Trailer connect

[GregA]

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

[StirCrazy]

mkirsch wrote:

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?

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

yes the 12V charge. I disabled it becuse I have solar on both the 5th wheel and the camper, as well as 6V deep cycles that I want to have the proper charge going to. Mind you I am looking at a DC to DC charger for emergencys in the camper when I am camping in the winter.

[StirCrazy]

TxGearhead wrote:

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

What if you have disc brakes...no magnets?

there is actualy a setting for hyd trailer brakes in the dash menu.

[Grit_dog]

guidry wrote:
Not sure if it will help you or not but I have a 2016 Chev truck and had a 2003 Northern Lite TC. When I connected the cord after a few brakes the TC would burn out the light fuse. After many checks I finally called Northern Lite and they said to disconnect the rear brake light above my TC because of the age difference. I tried it and it worked. So, your problem "may" be connected (see what I did there) to the age difference of your rigs. Good luck

Please expound on this. You run your TC with no brake lights?
Since the OP flaked after one post we can discuss your issue instead.

[guidry]

Not sure if it will help you or not but I have a 2016 Chev truck and had a 2003 Northern Lite TC. When I connected the cord after a few brakes the TC would burn out the light fuse. After many checks I finally called Northern Lite and they said to disconnect the rear brake light above my TC because of the age difference. I tried it and it worked. So, your problem "may" be connected (see what I did there) to the age difference of your rigs. Good luck

[ScottG]

TxGearhead wrote:

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

What if you have disc brakes...no magnets?

Still has an actuator but may also require different setting in trucks puter. Haven't done that so not sure.

[TxGearhead]

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

What if you have disc brakes...no magnets?

[Grit_dog]

mkirsch wrote:

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.

Well, not much silly-er than the original post…. To be fair.

[mkirsch]

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.

[StirCrazy]

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

[Grit_dog]

@GregA….
Is now a good time?

[Bedlam]

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]

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]

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]

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)