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add me to the list, ordered & paid in full, didn't receive or even get notified it wasn't included, maybe they thought i wouldn't notice... 2020 F450 - 2020 Luxe 42MD
I think that this is just incompetence (lack of attention to detail) at the dealership. However if you ordered something with the truck, it should be delivered to the dealer with the item inside like the backup assist (yaw) kit, floor mats, etc. If the factory doesn't have stock, then there should be an I.O.U. in the truck.
As the factory is now shut down because of the COVID-19 virus, I don't expect that we will see anything until everyone goes back to work. If you got the 2017-2019 kit, then the Nichols solution is probably the best way to go.
How do you like your LUXE 42MD? We have one on order and are in the process of trying to settle on all of the many options. I am trying get the old Montana outfitted for a trip to Elkhart to finalize things.
Montana, did you get your harness back from Nichols yet? I sent my 2 harnesses off to them today. Call me whatever but I had a change of heart. I decided that instead of returning the camera to my dealer for a refund, which they said they would do, I wanted to keep it. I ordered it with the intention of using it in place of an aftermarket one with a separate monitor, which I didn't like. I'm not even going to press my dealer to pay for the Nichols conversion. My guess is they are going to be pretty hard hit with our new reality and people will lose jobs. I just didn't feel right pressing for money from them. I know they are business designed to get every penny they can from me and probably wouldn't miss it but it makes me feel better.
I received the harness on Thursday but haven't had time to try it out yet. I hope to do that this weekend. I did look at it and it looks good, very professionally done. The breakout point for the backup assist (yaw sensor) cable is about 8' from the 12-pin bed connector which looks good as you need to mount that unit on the front of the trailer. The other Y in the harness is the same as the Ford cable (it actually is the Ford cable).
Yes, with the factory shut down and many dealers also shut down (all of them in CA, NY and other states), a lot of people are really going to be hurting. My dealer has sent me two of the old kits before they shut down and I will probably keep both and pay for one, as I want to install one in my existing trailer (Montana) and send one to the RV Factory to build into my new trailer. I like the Ford system really don't want another device stuck to the windshield. As it is, I will be using a TST TPMS system because the F-450 doesn't have TPMS and it doesn't make sense to have one system for the truck and the Ford system for the trailer. So maybe I can return the Ford TPMS stuff for credit or sell it.
I received the harness on Thursday but haven't had time to try it out yet. I hope to do that this weekend. I did look at it and it looks good, very professionally done. The breakout point for the backup assist (yaw sensor) cable is about 8' from the 12-pin bed connector which looks good as you need to mount that unit on the front of the trailer. The other Y in the harness is the same as the Ford cable (it actually is the Ford cable).
Yes, with the factory shut down and many dealers also shut down (all of them in CA, NY and other states), a lot of people are really going to be hurting. My dealer has sent me two of the old kits before they shut down and I will probably keep both and pay for one, as I want to install one in my existing trailer (Montana) and send one to the RV Factory to build into my new trailer. I like the Ford system really don't want another device stuck to the windshield. As it is, I will be using a TST TPMS system because the F-450 doesn't have TPMS and it doesn't make sense to have one system for the truck and the Ford system for the trailer. So maybe I can return the Ford TPMS stuff for credit or sell it.
i tried the Nichols harness today. It works just fine. One at a time, I plugged in the backup assist (yaw) sensor, TPMS module and the camera. After each one, the truck prompted me to setup the sensor. Drive to calibrate the backup assist, let air out of tire one at a time to synchronize the TPMS sensors and the camera works.
My only comment is on the breakout point for the backup assist cable from the main harness. I measured it and it is 5' from the 12-pin connector. For a 5th wheel, I think that it should be farther back, maybe around 7.5' as the backup assist sensor would mount on the pin box and you don't need much cable sticking out at that point. This would give you about 2.5' going to the module. I will pass this on to Nichols. I can upload some pictures tomorrow. I give the Nichols harness two thumbs up.
While I was out there, I tried to install a set of the TST flow through TPMS sensors. There was a problem on the duallies as the two valve stems face each other and you cannot mount a sensor on both wheels as they are two close together. I will need to have the outer wheels rotated to provide clearance.
While I was doing that I decided to try out my new tire pressure gauges with angled end chucks. You cannot get a straight chuck on the inner duallies but no problem with the angled ones. The factory recommended settings for a 450 are 90 psi front, 80 psi rear and 90 psi in the spare. My truck was LF 80 psi, RF 90 psi, rear outers 80 psi and rear inners 105 psi. The spare was 40 psi. Check your tire pressures!
i tried the Nichols harness today. It works just fine. One at a time, I plugged in the backup assist (yaw) sensor, TPMS module and the camera. After each one, the truck prompted me to setup the sensor. Drive to calibrate the backup assist, let air out of tire one at a time to synchronize the TPMS sensors and the camera works.
My only comment is on the breakout point for the backup assist cable from the main harness. I measured it and it is 5' from the 12-pin connector. For a 5th wheel, I think that it should be farther back, maybe around 7.5' as the backup assist sensor would mount on the pin box and you don't need much cable sticking out at that point. This would give you about 2.5' going to the module. I will pass this on to Nichols. I can upload some pictures tomorrow. I give the Nichols harness two thumbs up.
While I was out there, I tried to install a set of the TST flow through TPMS sensors. There was a problem on the duallies as the two valve stems face each other and you cannot mount a sensor on both wheels as they are two close together. I will need to have the outer wheels rotated to provide clearance.
