Trailer tow hitch and brake controller installed

[BuckingBronco66]

Last month I had the dealership install the trailer tow hitch on my 2024 BB Bronco. Once that was installed, I installed the brake controller I ordered off etrailer.com myself. It’s a Redarc Tow Pro RED54UR trailer brake controller. Very similar to the one Ford offers but you’ll save some money on it. The install of the brake controller was easy to do. After all that was installed it was finally time to tow the pop-up trailer I purchased after I bought the Bronco.

Side note I had to trade in my previous trailer for the pop-up cause the Bronco couldn’t tow it due to the weight being over the recommended tow limits of the Bronco.

I was very impressed with how the Bronco handled towing the trailer. I also was able to dial in the brake controller while towing the trailer.

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[LoDewey]

Did you have to turn on a module to get the brake controller to work? I had my local hitch place install a hitch and brake controller and they said Ford will have to turn on the module for the brake controller, but my Ford dealership says they aren’t sure what to do for an aftermarket brake controller. Looking for any information I can get to push the Ford dealership to do the right thing.

 

[BuckingBronco66]

Did you have to turn on a module to get the brake controller to work? I had my local hitch place install a hitch and brake controller and they said Ford will have to turn on the module for the brake controller, but my Ford dealership says they aren’t sure what to do for an aftermarket brake controller. Looking for any information I can get to push the Ford dealership to do the right thing.

I didn’t have to turn anything on to get the brake controller to work. I installed it and then hooked my trailer up and towed it. It’s all plug and play. The Bronco and brake controller recognized there was a trailer hitched up instantly. I dialed in the brake controller while I was towing (made sure it was on a safe very minimal traffic road of course). Hope this helps you out. Maybe also look into an aftermarket shop to do the install instead of the dealership.

 

[RoverDude]

Looking for any information I can get to push the Ford dealership to do the right thing.

Unsure what you want a Ford dealership to do for a Non-Ford product.
There is no programming for a brake controller.
It's literally a variable voltage output based on brake input. It's plug and Play
The Ford dealership gave you correct response.

What third party hardware was installed?

 

[LoDewey]

I didn’t have to turn anything on to get the brake controller to work. I installed it and then hooked my trailer up and towed it. It’s all plug and play. The Bronco and brake controller recognized there was a trailer hitched up instantly. I dialed in the brake controller while I was towing (made sure it was on a safe very minimal traffic road of course). Hope this helps you out. Maybe also look into an aftermarket shop to do the install instead of the dealership.

I did use an aftermarket shop to do the install. It’s a Pod brand controller (selected by the shop) so I’m going to show them the Redarc option and see if that will work. I think they just picked a very generic cheap controller. I also just saw that my local 4 wheel shop is listed on the e-trailer site as an installer with successful installations so I’m actually going to have them install it when they do my bumper and winch. I think my local hitch installer place was over their head for this installation… they were the ones that said Ford needed to do something.

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