Trailer brake disconnected

[Rob122]

I randomly get the brake disconnected message when towing my tt. Cable is good, pins are clean and dielectric greased. Its typically at highway speeds after driving for awhile. Any suggestions? Previous truck didn't have any way to tell me if they were working or not. Thanks guys.

 

[oaklandopen]

My boat trailer had a taillight out basically the second time I took her out and I thought the bad connection was on the truck side. I refused to think there was anything wrong with the brand new trailer and its connections.

Even after testing with my meter, manually putting 12v to each pin for testing, bending the mating tabs in the connectors, the wife complaining about helping me, I said screw it and cut the existing connector off the trailer and putting a new one on. Hasn't failed since

Electrical gremlins are no fun, especially wiring that looks like it should be so robust it "couldn't possibly be the problem." You can never really tell what's happening under the sheath

It might take some extra ppl to help, but try giving the connection a good wiggle while everything is running and see if it happens again. The new connector I installed on the trailer side had a much tighter fit than the original one did

 

[RV_Goose]

What truck? My old 2013 Ram 2500 with aftermarket 5th wheel connector in the bed was great,no issues. My 2020 RAM 3500 with the 5th wheel prep has a connector that is finicky. I am looking to replace it.

 

[Joe mama]

I had the same problem when I had my ECOdiesel. The dealer couldn't find the problem and said it must be the trailer. Had the trailer checked out and it was fine. I fixed it my self by slightly bending the pins on the vehicle side of connector. Sometimes it would have a connection and other times it wouldn't. Never had a problem after the pin adjustment.

 

[RamCares]

I randomly get the brake disconnected message when towing my tt. Cable is good, pins are clean and dielectric greased. Its typically at highway speeds after driving for awhile. Any suggestions? Previous truck didn't have any way to tell me if they were working or not. Thanks guys.

Hi @Rob122, we certainly understand why this would be concerning. If you are not able to determine a solution based on suggestions from fellow forum members and you decide to address this with your Ram dealer, please be sure to follow up with us via private message. We would be happy to assist in resolving this for you!

Kathryn
Ram Cares

 

[CdnHO]

According to Ram, only SAE approved trailer connectors are compatible with the Ram receptacles. They have single large blade in each hole at opposed to two in the old style. This one is made by Hopkins. I have already bought this one to put on the trailer when the truck is delivered as the trailer has the old style. If I recall correctly, the trailer receptacle is made by Hopkins as well.

 

[CdnHO]

This is the old style. The new one appears to be able to pass more current but just guessing by looking at the connectors.

 

[Rob122]

Thanks! I've got the old style. I appreciate the input from everyone. I'll get it swapped out.

 

[JHeat2500]

I had the same problem and traced it back to my trailer wiring and not the plug. Make sure you have a good trailer brake ground directly to the frame. If not, that may be your issue. These trucks are extremely sensitive to voltage issues and don't like weak grounds. I never had the issue with my previous truck and prodigy brake controller.

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[CdnHO]

Thanks! I've got the old style. I appreciate the input from everyone. I'll get it swapped out.

Here is Ram's Recommended Trailer Connector document. The new style allows for more contact with each connector while the old trailer end will be spotty. YMMV

 

[dragrcr]

I randomly get the brake disconnected message when towing my tt. Cable is good, pins are clean and dielectric greased. Its typically at highway speeds after driving for awhile. Any suggestions? Previous truck didn't have any way to tell me if they were working or not. Thanks guys.

You made me Sign up for this Forum........... I had a 2018 Ram 3500 and I bought a top of the line InTech aluminum Trailer. It had DEXTER axles under it. I started getting check trailer wiring messaged occasionally. Then as time went on it got worse. On one trip I got about 150 warnings in a 300 mile stretch and it progresses to actually telling me the trailer was disconnected. When I got that warning I had NO Trailer Brakes. I started calling ahead and one Dodge Dealer in Tuscon AZ set me up an appointment at a Dealer in Phoenix AZ. The Dealer in Tuscon knew I was on the road and he could not trouble shoot for me so he advocated for me and that was awesome. The Dealer in Phoenix was also amazing. The Tech came out to the Truck and I was able to watch him on a Laptop diagnose my Truck. It had a Trailer brake wire circut shorted to ground code. I was lucky because it actually was in the Failure mode when I arrived. When does that EVER happen? Disconnected trailer and then the code reset and went to the History file. Connect trailer and the code came back. So, NOTHING wrong with the Truck. ALSO this cannot be disabled by the TECH. So you will get warning after warning about your trailer brakes as you drive and only way to stop it is to disconnect = No Brakes/Lights. So I had to do my homework and found out the resistance of all the brake magnets etc since it would not stay in the shorted out mode. It basically stopped doing it by the time I got home to Los Angeles. 4 Magnets Times XX resistance in Paralel should equal XX. I was off by about one magnets worth. So I had to cut my brand new Trailer brake wiring system apart with wire cutters. I thought about it and made my first cut at the second splice that isolated the LF, LR and the RIGHT Side from each other. Right Side measured 1/2 a magnet (2 in paralel) and the LF measured one Magnet and the LR measured NOTHING. It was an open circut. BAM!

THIS IS WHAT I FOUND: THANKS DEXTER.
.

