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

Computer constantly sends tiny signal down brake wire to sense trailers brake magnets presence. So it knows automatically.

Since the truck is sensing the resistance in the trailer brakes, you could add a resistor to the trailer brake pin. I've never done it but did a quick search and found this thread which did describe a solution down on 1/20/2015. https://www.f150forum.com/f38/can-i-fool-my-trailer-connector-into-thinking-i-have-electronic-brakes-286312/index2/

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.

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)

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

Trailer connect | Good Sam Community

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.
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.
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
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)
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.
kohldad
Explorer III
Dec 29, 2021
Since the truck is sensing the resistance in the trailer brakes, you could add a resistor to the trailer brake pin. I've never done it but did a quick search and found this thread which did describe a solution down on 1/20/2015. https://www.f150forum.com/f38/can-i-fool-my-trailer-connector-into-thinking-i-have-electronic-brakes-286312/index2/
ScottG
Nomad
Dec 29, 2021
Computer constantly sends tiny signal down brake wire to sense trailers brake magnets presence. So it knows automatically.

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