While going to the track yesterday the warning message popped up saying the trailer was disconnected. It wasn't as I still had all my lights working. As I drove it connected and disconnected several times. Trailer is brand new (not that it matters). I've done some searching on others forums and answers are scattered from truck issues to trailer issues. It's raining for the next couple days so I'm stuck 'laptop troubleshooting'. Have any of you guys had this issue with a newer Ram ? Something else, possibly unrelated, but just thought of.When I went to hook up the camper several months ago after sitting for a while the battery was to weak to work the jack. I plugged it in to the truck and still nothing. I lowered it on the ball, got a spark and it worked. It shouldn't pull 100% of it's ground through the ball, leaving me to think the truck ground is weak. Thoughts ?

Trailer Disconnected message happens due to loss of continuity in the brake circuit, either by disconnect, bad connection, or broken wire. I would look into the brake circuit, or, as you mention, the ground.

Had the same problem and found this. Turned out it was right on.http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463/2011-dodge-ram-trailer-brake-disconnected-problem-79165.html

southernsky wrote:Had the same problem and found this. Turned out it was right on.http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463/2011-dodge-ram-trailer-brake-disconnected-problem-79165.html

I've had that message appear in both a Chevy and a Ford truck that I've towed with. For me, it was the 7 pin plug. They don't really make a real tight connection. I solved my problem by adding a little shim where the tab is to keep the plug in tight.

We had that on our truck. Turned out that three of the four magnets had burned up and the emergency pulled fried its self as well. rewired everything and it was fine..... still traded it in for a new RV

Ram "trailer disconnected" message. | Good Sam Community

LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
CampingN.C. wrote:

Wire coming from the tongue was broke, killing all four. The bigger problem is the axle u-bolts are hitting the frame, which is where the wire got caught.
Can we buy anything worth a cr*p anymore ?

Geez, that's a bad deal. I'm becoming a firm believer of running trailer wiring inside plastic conduit. That eliminates dangling, chaffing, and all kinds of other messes that seem to be too common on trailers.

KJ
CampingN_C_
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
brulaz wrote:
CampingN.C. wrote:
Rain cleared, sure enough I've got a broken brake wire on a two month old trailer.

It happens. Did to me as well.

Were all brakes affected?. Curious whether the controller will tell you if only some of the brakes are working. That's what happened to me. Only noticed it by comparing drum temperatures.

Wire coming from the tongue was broke, killing all four. The bigger problem is the axle u-bolts are hitting the frame, which is where the wire got caught.
Can we buy anything worth a cr*p anymore ?
brulaz
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
CampingN.C. wrote:
Rain cleared, sure enough I've got a broken brake wire on a two month old trailer.

It happens. Did to me as well.

Were all brakes affected?. Curious whether the controller will tell you if only some of the brakes are working. That's what happened to me. Only noticed it by comparing drum temperatures.
CampingN_C_
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
Rain cleared, sure enough I've got a broken brake wire on a two month old trailer.
ACZL
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
CampingN.C. wrote:
So the general consensus is, it's a trailer issue vs. being something wrong with the Ram brake controller?

Correct.
CampingN_C_
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
So the general consensus is, it's a trailer issue vs. being something wrong with the Ram brake controller?
ACZL
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
Choo-Choo is spot on as I had the same thing happen to my new snowmobile trailer last year. Bought new in '14, worked great-no problems winter of '14-'15. Drop at dealer for the summer, pick it up dec '15 and same deal as OP. Lights, no brakes. After a fair amount of digging, found 3 of 4 brakes seized up/not working. Dexter axles/brakes and they said it was my fault, but as good-will, sent me a check to get fixed. Put new brakes on and no more message signs on dash. Plus trailer now stops again. Found out too that there were NO rubber plugs on brake drums thus allowing salt water to get at components.
The_real_wild1
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
The very first thing to do is to crimp the terminals a little tighter. Even on my new truck and enclosed trailer I had this happen. Tightened the terminals and no more issue. I have to do this at work on the big trailers as well. After plugging in a bunch of times they terminals can spread. If that doesn't work then look at the wiring.
campigloo
Explorer
Jan 01, 2017
Mine did that very intermidantly. The problem was a bare spot on one of the trailer wires
where it comes out of the axle tube
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Jan 01, 2017
RobWNY wrote:
I've had that message appear in both a Chevy and a Ford truck that I've towed with. For me, it was the 7 pin plug. They don't really make a real tight connection. I solved my problem by adding a little shim where the tab is to keep the plug in tight.

This. I changed out the plug on my trailers (both boat and RV). No more disconnected message. And my boat was brand new.

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Ram "trailer disconnected" message.

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