Recommendations for Brake Controller Mounting Location on a 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty

Expert Reply:

Mounting the brake controller in an accessible location is necessary so that if there is a situation where you need to apply the trailer brakes without pressing the truck brakes or if the connection to the truck brake circuit is lost you can use the trailer brakes in an emergency. The brake controller also needs to be securely mounted if it is proportional because the power supplied to the trailer brakes works off of inertia. If the controller is loose the proper amount of stopping force will not be registered.

The controller will need to be in an accessible location so it can be reached easily when needed for braking or adjusting the power to the trailer brakes. We have a video on the installation of a brake controller in a 2008 Ford F-250 (see link) and the customer had us mount it on the left side of the steering column so it would be more out of the way and accessible. We did have to drill 2 holes and use screws to mount the controller.

There is another option available for a brake controller that does not require mounting a controller in the vehicle and that is the Tekonsha Prodigy RF Brake Controller, item # 90250. This controller is mounted to the trailer frame and uses the 12 volt power source from the 7-way connector to supply power to the controller and provide electric trailer brake control. This system is good for those who have one trailer that is towed with multiple vehicles and also does not require extra wiring under the dash for the brake controller. A hand held control unit just plugs into a lighter outlet in the vehicle dash.

expert reply by: Bob G