can't shut off back-up alarm quickly on '17

[haviland]

I trailer my '17 Limited fairly often. Did the same on my '11, but when I put it into reverse I could shut off the back up alarm easily with one push of a button.

My '17 drives me crazy when I back up and cannot disable the sound easily. I have figured how to do it, but it requires several steps involving lots of buttons and arrows.

Help! Somebody school me on how to do it easily- if there is such a way.

Thanks!

 

[coolzzy]

Just press the arrow down key on the steering wheel on the left hand side after putting the truck in reverse. I do it all the time when my trailer hitch is in. If you have a trailer with the 7 pin plug, the sensors are automatically disabled in reverse since the truck knows there is a trailer back there. It won't recognize a trailer is there if you're using the 4 pin plug.

 

[LokiWolf]

Just press the arrow down key on the steering wheel on the left hand side after putting the truck in reverse. I do it all the time when my trailer hitch is in. If you have a trailer with the 7 pin plug, the sensors are automatically disabled in reverse since the truck knows there is a trailer back there. It won't recognize a trailer is there if you're using the 4 pin plug.

What he said...

 

[Flexpedition]

 

[coolzzy]

I don't believe that adapter will trick the truck since it runs through just the 4 pin connector. Only the 7 pin connector tells the truck you have a trailer hitched up.

 

[chuck s]

I gotta try this 'cuz I never noticed the alarm on my '17 with it connected to either my camper (7 pole) or a Uhaul (4 pole) trailer. I know my '07 alarm would sound and I needed to press Reset on the dash to silence it but I just towed my camper a couple of times in the past two weeks and I don't recall anything when I backed.

I did "tell" the truck what trailer was there in both cases. There's a setup for Uhaul and another for my Roo.

-- Chuck

 

[haviland]

Thanks for the input. I trailer with both the 4 pin and the 7 pin and it beeps every time I put it in reverse while towing, even the 7 pin. I will try pushing the down arrow the next time I tow.

I tried to enter my 3 different trailers into the system but each time I tried to complete the final step the screen went back to the beginning.

I also get a "trailer is disconnected " message on the dash when I am towing. Interesting!

 

[coolzzy]

I think that means it doesn't see your trailer brakes via the 7 pin connector. All of my F150s and my 17 expy with integrated brake controllers have silenced the alarm when backing up with a trailer plugged into the 7 in connector.

 

[chuck s]

Do any of your trailers have electric brakes and does the truck activate them? Everything else indicates the truck thinks there's no trailer back there.

Setting up a trailer in the left screen menu is easy but if you hit the wrong key it will take you back to the beginning.

I get the "trailer is disconnected " notice on the dash if I activate the brakes on the dash without the trailer connected.

 

[coolzzy]

Yes it means your trailer either doesn't have electric brakes or they're not hooked up at the hitch connector correctly. I've seen there are 2 different wiring schematics for a 7 way hitch connector, maybe yours is pinned out incorrectly for the truck to recognize it. If it says trailer disconnected when you squeeze the brake controller, you need to get that looked at ASAP as it means you're doing all the braking with just the truck.

 

[chuck s]

Just curious what differences you've seen.

The Bargman 7-pole connector center pin is not defined by standard but is universally used for back-up lights. I mounted inexpensive fog lights on my camper rear bumper as backup lights since we frequently get to camp grounds after dark.

-- Chuck

 

[haviland]

I only have brakes on one trailer and the brakes seem to work fine.

So, chuck, why would you activate the electric brake controller on the dash if you weren't towing a trailer? Am I missing something?

Were you just doing it as a test?

 

[chuck s]

Moved the slider just to see what happens. "No trailer connected" shows up on the display.

I connected my Tekonsha Trailer Emulator to the back of the truck this morning. This device has LEDs that show what connections are working. The BK (brake) LED illuminates when I press the brakes but manually moving the slider shows the same "No trailer connected" notification. I assume the emulator doesn't have enough internal resistance to trick the truck into thinking there's really a trailer back there. You have the opposite symptoms as even with a trailer there the truck is unaware of it. You sure the brakes are working?

My brakes are set to 5.5 on the scale.

-- Chuck

 

[haviland]

Yeah, the brakes on the horse trailer work fine. I run them at about 2.0.