F-150 towing

[ryanb-72]

I am sure this is not news to a lot of you but if you are towing with an f-150 check to see that you have the relay and fuse installed for charging your camper battery.
I came across this info in another forum and was less than impressed when I went and checked only to find I have not been charging my battery while going down the road.
Ford chooses to leave out the relay and fuse for battery charging for some reason. I even have the factory installed brake controller that works just fine.
The relay goes into slot #9 and the fuse #21.
Just thought I would throw this out there in case I'm not the only one that had no idea.
Ryan

[Hybridhunter]

f150camper wrote:
It's strange. Both the fuse and relay were installed at the factory when I got my F-150. I am 99.9% sure.

I've bought 2 F150's in 3 years. Pigtail, fuses, and instructions in a highly conspicuous bag in the glove box. Same with a relative, I don;t believe it's part of the PDI.

And yes, I do have a low opinion of people who don't read much. It usually extends well beyond not reading the owners manual.

[mbopp]

I specifically asked that the dealer install the fuse and relay before I took delivery. Got home - nope.

[Car_Guy]

If the dealer knows you are towing, and they are worth their salt, they'll have the relay and fuse installed before you pick the vehicle up. My experience anyway with all 3 F-150's

[f150camper]

It's strange. Both the fuse and relay were installed at the factory when I got my F-150. I am 99.9% sure.

[Community Alumni]

ryanb-72 wrote:

Hybridhunter wrote:

RoyB wrote:
I found mine in an unmarked plastic pack in my glove box on my 2010 F150.

Had no idea what they were for.

Finally figured it out when I was looking at the fuse panel under the hood. Found the slots marked 'trailer charge' or something like that and was missing fuse and relay.

Roy Ken

You had no idea what they were for? Did you read the enclosed instructions in the bag? It very clearly says what it's for, where it goes, and has supplemental brake controller info!


This is a weird thread, all tow package equipped trucks have this in the glove box, next to the owners manual. I suppose this is why there is endless threads on the "stuff", no one reads the OM, or get curious why there is a bag of parts in the glove box.

I guess for those folks who don't purchase a new vehicle regularly or who don't have the time to read the OM from cover to cover it might not be that weird of thread.

It's always nice when someone tells the rest of us that we are stupid. It's very helpful and encourages those of us with less experience to ask questions.

[ryanb-72]

Hybridhunter wrote:

RoyB wrote:
I found mine in an unmarked plastic pack in my glove box on my 2010 F150.

Had no idea what they were for.

Finally figured it out when I was looking at the fuse panel under the hood. Found the slots marked 'trailer charge' or something like that and was missing fuse and relay.

Roy Ken

You had no idea what they were for? Did you read the enclosed instructions in the bag? It very clearly says what it's for, where it goes, and has supplemental brake controller info!


This is a weird thread, all tow package equipped trucks have this in the glove box, next to the owners manual. I suppose this is why there is endless threads on the "stuff", no one reads the OM, or get curious why there is a bag of parts in the glove box.

I guess for those folks who don't purchase a new vehicle regularly or who don't have the time to read the OM from cover to cover it might not be that weird of thread.

[Hybridhunter]

RoyB wrote:
I found mine in an unmarked plastic pack in my glove box on my 2010 F150.

Had no idea what they were for.

Finally figured it out when I was looking at the fuse panel under the hood. Found the slots marked 'trailer charge' or something like that and was missing fuse and relay.

Roy Ken

You had no idea what they were for? Did you read the enclosed instructions in the bag? It very clearly says what it's for, where it goes, and has supplemental brake controller info!


This is a weird thread, all tow package equipped trucks have this in the glove box, next to the owners manual. I suppose this is why there is endless threads on the "stuff", no one reads the OM, or get curious why there is a bag of parts in the glove box.

[ryanb-72]

dwright1969 wrote:
Thanks for posting this. I just bought an F-150 this year and would never had known about this. I checked and sure enough the fuse and relay were in a bag in the glove box.

Glad it helped!

[Community Alumni]

Thanks for posting this. I just bought an F-150 this year and would never had known about this. I checked and sure enough the fuse and relay were in a bag in the glove box.

[GaryUT]

Even with the integrated brake controller on my GMC I had to install a fuse and connect the charge wire to the post on the fuse box under the hood. Gm did not supply either the fuse or the nut for the post.

Gary

[Terryallan]

Ford has been doing it that way as long as I can remember, and I'm old.

[fla-gypsy]

More than likely it is covered in the owners manual and it appears that Ford supplies the parts

[dadmomh]

We had the exact same thing come up just a few weeks ago....we've had the F-150 since '03!!! DH was going nuts trying to figure out what the problem was and envisioned all sorts of dreadful things. Can't remember who it was that mentioned it - maybe the Auto Zone guy - but he swapped one from another location and Bingo!....just a few dollars and we were much happier. Now, why did Ford install the factory tow package and neglect this little matter???

[time2roll]

My special order 2001 came the same way. Parts in a bag in the glove box.
Inserting the relay and fuse has been a long time honored tradition to drive a Ford.