Forum Discussion

patperry2766's avatar
patperry2766
Explorer II
May 26, 2019

2018 Ram Integrated trailer brake problems

Trailer: 2014 Flagstaff HW pop-up with electric brakes.

Had a Ford F-150 with aftermarket controller and everything worked fine. Now I have a 2018 Ram 2500 with the integrated trailer brake controller. Hooked it up today and it takes getting to Gain +10 for it to even feel like the brakes on the trailer are starting to engage. It in no way significantly slows the vehicles down. All brake lights/running lights operate as they should.

I have played with the settings menu with the light/heavy electric & light/heavy EOH and nothing seems to make a difference. The 30A fuse in #11 looks good, and it doesn't say that the trailer is disconnected.

Would the health of the trailer's 12V battery have any impact on the trailer brake operation, or is it powered from the 7 pin connector?

What am I missing or in which direction do I need to go? Thanks
Tow Vehicles
  • patperry2766's avatar
    patperry2766
    Explorer II
    May 27, 2019
    Learjet wrote:
    Try it at higher speeds, I think the controller is speed sensitive...so as to provide a smother brake experience at lower speeds.

    Also, have you gone into the menu and tried a heavy trailer option?


    I went into the settings and tried all 4 options, and got about the same response equally. I know on the Ford, when I was just idling down the street, I could bring the truck/trailer to a complete stop by just sliding the manual lever, but on this new truck I could barely notice that it was engaging the trailer brakes at all. When I hook it up again, I'll see if I can notice any appreciable difference at higher speeds.
  • Learjet's avatar
    Learjet
    Explorer
    May 27, 2019
    Try it at higher speeds, I think the controller is speed sensitive...so as to provide a smother brake experience at lower speeds.

    Also, have you gone into the menu and tried a heavy trailer option?
  • mich800's avatar
    mich800
    Explorer
    May 27, 2019
    You said you had a Ford with an aftermarket controller. I assume this means you did not have the integrated controller. The integrated controllers in all the makes are much smoother. It will be a different feeling if you are expecting to feel the trailer brakes leading the tow vehicle.
  • patperry2766's avatar
    patperry2766
    Explorer II
    May 26, 2019
    Learjet wrote:
    The Ram 2500, especially if you have the Cummins, is a lot heavier than that F150 you had... the brakes may feel as if they are not doing as much with the heavier truck


    Not the case this time. It took to +10 to even feel them starting to engage.
  • patperry2766's avatar
    patperry2766
    Explorer II
    May 26, 2019
    Lynnmor wrote:
    The trailer battery has nothing to do with normal operation of your brakes.

    Did you try the brakes with the manual control while driving above 20 MPH?

    Does the truck have the ability to report that a trailer is connected per the owners manual?


    No for the over 20 MPH part.

    It is my understanding that it will report if the trailer is disconnected, other Ram owners might be able to confirm or deny
  • Learjet's avatar
    Learjet
    Explorer
    May 26, 2019
    The Ram 2500, especially if you have the Cummins, is a lot heavier than that F150 you had... the brakes may feel as if they are not doing as much with the heavier truck
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    May 26, 2019
    The trailer battery has nothing to do with normal operation of your brakes.

    Did you try the brakes with the manual control while driving above 20 MPH?

    Does the truck have the ability to report that a trailer is connected per the owners manual?

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