Installing a Ford factory trailer brake controller (TBC) in a 2012 F-150

This is a 2012 F-150 SuperCrew cab 2WD with the 3.7L V6 FFV engine. It came with the factory tow package, but not the max tow package, and so it did not have a trailer brake controller (TBC). This makes stopping heavy trailers more difficult. In this video, I install and program a Ford factory TBC for better trailer control. Note that the factory brake controller can only be installed after the fact if the vehicle came with the factory tow package (hitch and 7-blade trailer connection). If the tow package is aftermarket, you cannot install a factory TBC, and you must instead get an aftermarket TBC.

These parts and procedures should work for ~2010-2014 F-150s. The trim removal requirements and procedures differ considerably if you have the floor-mounted center-console shifter instead of the column shifter, but the installation and programming are the same. The factory TBC comes with a handy installation sheet.

Here's what I used for this video:

Ford genuine TBC model #BL3Z19H332AA (https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/acc..., which is a kit that includes the TBC and both new fuses you need to install — this is specific to the 2012 model, and different years may have different model numbers

OBDLink EX FORScan OBD Adapter (https://amzn.to/3iQ8Uy4) — I learned after the fact that this works only with older USB 2.0 ports and not newer (all computers now) USB 3.0 ports; I left a negative review, as you have to also have a USB 2.0-only hub or advanced programming skills to know how to configure your ports to work USB 2.0-only

FORScan software (https://forscan.org/download.html) — $10 for a 1-year license, $50 for a permanent license (I ran it in Windows 10 using Parallels Desktop for Mac)

Innovative Products 9107A Electric Brake Force Meter and trailer hookup tester (https://amzn.to/3a6mmdk) — indispensable for more than just installing TBCs