Trailer Not Connected on new truck

[Brushy Creek Ranch]

I absolutely HATE the Integrated Trailer brake on the Gen 4 Dodges! I had this problem with my 2015 3500 and now with my 2017! Two out of three of my trailers read Trailer Not Connected. We have cleaned the trailer plugs and cycled thru all the trailer brake options. We have turned off the trailer auxillary battery systems. The 2017 3H LQ trailer is electric only. The 2000 4 Star is elec/hyd. Both have 8K axles. The only trailer that the truck will recognize is the 2013 Montana 3900 FB 5th wheel with 7K axles and electric brakes. All three trailers connect to our farm mechanics 2015 2500 with NO issue! Help! I couldn't find anyone in the Little Rock area to bypass the OEM brake on my 2015. So hubby just bought me a 2017 3500. Why would the trailers work fine with the 2500 but not connect to the two 3500? Dealer brought a new 2017 2500 to the ranch and it connected to all three trailers just fine. But the 3500 won't?

 

[SnoKing]

I absolutely HATE the Integrated Trailer brake on the Gen 4 Dodges! I had this problem with my 2015 3500 and now with my 2017! Two out of three of my trailers read Trailer Not Connected. We have cleaned the trailer plugs and cycled thru all the trailer brake options. We have turned off the trailer auxillary battery systems. The 2017 3H LQ trailer is electric only. The 2000 4 Star is elec/hyd. Both have 8K axles. The only trailer that the truck will recognize is the 2013 Montana 3900 FB 5th wheel with 7K axles and electric brakes. All three trailers connect to our farm mechanics 2015 2500 with NO issue! Help! I couldn't find anyone in the Little Rock area to bypass the OEM brake on my 2015. So hubby just bought me a 2017 3500. Why would the trailers work fine with the 2500 but not connect to the two 3500? Dealer brought a new 2017 2500 to the ranch and it connected to all three trailers just fine. But the 3500 won't?

There is something wrong with the 3500(s)!!!!!

 

[Alan Reagan]

Don’t know if you have solved this problem yet but I had the same issue with my 2015. The connector that is in the rear bumper is a snap together piece. The locking device is on the outside of the bumper. The part that holds the wires is on the forward side of the rear bumper. If the the wire holder is not completely snapped in the the locking device, you will get the trailer not connected message and intermittent brakes. It took me a while to figure it out. I checked it with the trailer connected and it was obvious that the trailer connector was pushing the wire carrier toward the spare tire. I had to put a significant amount of pressure on the locking device and push very hard on the wire carrier to get it to lock on both sides as required.

 

[wyosteve]

Thanks for the info Alan. I have the same problem intermittently with my gooseneck flatbed. 5th wheel and boat trailer recognize just fine. I'll give your approach a try.

 

[Alan Reagan]

That’s what mine was doing. Both the in bed and bumper 7 pin connectors are put together the same way. Look at both. Hope it works for you. Once that problem was solved, I have found the integrated controller to work pretty good with my trailers.

 

[hemijimmy]

There is something wrong with the 3500(s)!!!!!

I will add my two cents. I have a 2017 3500 and a 2018 Cyclone 44 ft tow hauler. We spent about 6 weeks last summer traveling. While on good road my controller and brakes worked great. We got up in snow country where the roads where ruff as hell and mine started the "check trailer brake message" then " Brakes Disconnected" in 5 o'clock traffic downtown Nashville. We stayed 4 days in a KOA and tried to figure out the issue. Took truck to dealer and even though no DTC code talked them into replacing controller. Pulled trailer, same ****. I replaced and rewired a new pigtail to trailer. Same ****. Added a new ground at Junction box, same ****. Tried bumper plug. same ****. I had some Ty wraps so just out of dumb luck I plugged in pigtail in the truck bed and pulled the cable up and Ty wrapped tight to the side of truck so the cable would not move the plug at all on bumpy road. Problem solved. Completed trip and never had another issue. Once in a while if i hit a big sharp bump I may get a "check trailer brake" but problem I think has to do with the software in the controller. It senses continuity to warn you if the connections fail. The plug jarring around with the heavy cable hanging on it disrupts continuity just enough that their soft ware thinks it see's a wiring problem. After a few of those the software disconnects to protect controller it thinks. DODGE RAM should fix the software to not be so damn sensitive, please. So I have a big jug of Ty wraps when I travel now and I Ty warp every time we tow. Problem cured with a 5 cent Ty wrap. I have aprox 5000 miles on the Ty wrap fix so far so good. Cyclone points at Ram, Ram points at Cyclone (Heartland), nothing wrong with my trailer or brakes. Ram please rewrite software.

 

[JR]

Thanks for the info Alan. I have the same problem intermittently with my gooseneck flatbed. 5th wheel and boat trailer recognize just fine. I'll give your approach a try.

If you are only having issues with one trailer I'd look at the brake wiring closely on that trailer. As has been mentioned, the ITBM is extremely sensitive and even slightly corroded wires or an iffy ground will cause problems. I had to redo the wiring on both my tilt deck AND 5th wheel when I got my 14, neither of which my 98 had an issue with.

 

[wyosteve]

Thanks for the insight Hemijimmy. That could be what my problem is with the gooseneck flatbed as the wiring harness is pretty exposed to the wind with movement.

 

[JackFate]

My tt loses brakes , If I unplug & do a bit of prying on the trailer connections with a pocket knife ( either 3:00 or 9:00 pin positions,I forget) I’m good again

 

[SnoKing]

The RAM ITBC is a mixed blessing? It is picky about the trailers wiring. That said, is it not better to know that there are wiring/connection issue ahead of time vs when you might really he the brakes?

 

[JR]

The RAM ITBC is a mixed blessing? It is picky about the trailers wiring. That said, is it not better to know that there are wiring/connection issue ahead of time vs when you might really he the brakes?

I didn't realize I had an issue with my 5th wheel wiring until I was in the mountains in upper New York. Brakes worked flawless for 300+ miles. And then they didn't! Exhaust brake saved my bacon on that trip, lots of long rolling hills.

My tilt deck on the other hand it never accepted so I knew before I ever left the driveway there was an issue. Both trailers hooked to my 98 with a Maxbrake a week prior with no problems.

 

[NIsaacs]

My tt loses brakes , If I unplug & do a bit of prying on the trailer connections with a pocket knife ( either 3:00 or 9:00 pin positions,I forget) I’m good again

Change your trailer plug to a spring loaded double contact type, most are single spade. I think they are called artic cold weather plugs. I prefer the ones with a sealed pigtail rather than just the plug that you wire in. Here is a link to one with a prewired junction box. I recommend if you use a junction box that you leave the cover off or it will fill with condensed moisture and rust up. I have only found the good ones in Epicord or Bargman.

https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Epicord/277-000141.html

Some pictures of the different type:

Single spade:

Double contact, poor picture:

Nick

 

[JackFate]

Change your trailer plug to a spring loaded double contact type, most are single spade. I think they are called artic cold weather plugs. I prefer the ones with a sealed pigtail rather than just the plug that you wire in. Here is a link to one with a prewired junction box. I recommend if you use a junction box that you leave the cover off or it will fill with condensed moisture and rust up. I have only found the good ones in Epicord or Bargman.

https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Epicord/277-000141.html

Some pictures of the different type:

Single spade: View attachment 101528

Double contact, poor picture: View attachment 101529

Nick

Thanks, considered changing trailer plug , it is already the double contact style .Not sure which plug is the culprit, could be the truck. I will go through it all before I tow again. I will say all contact points are in pristine condition.

Thanks for your input