No Trailer brakes on Tradesman

[Epsilon Plus]

RAM needs to add standard tow mirrors and trailer brake controller to every Heavy Duty. This has to be the stupidest, nonsensical bean counting thing they do. The fact that clueless dealers even order and stock these trucks is ridiculous.

Spend the money for the OEM parts and bite the bullet. It will be cheaper than trying to trade for a different truck. One thing that's good about the 4.5 Gen RAM HD is that if it doesn't have a factory option, the wiring is still there, you may just need a module and jumper harness, all which you can eventually find OEM. You can add Limited LED headlights/fogs, trailer TPMS, remote tailgate release...etc. Hell probably even the push button transfer case control. Yep. That manual lever on the ground is another gimic. It doesn't mechanically control the transfer case. It fires off the same switches and servos that the push buttons do (or so I've read).

Good luck.

 

[Dogdiesel]

RAM needs to add standard tow mirrors and trailer brake controller to every Heavy Duty. This has to be the stupidest, nonsensical bean counting thing they do. The fact that clueless dealers even order and stock these trucks is ridiculous.

Spend the money for the OEM parts and bite the bullet. It will be cheaper than trying to trade for a different truck. One thing that's good about the 4.5 Gen RAM HD is that if it doesn't have a factory option, the wiring is still there, you may just need a module and jumper harness, all which you can eventually find OEM. You can add Limited LED headlights/fogs, trailer TPMS, remote tailgate release...etc. Hell probably even the push button transfer case control. Yep. That manual lever on the ground is another gimic. It doesn't mechanically control the transfer case. It fires off the same switches and servos that the push buttons do (or so I've read).

Good luck.

I was able to get the OEM mirrors and OEM trailer brakes online. Both kits come with modules, bypass switches

RAM needs to add standard tow mirrors and trailer brake controller to every Heavy Duty. This has to be the stupidest, nonsensical bean counting thing they do. The fact that clueless dealers even order and stock these trucks is ridiculous.

Spend the money for the OEM parts and bite the bullet. It will be cheaper than trying to trade for a different truck. One thing that's good about the 4.5 Gen RAM HD is that if it doesn't have a factory option, the wiring is still there, you may just need a module and jumper harness, all which you can eventually find OEM. You can add Limited LED headlights/fogs, trailer TPMS, remote tailgate release...etc. Hell probably even the push button transfer case control. Yep. That manual lever on the ground is another gimic. It doesn't mechanically control the transfer case. It fires off the same switches and servos that the push buttons do (or so I've read).

Good luck.

I can't agree more. After looking at several trucks I settled on this one because of color. Driving it of the lot I realized this one didn't have mirrors. It did come with the 8.4 nav info enter and reverse camera and a better sounding stereo.
I did find a place online (after trying to purchase and install through the dealer and being told the truck was incompatible for these items), that has OEM mirrors and OEM trailer brake controllers. Each kit comes with modules, bypasses, and the necessary programmers. It did not come cheap but the mirrors will now have the power fold option, turn signals, and the other light....I forget what it's called. Stock mirrors just had power adjustment and heat. Same with the trailer control. I'm just gonna do the work myself because I don't trust any of the three dealers that I talked to about this issue. I got a deal on the truck but yes I am spending another $1800 to make it right. Now the transfer case feels every bit as mechanical as the one in my 5sp 99. I prefer less push button stuff so I'm quite pleased with that aspect. The 99 5.9 5sp towed my trailer home while this thing sat in the driveway embarrassed. A brand new truck and I had to rely ol trusty to get the trailer home. Ridiculous!