Integrated Trailer Break Issues

[DHalbrooks]

OK, I towed my New(Old) 2008 fifth wheel toy hauler this week. My 16' 2500 kept throwing warnings. I was getting "check trailer brake" and "Trailer brake not connected" the whole trip. The previous owner never had any issues with connection. I changed out the 7 pin cord hoping that would fix issue, it did not. Checked all wires and there seemed to be nothing loose. I did not pull all 6 hubs and look at brakes. When i called the local trailer place they said that the new vehicles can sometime be very finicky with the Integrated trailer brakes. I ended up driving over 300 miles with no trailer brakes on a 15K trailer. Took it slow as i had no option in the middle of Alaska. My question: has anyone heard of this finicky stuff or is it a bunch of crap? I dropped it off to my local Rv place t0 look at wiring. Any ideas?

 

[RustyJC]

No problem with my 2016 Longhorn 3500. I've pulled the 5th wheel in my signature with both my previous 2011 3500 and the current 2016, and the ITBC in the 2016 functions far better than the ITBC in the 2011. The 5th wheel has electric-over-hydraulic disc brakes. I assume you've gone through the Settings menu on the center display and set up the ITBC for the type of trailer brakes and trailer weight.

Rusty

 

[sag2]

To answer your question they can be very sensitive to trailer wiring problems. The best way to determine if it's the truck or trailer is hook up to another trailer and see if you get the warning.

 

[Hoefler]

Chances are you have a wire running throught the axle tube that has chaeffed and shorting out.

 

[DHalbrooks]

Update: trailer is in shop being checked. Ran code checker and this is what popped up:
looks like there is an issue with control module.

 

[RustyJC]

Well, at least they have somewhere to look. Any idea what the U0712 code is (yeah, I'm too lazy to Google it )?

Rusty

 

[DHalbrooks]

Well, at least they have somewhere to look. Any idea what the U0712 code is (yeah, I'm too lazy to Google it )?
.

Rusty

Looks like it has to do with the clutch fan

 

[MRinehart]

Yepic having same issues.Interesting to know what you find out.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

It seems there are two threads started for this problem so, I'll post the question here as well.......

Well, did you ever resolve anything?

My new 2016 just did the same thing - only intermediately towards the end of a short trip (40 miles). Then it started to work again. In the driveway I could get it to fail every now and then. Noticed the brake lights did NOT come on when manually applying the trailer brakes when the unit was not working.

Looked at the Factory Service Manual and didn't see much explanation about how the unit actually works or why it would cut off.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Here is what I found: Both axles had wiring issues with the wire inside the axle tube. One was rubbed bare in 1 place (both wires), the other had 3 significant spots rubbed through. Amazing the maxbrake never complained.

Replaced ALL the wiring for the brakes with a heavier wire(12 gauge). A quick connection and all worked. Will know for sure next time I tow my tractor.

Dan

 

[TFucili]

Most trailer wiring looks like it was done by a third grader. It's aggravating.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Yea - if that. I guess if the folks who wire trailers don't have the capability to learn how to solder and use shrink tubing, then you don't have to teach them.

 

[Kirwin]

Most trailer wiring looks like it was done by a third grader. It's aggravating.

Yup and most truck wiring problems are because somebody hacked into the trucks wiring harness without considering WTH they were doing!

I can't tell you how many problems I've had to repair because somebody wouldn't buy a 7 to 4 pin adapter before RAM finally made both standard on our trucks.