Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-14-2020, 06:12 AM   #1
Rivet Master
 
billrector's Avatar
 
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Fort Worth , Texas
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 773
F250 “Trailer Disconnected”

We have a 2017 FC and tie with a Ford F-250 that is also a 2017. When traveling, we occasionally get the message that our trailer is disconnected. My truck is going in for some warranty work (warranty runs out soon) and I’m wondering if there is a know problem with the F250?

I have sprayed contact cleaner on both the male and female connectors but the problem continues. When I plug in the trailer, the connection seems pretty loose. Is this normal?
billrector is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2020, 06:24 AM   #2
Site Team
 
GCinSC2's Avatar

 
2007 30' Classic S/O
Somewhere , South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,436
Bill,

A friend that FT's with a IIRC 2014 F-250 just lost their brakes and the cure was replacing the 7 way plug from the V connection Bargman to a Pollak style flat blade connection. His was plug end only not full cable, it was still good. And for good measure they replaced the truck end too, per his text it was a disconnect and reconnect not wire by wire. I've had a flat blade Pollak trailer end plug for several years and it is not sloppy feeling.

Look at the truck end, it's a V shaped terminal, look at the trailer end, also V shaped? Now test the tension of one plug end small screwdriver and feel the tension or lack of.

Gary
__________________
S/OS #001 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L 6 Speed
16" Michelins, Hi Spec Wheels, Max Brake, Dexter 4 Piston Disc Brakes, Carslile Actuator, Equal-I-Zer, Dill TPMS. Campfire cook. BMV-712. DEMCO 21K Lb Cast Iron coupler
GCinSC2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2020, 07:59 AM   #3
Rivet Master
 
stevejones's Avatar
 
2019 27' Globetrotter
Litchfield Park , Arizona
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 549
Don't have an F250, but have a Chevy Silverado 2500 HD. We had a similar problem and the dealer replaced the 7 pin connector. That seemed to help.

I do periodically blow out both plug and receptacle with Dust Off and spray with contact cleaner (DeOxit).
__________________
Steve Jones
2019 Globetrotter 27 FB
2018 Chevy Silverado 2500 4WD LT
stevejones is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2020, 08:38 AM   #4
Rivet Master
 
2019 27' International
Western NC , North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 860
Images: 1
Blog Entries: 1
If it happened when going over a big bump, the plug just wiggled lose. Has happened to me once. I just pulled plug out and reinserted all good. I now use a piece of Velcro to prevent the wiggles.
__________________
2023 Van Leigh Vilano 320GK
2019 International Serenity 27 FBQ “TC Escape” SOLD
2019 Ford F-350 Platinum
JonDNC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2020, 08:43 AM   #5
Rivet Master
 
2018 25' International
Slidell , Louisiana
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,725
The 7 point connectors are a bit loose for long term durability, but the connectors all are designed for a loose fit. Since contact cleaner didn't help it may be corrosion. Use vinegar with a bit of salt. then lots of fresh water and then dielectric grease or CorrosionX.

Mine did what you described several time. I did the above and it has been all good ever since.
BayouBiker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2020, 09:11 AM   #6
Rivet Master
 
Ray Eklund's Avatar
 
2019 27' International
2014 25' International
2006 23' Safari SE
Boulder City , Nevada
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,703
Quote:
Originally Posted by billrector View Post
We have a 2017 FC and tie with a Ford F-250 that is also a 2017. When traveling, we occasionally get the message that our trailer is disconnected. My truck is going in for some warranty work (warranty runs out soon) and I’m wondering if there is a know problem with the F250?

I have sprayed contact cleaner on both the male and female connectors but the problem continues. When I plug in the trailer, the connection seems pretty loose. Is this normal?
Bill. I had this happen with our 2014 25 foot International and 2016 F350. It would not be consistent, but it kept repeating on the instrument prompts. With the heavy tow vehicle the braking did not seem diminished with the trailer. brakes not functioning.

Later to find the right side brakes on the Airstream were DEAD. NOT working.

I replaced all four brake assemblies from Dexter. They worked fine. It was the magnet system, I believe, that failed.

Elevate one wheel in the air using blocks under the other to get the other free wheeling in the air. Have someone spin it and manually set the brakes in your F250. Do one after the other. If they ALL work with the manual braking, then you do have something else going on.

The lack of braking could be the magnets, like my situation... or the wiring separating from the crimp connection near the drum, or broke off as it enters the drum. This has occurred on older posts on the Forum. I am familiar with that, as well. They are thin and exposed. Take a look at a loose wire... first.

Dexter said they would send me a set of FOUR assemblies. They called me. The guy was mentioned on this Forum as the To Go To Dexter Manager.

I have since purchased a 2019 International... and STILL waiting for the Dexter Brakes the guy on the telephone said they were sending.

I purchased four sets of the Internet from a trailer parts supplier. I installed them and they worked. It was simple and easy to do. My brake shoes were not worn out. It had to be the magnet and drum were not operating as they should. I consider myself competent in mechanical and simple electrical problems. The drum and magnet had rough surfaces. I did not know if that was good, bad or normal. No one would say.

Now... I am always recalling this chain of events and before we leave on this next trip, your post caught my attention... and I am going to test each wheel with the manual braking in my F350 just in case. These are the Never Lube and Self Adjusting brakes. Something is to be discovered about these over time. I think they may be... neither.
__________________
Human Bean
Ray Eklund is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2020, 09:40 AM   #7
Rivet Master
 
gypsydad's Avatar
 
2017 28' Flying Cloud
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Georgetown (winter)Thayne (summer) , Texas & Wyoming
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,619
I have same- 2017 F250; and I had the same issues...the connector from the AS would not stay connected to the pins inside the F250...I used Ducktape for a while, but when I went to Jackson last fall, they replaced the connector at the factory...that was the issue. I have talked with a few folks with same issue since that replaced the pigtails on the AS and all was fine.

Not a good feeling when driving down the freeway and your trailer disconnected warning light shows up!
__________________
Empty Nesters; Gypsies on the road!
2017 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2017 F250 King Ranch, 4X4, 6.7L, Blue-Ox WDH
Summer-Star Valley Ranch RV Resort (Thayne, WY); Winter-Sun City (Georgetown,TX)
gypsydad is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Newer Models Ford F250 Gas Vs. F250 Diesel Hopeful1 Tow Vehicles 138 09-15-2019 06:55 PM
"Trailer Disconnected" Message silvereagle2 Towing, Tow Vehicles & Hitches 6 08-01-2016 09:16 AM
F-150 "Trailer disconnected" Loeber Towing, Tow Vehicles & Hitches 12 07-30-2012 09:22 PM
2011 Dodge Ram "Trailer Brake Disconnected" problem HenryLasal Tow Vehicles 12 07-12-2011 11:51 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:42 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.