7 pin trailer connector

[craw169]

Hi, I haven't worked on cars much so forgive me if i am using wrong terms. I also searched the threads for the issue i am having and saw some discussions about it but they didn't really come to any conclusion so i figured i should start a new thread and get most up to date information. most of the other google hits in this area are people who get a trailer connected message with no trailer connected..i am in an opposite position.

I have a 2020 ranger lariat with tow package. I never towed anything with my truck. We are considering to buy a travel trailer but before we commit to that we would like to rent one a couple times to see how we like it. So step 1 of this camping experiment is that i installed the ford OEM trailer brake controller. it went well except i broke one of the grey connectors for the rear brake light (as i saw a lot of others do as well). I joined the wires with lever connectors instead. I think my brake controller is installed correctly but i am not 100% sure. my high mounted rear brake light still works so that gives me confidence that the wires i cut and connected are ok. the TBC control knob glows blue when i press it.

so the next step was i bought a trailer light connector and plugged it into the 7 blade connector. some lights come on the connector and the truck pops up a message "trailer connected". So i was trying to test my brake controller and switch it to the manual mode where the control knob should glow green. this involves applying the brakes and spinning the knob all the way counterclockwise, etc. I never manage to do that though because after a couple seconds of having my foot on the brake pedal i get the trailer disconnected message. at first i thought/hoped that there was an issue with my trailer light tester so i bought a second one. the same thing happens.

i have since found that if i hold my foot on the brake for a few seconds and don't touch the TBC knob at all i will get the same trailer disconnected message. i am hoping that this means that the TBC is not an issue at all. The OEM TBC was pretty expensive at $500 CAD so i really hope i didn't get a defective one. i really doubt they will take it back because i had to cut wires versus use the grey connector with the kit.

i checked the 7 pin connector on the truck. i don't see any debris or corrosion. in fact i am amazed that it is so shiny for a 4 year old truck. so then i removed it and checked the connections from the wire harness to the 7 pin connector (ie, the back connection). That looks fine as well, no corrosion, etc.

anyone have any ideas what is wrong or how to troubleshoot this? i guess i could take it to the dealer but i figure i will get a lecture about installing the brake controller myself and end up paying a lot of money for what is essentially an experiment to see if we like trailers and camping. i don't want to do anything unsafe...before i tow any trailer i need to know that my 7 pin trailer connector and TBC are working properly.

any help is greatly appreciated!

ps. apologies if this is in the wrong forum or if i should have just bumped one of the older threads i saw.

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[Grumpaw]

You have to have a trailer/7 pin plug, attached to the truck to get a proper reading/test of all the systems. One of those trailer plug testers will not provide the necessary connections for the Ranger to "read" it properly.
If you have a neighbor who has a trailer, just ask if you can plug it into the Ranger.....you don't have to hook it up, just plug it in and you will be able to check all the functions. You won't be able to test brakes without towing, but while still, someone standing next to the trailer wheel/brake should be able to hear it function.
If everything is working, the only item you will have to address is when setting up your/any trailer will be to set the gain to the brakes to match the braking of the truck. Once set it will remain until you change it...pretty much set it and forget it.
Next time list it in the "towing" section....it will be seen quicker by those of us who tow.

 

[Cabose-1]

I installed the redarc. Which is the same as yours? Mine did not go through the set up process untill i connected a trailer. Then it was all good.
So if you have the same one, you may have to go through the same process.
When picking up a travel trailer slow and easy. They usually screw up the whole adjustment process

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

You have to have a trailer/7 pin plug, attached to the truck to get a proper reading/test of all the systems. One of those trailer plug testers will not provide the necessary connections for the Ranger to "read" it properly.
If you have a neighbor who has a trailer, just ask if you can plug it into the Ranger.....you don't have to hook it up, just plug it in and you will be able to check all the functions. You won't be able to test brakes without towing, but while still, someone standing next to the trailer wheel/brake should be able to hear it function.
If everything is working, the only item you will have to address is when setting up your/any trailer will be to set the gain to the brakes to match the braking of the truck. Once set it will remain until you change it...pretty much set it and forget it.
Next time list it in the "towing" section....it will be seen quicker by those of us who tow.

Maybe @AzScorpion will move this thread over to the Towing section.

@craw169 , where in ON are you located? One of the few members in the province might have a trailer you can test it on.

