Forum Discussion

AZDesertRat's avatar
AZDesertRat
Explorer
May 06, 2015

2014 F-150 integrated brake controller question

Bought a new 2014 F-150 Ecoboost 4x4 with tow package last month.
Spent Sunday setting up the Equalizer WD hitch on the Rage'n toyhauler.
I hooked it all up, did a 16 mile test drive and noticed the steering wheel was cocked to the right while towing up the freeway. It does not do this when not towing. The brake controller was preset at 10 on the gain and I did not do any further adjustment at that time. The trailer brakes were checked and adjusted after my last trip with the old 2006 F-150 and the trailer tows straight.

My question is has anyone seen this before? With the brake controller could it be dragging a trailer brake? Or with the Ford sway control could the truck somehow be dragging a break or compensating for something? I don't quite understand how the factory sway control works. At a loss here and am headed to the mountains on Friday morning for a 4 day trip.
I have a heat gun and always take it with me on trips to measure bearing and tire temps but would like to solve this before heading out.
  • Bob, you lock out 6 by pressing the "-" button on your gear shift when in "D". Press it the second time and you lock out 5th. press the "+" to unlock gears.

    All this info (and much more) is in your used manual under "Transmission".
  • spud1957 wrote:
    Bob, you lock out 6 by pressing the "-" button on your gear shift when in "D". Press it the second time and you lock out 5th. press the "+" to unlock gears.

    All this info (and much more) is in your used manual under "Transmission".


    Thank you. Would be a good idea to take time to read it.... but I understand it much better when asking questions on here and getting real answers. But will pull that out and read it. Thanks!!
  • Read the manual... inside and out. Will incorporate some new items to next trip. I like the lock out gear mode. Sound like alot of people lock out 6th gear... is that all the time or only under certain conditions. Manual did not explain.

    Want to dive in to see if sway control is engaged, never checked but assume it is. Did not get any messages to reduce speed due to excess sway tho...
  • I lock out 6th only under conditions that include rolling hills or steeper. If it is flat, I'll leave 6th as an option.

    Whether I am or not, I feel like the strongest tow'er on the road! Last summer we did 6k miles with 4500 pounds and at payload on the truck. It did an outstanding job, with no perceivable difference in power up to 11k-12k feet. We upgraded trailer and now tow 7500lbs loaded. I can feel the weight diference under acceleration and on grades, but it still does it easily.

    My mileage with the smaller trailer was 11.5mpg on that long trip. I'm pretty sure that's dropped to 10.5 with the larger trailer, but it's a little early to tell. I just got 10.1mpg on a local 100 mile trip, but that included some long 6% grades and isn't fair for an average.

    One tip that I tend to do. I'll take it out of tow/haul if going down very long grades. Otherwise, it will downshift to try and hold speed. Sometimes, that's good, but if the road is straight and clear in front of you, why shave off free speed?