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wvu_traveler's avatar
wvu_traveler
Explorer
May 17, 2022

Trailer Brakes Disconnected message

I have a 2017 Ram 2500 with the integrated brake controller and a 2016 Sandpiper 5th wheel. I have owned both for 3 years now. For some reason, ever since I pulled the camper from storage the truck no longer sees it when I plug the 7 way cord in. All lights and functions work on the camper. Output has been tested and works at the plug. I bought a tester from Amazon to measure the brake force being pushed and see no problem there. I took the camper down to my local RV shop where they hooked a brake simulator up to the camper and asked me to pull forward/backward few feet and they crossed a wire (I think, I was driving) and it initiated the brakes on the trailer and it stopped fine without me tapping the brakes. They say the trailer brake system is fine. They blame the truck, yet I can't explain why it does not see the camper. They checked all fuses - all good. To make it worse, when I pull out and head down the road the truck begins to see it 'connected'. I can manually engage the brakes with the controller slide and adjust as needed or just tap the brakes and feel it engage. When I stop or slow - same message Trailer Disconnected message. I'm out of ideas on how to proceed.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    May 17, 2022
    I replaced my 7 pin plug with a higher quality model and that solved my issue.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    May 17, 2022
    Roger10378 wrote:
    I do a modified version of the emery board. I use a Popsicle stick with some very fine polishing paper. It is enough to remove the oxidation without worrying about being too aggressive.


    Now that's a good idea
  • Roger10378's avatar
    Roger10378
    Explorer II
    May 17, 2022
    I do a modified version of the emery board. I use a Popsicle stick with some very fine polishing paper. It is enough to remove the oxidation without worrying about being too aggressive.
  • camp-n-family's avatar
    camp-n-family
    Explorer
    May 17, 2022
    agesilaus wrote:
    Well swell, I just got a 2018 2500 and I hope I'm not getting a preveiw of what's coming


    Just a taste. Every repair is automatically $1200. I’ve had 3 so far since the warranty was up ;)
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    May 17, 2022
    Well swell, I just got a 2018 2500 and I hope I'm not getting a preveiw of what's coming
  • camp-n-family's avatar
    camp-n-family
    Explorer
    May 17, 2022
    I have the same truck and got the same message regularly. It was worse when it rained or on long trips after a couple hours on the road. It would start with a check trailer brakes message then trailer disconnected message, then would correct itself to normal and cycle intermittently. The last straw was when the brakes failed when I hit them after a truck pulled out in front of us.

    The dealer checked the truck wiring and found no errors. I went over the trailer and cleaned and tightened all the wiring connections. This helped. Once at home I replaced the trailer plug and wiring right back to the block on the frame. Haven’t had a problem since and the brakes are much stronger now too.
  • MNRon's avatar
    MNRon
    Explorer
    May 17, 2022
    What agesilaus said. Plus you might try using a screwdriver and bending the prongs a little tighter.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    May 17, 2022
    We used to get that on our F350. A good shot of good quality contact cleaner on the plug and socket would fix it for a month or so. Running a fingernail emery board in the plug help but you need to be careful and not get too enthusiastic while doing it.

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