 

[Grumpaw]

Maybe @AzScorpion will move this thread over to the Towing section.

@craw169 , where in ON are you located? One of the few members in the province might have a trailer you can test it on.

 

[Stevedbvik1]

Hi, I haven't worked on cars much so forgive me if i am using wrong terms. I also searched the threads for the issue i am having and saw some discussions about it but they didn't really come to any conclusion so i figured i should start a new thread and get most up to date information. most of the other google hits in this area are people who get a trailer connected message with no trailer connected..i am in an opposite position.

I have a 2020 ranger lariat with tow package. I never towed anything with my truck. We are considering to buy a travel trailer but before we commit to that we would like to rent one a couple times to see how we like it. So step 1 of this camping experiment is that i installed the ford OEM trailer brake controller. it went well except i broke one of the grey connectors for the rear brake light (as i saw a lot of others do as well). I joined the wires with lever connectors instead. I think my brake controller is installed correctly but i am not 100% sure. my high mounted rear brake light still works so that gives me confidence that the wires i cut and connected are ok. the TBC control knob glows blue when i press it.

so the next step was i bought a trailer light connector and plugged it into the 7 blade connector. some lights come on the connector and the truck pops up a message "trailer connected". So i was trying to test my brake controller and switch it to the manual mode where the control knob should glow green. this involves applying the brakes and spinning the knob all the way counterclockwise, etc. I never manage to do that though because after a couple seconds of having my foot on the brake pedal i get the trailer disconnected message. at first i thought/hoped that there was an issue with my trailer light tester so i bought a second one. the same thing happens.

i have since found that if i hold my foot on the brake for a few seconds and don't touch the TBC knob at all i will get the same trailer disconnected message. i am hoping that this means that the TBC is not an issue at all. The OEM TBC was pretty expensive at $500 CAD so i really hope i didn't get a defective one. i really doubt they will take it back because i had to cut wires versus use the grey connector with the kit.

i checked the 7 pin connector on the truck. i don't see any debris or corrosion. in fact i am amazed that it is so shiny for a 4 year old truck. so then i removed it and checked the connections from the wire harness to the 7 pin connector (ie, the back connection). That looks fine as well, no corrosion, etc.

anyone have any ideas what is wrong or how to troubleshoot this? i guess i could take it to the dealer but i figure i will get a lecture about installing the brake controller myself and end up paying a lot of money for what is essentially an experiment to see if we like trailers and camping. i don't want to do anything unsafe...before i tow any trailer i need to know that my 7 pin trailer connector and TBC are working properly.

any help is greatly appreciated!

ps. apologies if this is in the wrong forum or if i should have just bumped one of the older threads i saw.

I’ll PM you contact info for Lumen who puts the Ford TBC together for them. They will get you straightened out.

 

[craw169]

wow...you guys have provided such good information and such a relief to me! i spent 2 days getting that TBC installed (3 hours just to find the wires under the dash...why don't the instructions say just look for blue tape) and then i was worried i had some other issue in my ranger (that i still really love after 4 years of having it!)

THANK YOU!

so to confirm it is normal for me to see constant "trailer connected" "trailer disconnected" messages in my left hand dash screen if just using a tester.

i don't have a trailer or friends with one so that i could test with an actual trailer. there is a RV dealer very close to me...maybe they will let me try. i didn't know that the light tester wasn't good enough to actually test it and the constant connected/disconnected messages made me think i either installed the TBC wrong or it was defective or i had a defective wires to the 7 pin in the back.

i am in Ottawa Canada...south part of the city not far from the airport.

sorry that i didn't put it in the towing thread...i was like well it is towing related but it is also an "issue" so i put it here. admins please move it to the right place!

and again thank you!!!!

 

[Grumpaw]

Yeah, messages on dash are normal for the "tester".
The fact that your getting the messages indicates you probably have it hooked up correctly, but you need to connect a trailer/plug up to check all the lighting functions and brake function.
I was going to suggest a dealer...hopefully they will just let you plug into a camper for a check.