 

[Calihauler]

You made me Sign up for this Forum........... I had a 2018 Ram 3500 and I bought a top of the line InTech aluminum Trailer. It had DEXTER axles under it. I started getting check trailer wiring messaged occasionally. Then as time went on it got worse. On one trip I got about 150 warnings in a 300 mile stretch and it progresses to actually telling me the trailer was disconnected. When I got that warning I had NO Trailer Brakes. I started calling ahead and one Dodge Dealer in Tuscon AZ set me up an appointment at a Dealer in Phoenix AZ. The Dealer in Tuscon knew I was on the road and he could not trouble shoot for me so he advocated for me and that was awesome. The Dealer in Phoenix was also amazing. The Tech came out to the Truck and I was able to watch him on a Laptop diagnose my Truck. It had a Trailer brake wire circut shorted to ground code. I was lucky because it actually was in the Failure mode when I arrived. When does that EVER happen? Disconnected trailer and then the code reset and went to the History file. Connect trailer and the code came back. So, NOTHING wrong with the Truck. ALSO this cannot be disabled by the TECH. So you will get warning after warning about your trailer brakes as you drive and only way to stop it is to disconnect = No Brakes/Lights. So I had to do my homework and found out the resistance of all the brake magnets etc since it would not stay in the shorted out mode. It basically stopped doing it by the time I got home to Los Angeles. 4 Magnets Times XX resistance in Paralel should equal XX. I was off by about one magnets worth. So I had to cut my brand new Trailer brake wiring system apart with wire cutters. I thought about it and made my first cut at the second splice that isolated the LF, LR and the RIGHT Side from each other. Right Side measured 1/2 a magnet (2 in paralel) and the LF measured one Magnet and the LR measured NOTHING. It was an open circut. BAM!

THIS IS WHAT I FOUND: THANKS DEXTER.
.

I have a 2020 2500 and Dexter axles on my old airstream and hitched up for the first time and got the warning trailer brakes not connected. I'm not comfortable climbing under the trailer and cutting wires and finding magnets (I have drum brakes). What do you think the best course of action is? Can't trailer without brakes so I'm kinda stuck..

 

[JHeat2500]

I have a 2020 2500 and Dexter axles on my old airstream and hitched up for the first time and got the warning trailer brakes not connected. I'm not comfortable climbing under the trailer and cutting wires and finding magnets (I have drum brakes). What do you think the best course of action is? Can't trailer without brakes so I'm kinda stuck..

Check the trailer brake ground. Make sure it's grounded to the chassis and NOT through the plug.

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[Tom2531]

Hi, I had a similar issue so thanks for this post. I also did a bunch more testing on the exact error messages on this post over here: https://hdrams.com/forum/index.php?threads/brake-controller-troubleshooting-technical-info.6004/

My issue was an intermittent short on the rear axle of a 3 year old trailer. I didn't find the exact location, but narrowed it down enough to know what to do. I will be replacing the trailer brake wiring across the axles and factory crimps. The truck and front half of the trailer wiring was fine.

 

[Will_T]

I had similar issues the first time I towed our TT. I temporarily fixed it by wrapping a layer of electrical tape around the trailer connector so I knew that was where the problem was. I permanently, (I hope), fixed it by replacing both the truck and TT connectors with the EZ Connector. Not inexpensive, but so far I love the way it works. Great customer service and question answering from the company also.

 

[WAG2021RAMS]

I randomly get the brake disconnected message when towing my tt. Cable is good, pins are clean and dielectric greased. Its typically at highway speeds after driving for awhile. Any suggestions? Previous truck didn't have any way to tell me if they were working or not. Thanks guys.

Also have brake problems sometime they work, others times you hope you have enough truck to stop you. Then when they work it locks up all 4 Wheel on trailer. Have had to replace 1 set of tire as the had flat spot on tire and would bounce trailer load as you drove. This is a 2021 3500 with everything on it, made to pull, and will just, sometime will not stop. Have tried verything, changed everything change plug, added grounds to trailer cleaned wire connection hocked to other gooseneck trailers still there. Will have brakes with bumper hitch trailer? Dealer change brake controller did not help, DEALER???? Any one have ideas. If I had not paid so much for this truck I would send it back or sale just could not get my $ back. Like truck other than brake problems

 

[JHeat2500]

Can you provide details about the trailer and what brakes it has?

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[WAG2021RAMS]

Can you provide details about the trailer and what brakes it has?

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Electric brakes on a 2019 Mortiz trailer 20000gvw trailer duel tandem. Pulled this trailer behind my Ford and have no problems and other people have also pull trailer and love it. Some one said that if it has Dexter axles/brakes that they sometimes could problems

 

[JHeat2500]

After roughly 9-10 months with no issues once I added a dedicated ground to the trailer, I started having the "trailer brakes disconnected" alert half way through my new year's trip. After a bit of investigating I found chafed wire jackets where the brake wires were inside the axle tube. The manufacturer left roughly 2 feet of slack inside the axle tube, which led to significant rubbing over the course of time. This was causing the wire to intermittently short to the axle tube which caused a loss of brake connectivity on the truck side. Just one more item to check off the list when troubleshooting brake issues.

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[gimmie11s]

According to Ram, only SAE approved trailer connectors are compatible with the Ram receptacles. They have single large blade in each hole at opposed to two in the old style. This one is made by Hopkins. I have already bought this one to put on the trailer when the truck is delivered as the trailer has the old style. If I recall correctly, the trailer receptacle is made by Hopkins as well.

View attachment 12558

Interesting. Ill have to try this.


Started getting the "trailer brake disconnected" message this weekend on a short trip to the desert.