What's the low down for '06 and up for plugging in RV/ trailers

[fkovalski]

I read superficially about issues with 2006 and up trucks with respect to the trailer wiring circuits. It was (as I recall) that if there is a short in the trailer or RV that it could damage one of the computer circuits that was added to the 06 models.



I did not pay too much attention to it as it did not affect my truck. I have a friend who has a newer truck and I was relating this to him... but I do not want to mis inform.



Could someone please enlighten me?

 

[WMonroe]

Their is a resettable fuse built into the computer that can only be reset twice (not sure?) before the computer needs replaced. I towed my camper, gooseneck, and a few other random trailers that didn't belong to me and everything has been fine.

Will

 

[HBarlow]

All the lighting circuits on the truck are monitored by the ECM (PCM?) in order to provide a bulb out indication to the driver. I don't think trailer lights are monitored but if a trailer with botched wiring is plugged in it will trip the electronic breakers in the ECM/PCM and require a dealer visit for reset. I've read on TDR the module that can be blown is expensive.

Maybe one of the trained dealer techs will post with accurate detailed facts. My knowledge of this is light and general.

 

[wcjp]

I was also concerned about my 06' wiring. I'm powering my TC off the bumper. Immediate splitter then feeds TC and car hauler.

 

[jelag]

I have an 08 and found that we never really kept the batteries charged in the trailers we tow... . we've actually ran an 8 gauge wire from the 12+(fused 40 amp) to the trailer connector, through the trailer wiring to a junction box and use that to charge the battery... and of course a ground wire as well...

We than run 12+ relays powered off that power supply and use the LT, RT, Tail etc to fire those relays... mounted in a box in the trailer.....

All of a sudden we have good voltage at the batteries and have removed the load from PCM... .

BTW as we look back at this... . we've thought of 2 things... . the charging system lowers charging voltage on warm to hot days... . and the wire gauge going through the factory loom is fused at 20 amps but looks like its designed to handle 5 or 10 amps...

We've since done the same to our 05, 04. 5 and 04...

We've also noted that the lights on the trailers are at least 25% brighter with this fix... .

Last point... . we're where we get snow and blowing snow. . so all my trailers have real bulbs... we wanted to convert them over to LED but found that there is NOT ENOUGH heat from an LED to keep the snow dust from covering the bulb and rendering it useless... . but the standard bulb style lights keeps the snow melted off...

Hope this helps. .

 

[CKelley1]

jelag did it the best way. we bought a 6 bay fuse panel and 6 relays, mounted them in a box and mounted the box inside the bed. used a 50 amp thermal breaker and 8 gauge wire to feed the box. no load on pcm and the cost was less than $50 and saturday afternoon