Brake Controller Installation in 2019 Ford Ranger

Updated 05/20/2024 | Published 04/02/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Brake Controller - Dash Knob - Off-Road Mode - Up to 3 Axles - Proportional

(1665)

$290.00

Replacement Brake Control Plug-In Harness for Tekonsha and Draw-Tite Brake Controller 12" Long

(725)

$16.15

Tekonsha Plug-In Wiring Adapter for Electric Brake Controllers - Ford

(346)

$19.86

Adapter 4-Pole to 7-Pole and 4-Pole

(658)

$58.71

Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

(6581)

$158.69

Curt Echo Wireless Brake Controller - 7-Way Plug-in w/ Bluetooth App - Up to 2 Axles - Proportional

(1731)

$279.95

Question:

where on the ford 2019 ranger can you install the control botton

asked by: Garry

Expert Reply:

We have not yet (as of April 2019) had a chance to install any wired trailer brake controllers on a 2019 Ford Ranger so for guidance I checked with my most trusted brake controller expert at Tekonsha.

Based on what I could learn about the truck if the Ranger has a factory-installed 7-way it should have a standard brake controller connection port above and to the left of your left knee when seated; this will be near the kick panel. You will want to look for a connector that matches the gray one shown in the photo. This part # 3034-P allows installation of any Tekonsha controller, such as the Prodigy P3 # 90195.

If the truck instead has a factory 4-pole harness there will be three blunt-cut wires, blue, yellow with red tracer and white with purple tracer, under the dash. Please see the other photo. These are for, respectively, the controller output, the 12V power input and the brake light switch wire. These would connect to the pigtail harness # 20127 included with the P3. Truck blue connects to pigtail blue; truck yellow connects to pigtail black and truck white connects to pigtail red.The other end of the blue output wire would be found along the driver-side frame rail where it could connect to the pigtail on a 7-way like # 37185.
The white ground wire on the pigtail connects to ground.

As for the Red Arc Tow Pro Elite # RED44FR we do not yet have experience placing the control knob.

If you have a 7-way you can avoid all brake controller wiring by using the Curt Echo # C51180 which simply plugs in at the 7-way; all you need is a smartphone which you will pair with the controller. That is the entire Echo installation.

expert reply by: Adam R

click to enlarge

Randy

5/7/2020

I just had the break controller installed. I have a2019 ranger with the tow package and it’s not prewired. Ford ordered the wrong controller thinking it was wired for a controller but had to order a kit witch took 6 hours to install

Chance F.

6/22/2020

@Randy The brake controller from Ford is the only "Approved" controller. There are four pre-installed wires to hook up your aftermarket brake controller. Ford does not allow their techs to use these wires as they bypass some of the active braking features of the truck (which is fords oversight). I have been towing for a year and a half on a Prodigy P3 using the factory supplied wires under the dash, and it's been 100% fine. The ford controller is the RedTek, with a special "ECU" that reads the signal from the center brake light to provide a constant signal for both regular braking, and during emergency braking events.

Chance

6/22/2020

The 2019 and 2020 Ford Ranger has 4 unterminated wires under the dash, you only need to buy the splice in harness specific to your brake controller. There is no pre-wired "plug" under the dash. That said, only the Ford branded RedTek controller purchased directly from Ford will have the proper "ECU" to read the signal from the Active Emergency Braking and Adaptive Cruise options. To install the Ford branded controller, you need to remove lots of trim pieces and pull down the headliner so you can access the center brake light.

Jonathan G.

4/28/2024

Hi Adam, I have the 2018 Ford Ranger and cant see the three blunt cut wires under the dash for the brake controller installation. Is this only on 2019 Ranger models and newer? Also, I have a 7pin trailer plug installed on the tow bar and am wondering if the trailer wiring module (under the passenger seat) will allow me to slice into existing wiring to wire my Tekonsha P3 controller. Im just trying to avoid running extra wiring all the way to the rear of the Ranger if I can. Cheers, Jonathan

Bud M.

5/20/2024

@JonathanG The 2018 and 2019 models were different. As unfortunately the 2018 model was not offered in the US we have not had one in our facility and our manufactures only work on US based vehicles we do not have an ability to look up where your wiring would be.