towing

Even with the F-150, I think that many of us would recommend you get familiar with the vehicle handling characteristics without your children, if you are going to go without a controller.  One of the common factors in many of your comments is that "the dealer said....".  While many dealers are good folks, one of the common factors on that side of the equation is that want to sell you a trailer, rent you a tv, etc.

I have found that this forum, on my time here, is very safety focused, especially in the area of towing, where many mishaps often occur with new campers.  It could be that that's why they are still around to make such suggestions.

There are a lot of good suggestions here from those who "have been there, done that".

 

Why?  Sway.  Engaging the brake controller is the only safe way to negate sway once anti-sway devices can't control it.  One of the contributing factors for sway is how a trailer is loaded and it's very easy to load a utility trailer or camper in a way which will induce sway.

 

Going with a U-haul pickup sounds like a good option for now - and depending on how many trips a year maybe cheaper than upgrading your current TV.  A quick cost-to-benefit analysis will tell you where your break-even is.  Look at the wireless Prodigy http://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90250.html

 

Then figure out how to make it work with the U-haul pickup.  From the factory it is designed to just have the camper plug into the Prodigy control module mounted on the camper tongue.  Then the Prodigy plugs into the Bargeman outlet on the back of the TV.  Logically the Prodigy will need brake and turn signal inputs, ground, +12.  The 4-pin connector provides brake, turn, and ground, which is why I think you'll need to create a long wire you can plug into the vehicle's accessory outlet/lighter to provide the +12 (and an additional ground, which won't hurt).  The output of the 4-pin plug on the pickup and the wires from the outlet will need to be combined into a Bargeman outlet you can dangle from the rear of the pickup.  The Prodigy will then plug into that.  Oh, and the wireless control module that goes in the pickup will also need to plug in so you'll need a Y-splitter for the 12 volt accessory outlet.

 

This will give you a system you can plug in within 2 minutes once you get home and hitch up.

When you say the U-hauls are "equipped", do you mean with an integral brake controller as mentioned above?  If so, they must have a 7-pin Bargeman on the back and not a 4-pin connection.  No 7-pin, no brakes, even if the controller is in the dash.