While I was doing that I decided to try out my new tire pressure gauges with angled end chucks. You cannot get a straight chuck on the inner duallies but no problem with the angled ones. The factory recommended settings for a 450 are 90 psi front, 80 psi rear and 90 psi in the spare. My truck was LF 80 psi, RF 90 psi, rear outers 80 psi and rear inners 105 psi. The spare was 40 psi. Check your tire pressures!
Second on the thanks. I have an aftermarket TPMS for the fiver that works great. I'm thinking I need to ask Nichols to do away with the TPMS connection as I will not ever use it. I don't want too much slack in the hook up but do need enough to keep it from ripping out of the connector on a tight turn.
Does anyone know what tool/technique is needed to remove pins from the 12 pin backup assist connector?
I already have the 2017-2019 TPMS/Camera cable installed on my Momentum and would prefer not having to remove it to install the Nichols cable solution.
The part number on the inside of the backup assist connector is PA6-GF20-GB10 and I have not been able to cross reverence that to any manufacture to get the pin extraction tool.
Thanks for the update Montana. Looking forward to your pics!
Originally Posted by FishRanger
Second on the thanks. I have an aftermarket TPMS for the fiver that works great. I'm thinking I need to ask Nichols to do away with the TPMS connection as I will not ever use it. I don't want too much slack in the hook up but do need enough to keep it from ripping out of the connector on a tight turn.
Here are my pictures.
All 3 devices connected to Nichols harness and truck bed connector. From left to right, Backup Assist Module, TPMS Module and Trailer Cam.
Backup assist module, TPMS module and trailer cam connected to Nichols harness.
Trailer cam display. Note that it is displaying "Pro Trailer Backup Assist" at the top because the module is connected. The truck is not in reverse though.
Everything is working and recognized by the truck. The display behind the steering wheel prompts you to setup the backup assist and TPMS. The truck is displaying the trailer cam while in park with the engine off. I haven't tried other combinations.
Regarding the length of the harness from the 12-pin connector in the bed, my 7-pin cable is 8 ft. long. Part of it is in a junction box behind the pin box on the trailer, so the length hanging out is probably around 7.5 ft. I am thinking about bundling that cable with the 12-pin harness using tie-wraps to keep things neater on the bed area when hooked up. As the 7-pin cable is heavier and stronger, the 12-pin needs a bit of slack at each end to avoid straining it. That will need to be worked out. The total length of the backup assist cable is about 9' 10" so that should work out OK. The backup assist module should mount on the side of the trailer pin box, so you don't need a lot there. I would ask Nichols to put the break out point about 7' from the 12-pin connector. I will not be using the TPMS either as I also have an aftermarket system (TST) and the F-450 does not have TPMS, so I need another system for the truck anyway. I don't know how hard it would be for Nichols to remove the TPMS from the harness as it is part of the Ford harness but it might be good to talk to him (Brian) about that.
Does anyone know what tool/technique is needed to remove pins from the 12 pin backup assist connector?
I already have the 2017-2019 TPMS/Camera cable installed on my Momentum and would prefer not having to remove it to install the Nichols cable solution.
The part number on the inside of the backup assist connector is PA6-GF20-GB10 and I have not been able to cross reverence that to any manufacture to get the pin extraction tool.
I would talk top Brian Nichols about that. The connectors are probably special for Ford but I am sure that they are made by a major connector manufacturer. Please let us know if you find out.
I have the YAW sensor for my fifth wheel and the camera package. The truck was ordered with a Fifth wheel prep and the ultimate camera package. I do not have the TPMS sensor kit. I was able to take apart the YAW sensor wiring harness and combine it with my camera wiring harness to have both in the same harness. I will attach some pictures with explanations.The most time-consuming part is un-taping the wiring harness. This is the YAW sensor harness truck end plug. Notice there are 4 pins. Only 2 of them go to the trailer end. The other 2 dead end about 12” into the harness. This is the truck end plug of the camera harness. Notice the full row of pins. The row above that has 1 pin. The 2 holes to the left of that are where the YAW sensor pins go. These are the dead end wires in the YAW harness.
First carefully pry these tabs and open the plastic case around the plug. Next pry open the tab on one part of this piece and cut the tie wrap on the other part.
Next carefully push in here and slide out the part you are pushing in on. There is one of these on both sides. It’s a bit tricky but keep at it.
This is what it looks like when it comes out. This piece is in where the pins poke out through and plug in to the truck. One this piece is out the pins will be unlocked. You will be able to pull out the wires and pins from the other end.
This is the back side of the YAW sensor plug. Once you complete the prior step the 2 wires you need will pull right out with the pins attached. Make sure to note which color wire comes out of which hole.
Do all these same steps with the camera harness. Instead of removing wires and pins put the YAW sensor pins in the appropriate holes. Run the wires in the loom, tape it all up and voila, a combined harness.
While I was out there, I tried to install a set of the TST flow through TPMS sensors. There was a problem on the duallies as the two valve stems face each other and you cannot mount a sensor on both wheels as they are two close together. I will need to have the outer wheels rotated to provide clearance.
While I was doing that I decided to try out my new tire pressure gauges with angled end chucks. You cannot get a straight chuck on the inner duallies but no problem with the angled ones. The factory recommended settings for a 450 are 90 psi front, 80 psi rear and 90 psi in the spare. My truck was LF 80 psi, RF 90 psi, rear outers 80 psi and rear inners 105 psi. The spare was 40 psi. Check your tire pressures!
I added extensions on my dually, so they come out beside the center cap.. and use stem mounted sensors as well as the ones on the 18.. (trailer has em ., so one place is enough... )
til I find a TPMS module to plug into my camera harness
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Nichols harness test
