Fifth Wheel Towing

[Grunt]

Just got back home this morning from another camping trip. The last several trips I have been getting warnings on my dash board saying 1)trailer brake disconnected 2) check trailer brake wiring. I drive a 2015 Dodge Ram 3500 DRW 4x4 and have a 2011 Jayco Eagle 351rlts. All the wires and plugs seem to be alright. Just the alarms seem to come and go. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Burchie70]

I would start by looking for a loose ground wire on the vehicle or 5th wheel trailer wiring harness.

[jasonmiddlebrooks]

Originally Posted by Grunt

Just got back home this morning from another camping trip. The last several trips I have been getting warnings on my dash board saying 1)trailer brake disconnected 2) check trailer brake wiring. I drive a 2015 Dodge Ram 3500 DRW 4x4 and have a 2011 Jayco Eagle 351rlts. All the wires and plugs seem to be alright. Just the alarms seem to come and go. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sounds like you have the integrated brake controller...... I have had similar problems (12 RAM 3500) with mine. As a matter of fact I had to pull the fuse under the hood on one trip because my truck started saying that message and then would supply enough constant voltage to engage the trailer brakes all the time. I ordered a new factory integrated brake controller when I got home. Was going to replace it but started messing around troubleshooting and testing things and kinda figured out it is related to the brake squeeze knob on the controller. That knob can get into a wired position or maybe had some dirt in it best I can tell. Call me crazy but I have not had a problem with it lately. I have thought about getting a Tekonsha P3 controller and mounting it in the truck that way all I would have to do is switch the wire under the dash if the integrated one starts to act up.

But it could be wiring on the truck, plug, or trailer. One way to tell if it is the controller or at least rule out the wiring on the trailer is to connect to another trailer and see if it happens. Of course you would need to know someone or have a second trailer to do that......

[norty1]

also verify that your trailer brakes are working. On my truck the brake controller indicator does not show a connection when connected to my utility trailer because it's looking for brake connections.

[eagleback]

Check the plug. I have a 2017 from a 2013 Ram integrated brake controller and if the truck is running and the plug has been pulled or is loose the cluster will show brake disconnect error. use silicone grease and make sure the plug is locked in tight.

[TWP723]

Make sure the plug in the back of the truck-side harness is in all the way.

[Mopar_Earl]

Also make sure the truck has all the latest flashes.


Earl

[norty1]

I have to wrap my plug in the bed with a small piece of 1/2 inch velcro tape to keep it from working loose.

[JohnWedell]

I had the same truck but in SRW. It may not be the same problem but in april of this year we towed our trailer to Disney. On the way down the truck had severe problems. I took it to the nearest Dodge dealer for repairs. They replaced the crank shaft sensor, the trailer tow module and the trailer brake module. They all shorted out. Luckily it was still under warranty. I just traded up to the truck in my sig.

[Marine71-76]

TAKE YOUR DRUMS OFF & CHECK YOUR BRAKES.

We have a 2007 F450 and on a trip to Virginia Beach in 2016 just before the bridge we had "wiring fault on trailer" pop up. Pulled over & checked everything. Mobile service came out & said it was an issue with our truck. Ford checked the truck - nope. On way back to Cincinnati same thing happened. We were already scheduled for warranty work so had them check...sure enough one of the wires on the brakes was wrapped around the spindle. The tech was showing us there was "nothing wrong" with our brakes until I asked about the wire that was wrapped around the spindle.

[Fyrehuntr]

We had the same issue on a 2013 Whitehawk 27dsrl. Towing with a 2013 F150. Received a message of “wiring fault on trailer”. Unplugged 7 pin plug from truck and inspected...nothing noted...cleaned male and female plugs. Plugged back in and no problems....thought I had it resolved...until about 200 miles later...then same issue. Took truck to ford dealership, then camper to dealer. Nothing found on either. The problem persisted. On the third visit to our jayco delaer...they found the factroy wiring for the brakes had bad bullet connectors. They replaced the wiring and bad connectors. Never had another issue. Electrical issues can be troublesome to track down. Your issue may be similar to mine or it may be what some of the others have posted. Good luck, stay safe.

[theracqueteer]

Moisture in the connectors or wiring harness will also give this error.