Forum Discussion

GregA's avatar
GregA
Explorer
Dec 29, 2021

Trailer connect

I have a question regarding "Trailer Connect" on my Ford F350.

I have both a 5th wheel and slide-in camper. The 5th wheel seems to just "connect" if the truck is running. The Slide-in camper only "connects" once I press the brake on the truck.

Anyone know why? I'd like for the slide-in to "connect" without depressing the brake. I have my reason I can get into later but in short I want the batteries in the camper to start charging from a remote truck start. Which I think it does with the 5er.

Cheers,
Greg
Truck Campers
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Dec 29, 2021
    Computer constantly sends tiny signal down brake wire to sense trailers brake magnets presence. So it knows automatically.
  • Buzzcut1's avatar
    Buzzcut1
    Nomad II
    Dec 29, 2021
    Wire it like Lance does. Skip the trucks harness wiring system. Run an 8 gauge wire from the battery through a 50amp relay to the power pin of a dedicated camper bed plug. Truck on camper charges.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Dec 30, 2021
    I’m waiting for the “reason”….lol.
    (Only because there’s no practical benefit to battery charging during a short duration of a remote start)
  • StirCrazy's avatar
    StirCrazy
    Moderator
    Dec 31, 2021
    I have a 14F350 and my camper doesnt show up at all. I believe it used the brake circut to sence if there is something on it but I am not positive on that. it makes sence though as my camper is the only thing that doesnt show up.

    Steve
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Dec 31, 2021
    StirCrazy wrote:
    I have a 14F350 and my camper doesnt show up at all. I believe it used the brake circut to sence if there is something on it but I am not positive on that. it makes sence though as my camper is the only thing that doesnt show up.

    Steve


    But the lights and power still work, correct?
    OP must be insinuating that that stuff doesn’t work until brake depressed. Which seems odd, although I don’t know how the newer Fords work.
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Dec 31, 2021
    My camper and brakeless trailer are not seen by the Ford or Ram. I believe it must have the brake circuit active and have not seen a difference when the brake pedal is applied. My Ford power wire was ignition enabled while my Ram is always present.
  • StirCrazy's avatar
    StirCrazy
    Moderator
    Jan 03, 2022
    Grit dog wrote:
    StirCrazy wrote:
    I have a 14F350 and my camper doesnt show up at all. I believe it used the brake circut to sence if there is something on it but I am not positive on that. it makes sence though as my camper is the only thing that doesnt show up.

    Steve


    But the lights and power still work, correct?
    OP must be insinuating that that stuff doesn’t work until brake depressed. Which seems odd, although I don’t know how the newer Fords work.


    yup they do. well not power, I have it disabled for the camper and the 5th wheel.

    Steve
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Jan 04, 2022
    StirCrazy wrote:
    yup they do. well not power, I have it disabled for the camper and the 5th wheel.


    You have what "disabled?" The 12V charge?

    Why don't you enable it so it comes on when the truck starts?

    You're not going to get the truck to automatically "detect" the TC, because it does not have trailer brakes. I suppose you could put a trailer brake in an external compartment and wire it up, but that just seems silly.

    The 10 minutes of charging you'd gain from a remote start, though, is negligible.

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