive than the simple time based units, but they work so much better.

 

[2000StreetRod]

inertia brake controller

I strongly agree with Alan Lloys's endorsement of the inertia based brake controller. I used to pull a 24 foot travel trailer with my Tahoe. I bought one of the time based units and in my opinion it was worthless. It can't tell the difference between braking uphill and downhill, lightly braking or panic stop. I immediately replaced it with an inertia based unit and was very satisfied. The only disadvantage is that it had to be mounted level with the vehicle. Some time later after getting the controller adjusted properly I had to make a panic stop due to a jerk that passed me and then immediately stopped to buy fireworks. My stop was safe with no jack-knife tendency. A year later I was on the interstate when a doe and fawn darted out of the woods and into my lane. Once again I made a safe stop.