Hello Everyone
My name is John and I live near Sioux Falls South Dakota and it is currently very cold here and getting colder by the hour.
Recently I brought a 24 foot enclosed Haulette Trailer, with the intention of towing my older car to car shows. This is a step up from using an open trailer. It is in need of work to get it on the road. However I am towing this with a 2008 F250 which has the "ultra reliable" 5.4 Triton engine and it manages the trailer well.
What I would like to ask here is advice on a trailer brake controllers and door mounted rear view mirrors. Where to buy and what I should buy?
Your comments would be appreciated.
Thank you
John

 

Your F250 doesn't already have a Ford factory brake controller built into the dash? I had a 2005 F250 with a 5.4 and it had one and an F350 with a 6.0 and it had the same one. If it is not equipped with the built-in Ford controller I would look into a Tekonsha with a Ford harness it should be plug and play. I have aTekonsha Prodigy in my OBS F350 going on 5 years now without issues. I pull a 14ft enclosed 7k with tandem axles, 20ft enclosed 10k with tandem axles, 28ft 7500lb tandem axle and a pontoon and it works great with any of the trailers I hook to it.

 

I've had.luck in the past with Tekonsha, but it's been a long.time since I've had to install a non OEM controller. The wiring should be plug and play. Check YouTube.
Are you using a weight distributing hitch?
Post pics of your rig, and car!

 

Prodigy has been a good one in the past for me.

As for the mirrors, I would opt for factory tow mirrors. 2011 sttyle at least. They will be a direct fit. I take it you have the old paddle mirrors.

 

Hello Everyone
I do appreciate the guys who replied to my request and I will certainly be following up on your collective advice. Thank you once again. Regards John

 

Look at https://www.etrailer.com/ for your trailer needs. I have had good dealings with them.

On the brake controller you want a proportional one not time delay.
Etrailer has information on the 2 different types its a good read.

They also have mirrors it all depends on what you you have now on the truck if they will take a tow mirror that fits over the factory one.
I have not used this type but have thought of getting a set just to see how they work and I could store them in the truck where the set I use not you really cant store them in the truck.
I have a old set like this that fit on the doors and the heads sits just outside the factory mirror
https://www.etrailer.com/Mirrors/Whe.../WM6600-2.html

Dave ----

 

Hello Dave
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my requests. It is appreciated and I will look up E Trailers, as you suggest.
Thank you once again.
Sincerely
John

 

Does your truck already have the 7 pin round connector? If yes, I would agree with a basic tekonsha prodigy brake controller and pigtail that likely will plug in close to fuse box. Personally, I really like my integrated one, and it looks like you could do the same, possibly would need to get Ford to activate it. I also agree etrailer is a great source for research.

 

Hello PJ
Thank you for your message. My current Pick-up does have a 7 pin plug which I have been using with an open trailer and it is part of the Ford OEM. I believe that their is a controller plug connector under the dash in the centre right side position which I will need to find. Thank youj for your advice it is appreciated.
Regards
John

 

Hello Everyone
I would like to thank everyone who replied to my post. I bought a Techonsha P3 brake controller and installed it. I had some trouble locating the Ford installed female plug on my pick-up, however after removing some of the dash I found it tucked up by the radio. It was straight forward after that and what now remains to do is a loaded test drive to adjust the brake controller setting on the trailer. I have done other work on the trailer to get it ready for hauling full size cars and this included; fitting all new brakes, (drums, backing plates with shoes and magnets and wheel bearings. New tires and three new rims, so to give me 2 spares. The wiring on the trailer included a new breakaway contol unit and lots of new wiring for the lights, as I needed to remove what I call "birds nest" wiring. I am a firm believer in soldering connections and running new ground wires from the rear to the front of the chassis. I then fitted a new "Traveller" 4500lb winch inside and at the front of the trailer and two additional D rings. What now remains is to repair the top side and rear lights, as none of them are working. Thank you once again for all your help and comments, it is appreciated.
Regards
John.