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I have a 2017 Ford dually with a DRV 2010 5th wheel, LED lights and disc brakes. If any of you have or know of anyone having a problem with your truck display saying, “Trailer Disconnected" or "Right or Light Turn Signal Failed”, here is the solution.
Purchase a Curt LED Electrical Adapter, part # 57003. This will save you many hours hunting for bad grounding problems and days at your truck dealer.
Ford service techs, service managers and the national Ford rep could not come up with a solution. Over several months I read different forums on this issue, talked to Hydrostat the brake controller company, working with the Ford people, RV service shops and contracting Dream Suite RV tech service support several times. Also changed out the trailers cord cab and spend several days checking wiring connections, all the ground connections and tapping and drilling better ground connections.
Finally called Dream Suite RV tech support one more time and talked to a service tech who has had customers with this very issue. Some trucks “Ford” just do not recognize RV’s with LED lights/brake set ups. Purchase this cord adapter, plugged it in yesterday and no more Trailer Disconnected and Signal Failure Messages. This very simple Curt LED Electrical Adapter # 57003 save the day for me. Please pass the word and help others.
History:
When I start to pull out of my yard the truck dash reads out that the trailer is disconnected. Also when I turn the left and right turn signal on when driving the truck reads out that the signals are failed and the truck dash right or left signal flashes rapidly. I have hooked up to different trailers, have the ford dealer check the sockets, changed out the trailer 7 pin connector. I have hooked up to different trailers,checked the connections on the trailer and truck to the best of my ability. Only when I connect to my DRV 5th wheel I am having a disconnected trailer reading. I am an electrician. Most RV shop that I have contacted say that I am having a bad trailer grounding issues.
I checked out the Curt 57003 on Amazon & it says this is not compatible with my 2017 F350. How/where does this mount? Seems like it should work but I don't know if it replaces the stock Ford outlet or do you just plug it in to the existing outlet? Thanks
Purchase a Curt LED Electrical Adapter, part # 57003. This will save you many hours hunting for bad grounding problems and days at your truck dealer.
Another thought I this matter, if one were to conveniently plug this into bed 7-pin connector and leave it there would the computer believe a trailer is present and change the turn signal blink from 3 to 5 (without a ForScan programming change)?
I too am reluctant to admit that LED's are the sole problem. I have a couple of bumper pull trailers with LED lights that I never have a problem with. My 2008 5th wheel however is non-LED and I constantly get the "trailer disconnected" warning towing it.
I checked out the Curt 57003 on Amazon & it says this is not compatible with my 2017 F350. How/where does this mount? Seems like it should work but I don't know if it replaces the stock Ford outlet or do you just plug it in to the existing outlet? Thanks
I have one of these adapters for our slide-in camper which has no running/brake/turn lamps. Using the adapter allows me to set up the camper as a trailer so that the truck will charge the camper batteries.
The adapter plugs into the truck’s 7-way socket, and the 7-way trailer harness plugs into the adapter.
My Montana doesn't have LED signal lights (not sure why, its a 2018 and wasn't cheap). However, I do get this error message from time to time. It goes away when I stop/start the truck.
Another thought I this matter, if one were to conveniently plug this into bed 7-pin connector and leave it there would the computer believe a trailer is present and change the turn signal blink from 3 to 5 (without a ForScan programming change)?
Any thoughts on doing this? Downsides?
I’ve confirmed this works (at the bumper socket) if you set up the adapter as a trailer and select is as the active trailer. My understanding is that the bumper- and bed sockets are wired in parallel, so it should work in either socket.
As far as there being a downside, some upstanding citizen peeking into your truck bed might decide to “borrow” it... And, every item you start your truck, you’ll get a “Trailer Connected” message.
The Towready #20142 adapter from eTrailer appears to offer similar functionality but in a more compact package. I have one but haven’t tried it out yet.
I think you'll find that the issue with the DRV is that the trailer separates the turn signals from the brake lights. Somehow, the truck senses the trailer by the backfeed of the brakes into the turn signals. I wired up two spare LEDs before the adapter that splits the signals, and that solved the problem. The bigger issue for me was that the trailer was not activating the charge circuit before the modification.
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