BrakeSmart/Trailer Problem...Any Suggestions?

[PondMedic]

I installed my brakesmart tonight on my 2004. 5 Dodge Ram 3500. After the installation was complete, I hooked up to my trailer (tongue on ball for the ground) and I could not get the trailer brakes to engage nor did the controller recognize there was a trailer hooked up. I tried it on both of my trailers (single axle electric brakes) with no success. I tried the thumb brake as well as the brake pedal on the truck with no success.



I just ran my trailers down the road today on my old brake controller (timing) box and the trailer brakes worked fine. Anyway, tonight I tested the brakesmart controller by depressing the thumb brake and testing with a test light to see if it was sending a signal to the wiring harness on the truck…all was well…the test light lit up as it should have (as well as the terminal for the brake lights).



So…why doesn’t the brakesmart controller recognize there is a trailer hooked up and why aren’t the trailer brakes engaging?



Anyone have any suggestions?



Thanks!

 

[KWentling]

I don't have the book in front of me, but there is a special set up you have to do for a single axle trailer. I didn't pay much attention to it because all of my trailers are 2 or more axles. Have you done that?

Kim

 

[RustyJC]

... . (tongue on ball for the ground)... .

If you're serious about this and you don't have ground continuity through the 7-pin connector, this may well be your problem. One should NEVER depend on the hitch connection for ground continuity between the trailer and tow vehicle.



Rusty

 

[BHiggins]

Hook up a good ground through the wiring harness as RustyJC said, never rely on the hitch to ground your trailer. I'll be willing to bet that it will work fine once grounded properly.

 

[Parks]

Did you try calling Brakesmart?

They will probably have the correct answer.

 

[pgleavitt]

Not trying to jack this thread

Anyone know if the brakesmart people ever fixed the problem with using a CB while breaking? I tried it on my truck and if you key up the radio it applies full breaking to the trailer.