Adding a led taillight strip - running, brake, turn - to the rear of my Ranger

[ski3pin]

I have a small pop up camper on my 2021 Ranger XLT with BLIS. I bought a light strip to attach to the bottom of the camper - above the license plate - for additional brake/running/turn light display. The strip has the convenience of plugging into the 4 pin trailer connector. It works but the issue is the truck thinks there's a trailer connected and turns off the rear warning system - blind spot, etc. I want that system to work. My search of the Internet says there is no work around.

I considered tying into the wiring harness at the rear taillights. The truck has the 16 pin 2x8 connectors. I have print out of what the 16 pins should be. Unfortunately, what I thought should be simple is not. I’m checking current with a multimeter prior to confirm wires, but am not getting results. Example: pin 7 red wire print out says right tail/running light feed. Pin 6 black/white says primary lamp ground (right brake/turn/reverse/tail) Black (-) mutimeter probe in pin 6 and red (+) multimeter probe in pin 7, turn on taillights = no current. Step on brakes and there's 12V. But no turn signal (signal and brake should be same wire). Connecting what should be other circuits with + and - probes show no current. I’m confused and stopped before either frustration or damage occurs.

My questions: Is there a work around with the trailer plug 4 pin connector to get the warning systems to work? If I tie into the taillight assembly, will it work, and what are the proper pins/wires to connect to? I’ve done this type of simple electrical work on vehicles so many times in the past. This is my first encounter with a smart truck with safety features.

Thanks

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[LaBalbe]

@airline tech , this sounds like your area of expertise.

 

[ScarzRanger21(2.0)]

Per google:
Avoid splicing directly into the vehicle's taillight wiring and instead use a T-One connector harness that plugs in between the factory harness and the tail light assembly.

These aftermarket harnesses (such as those from Curt or Tekonsha) include a converter or module that draws power directly from the 12V source (usually the battery or a dedicated in-bed connector) and sends the correct signals to the LED strip, bypassing the BCM's sensitive sensing circuit.

 

[Mighty Little Blue]

The BLIS should still work, just set the trailer length to 3 feet. You should only lose the backup lines and parking sensors. Only thing that I think might work is I believe Putco has a plug and play module, but it is like $400 to $600 for it.
I have a strip, because my 3rd brake light is blocked and did not want any issues if someone ran into the back of me. You could disconnect 3rd light wire and run to back for brake light only. That would not do running lights or signals though.

 

[RangerBill]

I have a small pop up camper on my 2021 Ranger XLT with BLIS. I bought a light strip to attach to the bottom of the camper - above the license plate - for additional brake/running/turn light display. The strip has the convenience of plugging into the 4 pin trailer connector. It works but the issue is the truck thinks there's a trailer connected and turns off the rear warning system - blind spot, etc. I want that system to work. My search of the Internet says there is no work around.

I considered tying into the wiring harness at the rear taillights. The truck has the 16 pin 2x8 connectors. I have print out of what the 16 pins should be. Unfortunately, what I thought should be simple is not. I’m checking current with a multimeter prior to confirm wires, but am not getting results. Example: pin 7 red wire print out says right tail/running light feed. Pin 6 black/white says primary lamp ground (right brake/turn/reverse/tail) Black (-) mutimeter probe in pin 6 and red (+) multimeter probe in pin 7, turn on taillights = no current. Step on brakes and there's 12V. But no turn signal (signal and brake should be same wire). Connecting what should be other circuits with + and - probes show no current. I’m confused and stopped before either frustration or damage occurs.

My questions: Is there a work around with the trailer plug 4 pin connector to get the warning systems to work? If I tie into the taillight assembly, will it work, and what are the proper pins/wires to connect to? I’ve done this type of simple electrical work on vehicles so many times in the past. This is my first encounter with a smart truck with safety features.

Thanks

The brake lights and the turn signals are separately powered, so you won't see voltage on the brake light wire when the turn signal is on, as you have found out. If you use the trailer connector, it will think a trailer is connected as you have seen. This thread mentions a module to combine the brake light signal and the turn signal. I believe that is what you want.

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/4th-brake-light-turn-signals-backup-running-wiring.2612/

 

[ski3pin]

Thanks everyone for your replies and suggestions. I'm looking at the tekonsha module. The link to it in the post goes to error. The tekonsha website points to #118654 for my vehicle. Post #11 in the linked ranger5g thread shows splicing into wires - red, black/white, gray, and light green. I will verify these colors with the multimeter at the connector end. I'm thinking off just going to a separate dedicated ground for the light bar.

I'll look into light bars with a separate amber for the turn signal. I would think that would work with separate brake and turn signal leads.

Yes, I see that Putco makes a light bar that is plug and play for $355 for my truck. Based on all the research, testing, etc., I'm doing, that $355 may become attractive.

 

[OldHippy]

I have a small pop up camper on my 2021 Ranger XLT with BLIS. I bought a light strip to attach to the bottom of the camper - above the license plate - for additional brake/running/turn light display. The strip has the convenience of plugging into the 4 pin trailer connector. It works but the issue is the truck thinks there's a trailer connected and turns off the rear warning system - blind spot, etc. I want that system to work. My search of the Internet says there is no work around.

I considered tying into the wiring harness at the rear taillights. The truck has the 16 pin 2x8 connectors. I have print out of what the 16 pins should be. Unfortunately, what I thought should be simple is not. I’m checking current with a multimeter prior to confirm wires, but am not getting results. Example: pin 7 red wire print out says right tail/running light feed. Pin 6 black/white says primary lamp ground (right brake/turn/reverse/tail) Black (-) mutimeter probe in pin 6 and red (+) multimeter probe in pin 7, turn on taillights = no current. Step on brakes and there's 12V. But no turn signal (signal and brake should be same wire). Connecting what should be other circuits with + and - probes show no current. I’m confused and stopped before either frustration or damage occurs.

My questions: Is there a work around with the trailer plug 4 pin connector to get the warning systems to work? If I tie into the taillight assembly, will it work, and what are the proper pins/wires to connect to? I’ve done this type of simple electrical work on vehicles so many times in the past. This is my first encounter with a smart truck with safety features.

Thanks

I have been trying to remedy the same situation. Hope someone comes up with a solution also.

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