 

[craw169]

the one little bit of doubt i have left is that at the end of the installation instructions they say to connect a trailer light tester and change the modes, etc....that is why i went and bought that tester.

but i will listen to all your great advice and just go and ask a dealer if they will let me hook up the 7 pin of a real trailer....i can't buy it from them if i don't know my truck works!

there is an rv show here in ottawa that i will go to this weekend...just to see the different trailers that i can safely tow....i hope i don't get tempted and buy one...better route is for me to rent a couple times to be sure that we like it...i am pretty sure i will but my wife isn't really into camping unless i can park right on a beach somewhere

thank you all once again for the help!

 

[Grumpaw]

the one little bit of doubt i have left is that at the end of the installation instructions they say to connect a trailer light tester and change the modes, etc....that is why i went and bought that tester.

but i will listen to all your great advice and just go and ask a dealer if they will let me hook up the 7 pin of a real trailer....i can't buy it from them if i don't know my truck works!

there is an rv show here in ottawa that i will go to this weekend...just to see the different trailers that i can safely tow....i hope i don't get tempted and buy one...better route is for me to rent a couple times to be sure that we like it...i am pretty sure i will but my wife isn't really into camping unless i can park right on a beach somewhere

thank you all once again for the help!

When you go to an RV show, leave your money, checkbook, and credit cards at home !!!.The sales people at these shows are worse than used car salesman, and the majority of them don't even own an rv, much less how they operate or what is the proper equipment to tow one (if a trailer). They will do everything in their power to get you to buy one....especially a "show rig" that has had hundreds of lookers walk thru, pull on everything, and generally destroy it.
But, do take a careful look at how these rigs are constructed....better known manufacturers will have a bit more quality than the off brands, but don't expect great quality or construction even from "top brand expensive" rigs....they are likely to have as many problems as a cheap entry level rig.
First and most important tp I can give you....you MUST be a do-it-yourselfer to get into and own an RV......it not, you will be taking your rig to the dealer for very minor items and repairs that he may take weeks to fix. Think of the routine repairs you do around your home....now think of your home bouncing down the road at 60 mph....and rv's are nowhere as quality constructed as your home.
Both of you lie down on the bed, sit on the pottie, stand and move around in the shower....make sure there is enough room for you......we once bought a class c motorhome that only had a few hundred miles on it and was used once, for half the price cause the two people could not/would not fit into the bed and couldn't fit in the shower....they just got caught up in the buying frenzy of "camping under the stars".
If looking at a new rig, NEVER EVER pay retail or sticker....offer at least 25% less than sticker and negotiate from there....if they won't talk, than walk. A used rig on a dealer lot...figure they paid half of what their asking for it.
And, most rv's only come with a one year warranty on the body...appliances may have up to a 2 year. But take that into consideration as to what time of year you buy....if you buy one at the end of fall, or when it starts to get cold, you may not be using it until early spring, maybe 3-5 months, and that much of your warranty will be lost, and you won't know if everything is good until you've taken a few trips.
Not trying to scare you away from RV'ing....just be aware that there is a lot involved as far as maintaince, upkeep, repairs. I've owned around a dozen over the 50 years we have been owners, and I'm still out weekly fuddling around with our present rig, modding, upkeep, ect.

 

[craw169]

When you go to an RV show, leave your money, checkbook, and credit cards at home !!!.The sales people at these shows are worse than used car salesman, and the majority of them don't even own an rv, much less how they operate or what is the proper equipment to tow one (if a trailer). They will do everything in their power to get you to buy one....especially a "show rig" that has had hundreds of lookers walk thru, pull on everything, and generally destroy it.
But, do take a careful look at how these rigs are constructed....better known manufacturers will have a bit more quality than the off brands, but don't expect great quality or construction even from "top brand expensive" rigs....they are likely to have as many problems as a cheap entry level rig.
First and most important tp I can give you....you MUST be a do-it-yourselfer to get into and own an RV......it not, you will be taking your rig to the dealer for very minor items and repairs that he may take weeks to fix. Think of the routine repairs you do around your home....now think of your home bouncing down the road at 60 mph....and rv's are nowhere as quality constructed as your home.
Both of you lie down on the bed, sit on the pottie, stand and move around in the shower....make sure there is enough room for you......we once bought a class c motorhome that only had a few hundred miles on it and was used once, for half the price cause the two people could not/would not fit into the bed and couldn't fit in the shower....they just got caught up in the buying frenzy of "camping under the stars".
If looking at a new rig, NEVER EVER pay retail or sticker....offer at least 25% less than sticker and negotiate from there....if they won't talk, than walk. A used rig on a dealer lot...figure they paid half of what their asking for it.
And, most rv's only come with a one year warranty on the body...appliances may have up to a 2 year. But take that into consideration as to what time of year you buy....if you buy one at the end of fall, or when it starts to get cold, you may not be using it until early spring, maybe 3-5 months, and that much of your warranty will be lost, and you won't know if everything is good until you've taken a few trips.
Not trying to scare you away from RV'ing....just be aware that there is a lot involved as far as maintaince, upkeep, repairs. I've owned around a dozen over the 50 years we have been owners, and I'm still out weekly fuddling around with our present rig, modding, upkeep, ect.

