DRV & Carlisle offer solution for Ford Brake Contorller

[pmkitchen]

Ada and I attended the SOITC Rally in Goshen, IN this month. We had a great time
and learned a lot too. One thing I learned is that DRV and Carlisle Industries
have come up with a solution to the compatability issue with the Ford integrated
trailer brake controller in 2008 and newer trucks. I consulted with Charles
Coleman, DRV Customer Service Rep and Barry Hansel, a representative from
Carlisle Industires. The solution is the installation of the Carlisle Prodigy
Adaptor Module (Carlisle Model HBA-CAM) in the coach connected to the Carlisle
Hydrastar trailer brake actuator. I bought the unit and did the installation
myself. I followed the direction to the letter including soldering the
connections and sealing them with heat-shrink tubing. I further cleaned up the
wiring by protecting them with a platic wire wrapping. We are takling the barkes
here! Now it is time to hit the road and see if the "Trailer Brake Disconnected"
warning comes on any more. More news to follow on that.

I am a sceptic about these types of modifications. I even went to the Carlisle
web site only to find that they say the HBA-CAM is not compatible with the 2008
Ford integrated brake controller. That is why I spent the time on the phone with
Barry Hansel. He assured me that the web site was wrong and that the unit will
solve the compatibility issue. Sure hope so!

[Carny Bill]

It worked on my 08 chevy. Sometimes I have to unplug and replug to get connection, but it always seems to work

[rdunk]

Why not just install a Brakesmart brake controller, and then you don't have to worry about whether the Ford controller is going to work?? In my opinion, the Brakesmart is a better controller than the Ford controller anyway. I have done what I just suggested in two Fords, in a 2005, and in a 2006, and the Brakesmart works great. FWIW, in my trucks, the Instrument Cluster Module had to be reprogrammed, by a Ford dealer, to a condition of "no trailer brake present", so an aftermarket controller could then be installed.

While there are several features of the Brakesmart controller that I really like, its basic design uses the truck's hydraulic braking pressure to signal the amount of trailer braking needed.

If you do a search on Brakesmart, you can find a lot of info. The below site is one that does have considerable detail on the Brakesmart controller.

http://www.thoroughbreddiesel.com/dr-performance/brakesmart.htm

Good luck on getting your problem fixed!

[suitediver]

While at Paul Cross's after the Rally we had the Carlisle controller installed. Never got the disconnected message on the way back to SD. We feel very comfortable with the solution.
Bobbie and Bill STarr

[RGordon]

I have been running the Carlisle Module HBA-CAM ever since the Actibrake melted down and DRV replaced it with the Carlisle Brake Actuator. It works great especially on the 2007 F350 IBC and before I installed the module I kept getting the "disconnect trailer" alarm everytime I applied the brakes. It has worked flawless ever since. Best $75 I have spent, but it is a shame that we have to do our own engineering and extremely lucky that no one has been injured.