thank you for the advice.,...yes will leave any form of money at home. our plan is to rent a couple times before we commit to buying but i hear you on the sales people and we could get tempted by a great "deal" if not careful. we kind of "accidently" bought a house by just going around looking at model homes when we were bored. that worked out well though because we both work from home now and moved into the new much larger house just before the covid madness and work from home started. we went from 900 sq feet to 2200 sq feet so we have much more room now and have separate work areas.

i am not really great a DIY but since we bought the house have been getting into it more and now have a growing collection of tools (that i can never find when i need a certain tool).

can i ask what size trailer you tow with your ranger? i have seen a lot of people towing pretty heavy stuff along with a lot of others saying a ranger can't tow more than a small tent trailer. there is a lot of conflicting info out there. for me, i want to get something that is well below the limit....maybe max of 5000lbs loaded and that size would suit us just fine i think. it is only me, the wife and a cat but curious to hear what real people are towing with their ranger. i have been all through the towing topics here and most of the conflicting info i read is from other sites.

 

[Grumpaw]

Most of the DIY needed will be small items like reattaching trim, loose screws, ect. Maintaining the roof is probably the most important task to keep after. At least once a year you'll need to get up on top and check the sealant around everything that pokes up thru the roof, and clean the roof itself. If you keep it clean and maintain it on a regular basis, you'll rarely have problems.
We tow a Jayco 24RL...look it up for the specs, and others here tow slightly larger trailers. BUT...those of us that do are experienced and have been towing a long time.
The weight your looking at is well within the Rangers capability, it just needs to be set up right as far as weight placement of everything you put in it, the hitch needed, ect.
A lot to take in and study. I suggest you hit the web sites of any particular make your considering...there are dozens of sites dedicated to specific brands and manufacturers. Probably one of the best is IRV2...they have sites for almost every make/model and you can get a lot on info.
Don't be afraid to ask here or on any forum you join...most all will be helpful.
Our rig....29 foot long/24 foot box, 7000 lbs.

 

[mtbikernate]

i have seen a lot of people towing pretty heavy stuff along with a lot of others saying a ranger can't tow more than a small tent trailer. there is a lot of conflicting info out there.

that's because different people have different skill/experience levels with towing and they have other factors involved that affect the tow. things like terrain they might drive, the length of time that they tow, other stuff they want to transport, and so on. if you're within the vehicle ratings (keeping in mind the weight of any people and cargo in your TV, and the extra weight of the stuff you're carrying in your trailer), you'll be fine within the vehicle's safety ratings.

whether you know what you're doing with that weight is another question, and whether the effects of that weight on your range (and frequency of fuel stops) are acceptable to you is yet another. side subjects to consider are whether you have the space to store a given trailer, whether a trailer of a given size will work for the places you want to go, and so on.

 

[RangerBill]

Here is the Redarc Brake controller testing procedure.

 

[craw169]

that's because different people have different skill/experience levels with towing and they have other factors involved that affect the tow. things like terrain they might drive, the length of time that they tow, other stuff they want to transport, and so on. if you're within the vehicle ratings (keeping in mind the weight of any people and cargo in your TV, and the extra weight of the stuff you're carrying in your trailer), you'll be fine within the vehicle's safety ratings.

whether you know what you're doing with that weight is another question, and whether the effects of that weight on your range (and frequency of fuel stops) are acceptable to you is yet another. side subjects to consider are whether you have the space to store a given trailer, whether a trailer of a given size will work for the places you want to go, and so on.

range and frequency of stops aren't really a big deal for me....i usually need a bathroom break every 1.5-2 hours

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