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I suspect i already know the answer to this but I'll ask anyway. This headache rack is plugged into the 7pin/4 pin at the rear bumper and the camera tailgates in the shop. Every time I start the truck I get "trailer connected" and a warning blind spot cross traffic's disabled. I do pull a 36ft 5W 75% of the time and the rack works with the 5W connected but it mirrors the 5W lights. Is there a way to have the rack lighted and not get the trailer connected message?
I think you would have to tap into the taillight harness, anything plugged into the trailer receptacle will make it think there is a trailer.
I bought a harness for a 2015 to move the bumper plug to an in bed, it was a Y connector the plugged into the truck harness and then to the bumper and up into the bed.. If I tap before the bumper plug won't that just trigger before the trailer connection?
The 4-pin/7-pin use the same harness for ground/turn/stop/running lights, and the 4-pin WILL trigger the 'trailer connected' warning because a LOT of smaller trailers only have 4-pin connections.
The ONLY way you would be able to bypass this, to my knowledge, would be to tap into the turn/running/stop harness that is going to your tail lights, not the trailer harness.
I recall seeing a video that shows a plug around the front of the bed that is specifically for these headache racks for upfitters that allow you to plug in there and not all the way back at the bumper. Follow the wiring back from the back bumper towards the front of the bed and see if you find an unused plug that you could use.
I know it’s not what you’re looking for, but if it was mine I’d just unplug the headache rack whenever I plugged in the 5th wheel. I wouldn’t like the lights from the rack shining on the front of the trailer when driving after dark.
The 4-pin/7-pin use the same harness for ground/turn/stop/running lights, and the 4-pin WILL trigger the 'trailer connected' warning because a LOT of smaller trailers only have 4-pin connections.
The ONLY way you would be able to bypass this, to my knowledge, would be to tap into the turn/running/stop harness that is going to your tail lights, not the trailer harness.
I can see the grounds tied together, so if I clip the ground at the 4 pin it would be just like taping the harness. The racks bolted to the truck so the lights would ground through the rack?
Yes I can just unplug the rack for night driving but I'm retired and park before dark no more Friday night drives for weekend camping.
Yes I can just unplug the rack for night driving but I'm retired and park before dark no more Friday night drives for weekend camping.
During the day who would even notice if the headache rack lights were working with a 5th wheel hitched? I think you’re making things a lot more complicated than they need to be, but I wish you luck finding a solution.
I think what he is wanting is for the headache rack lights to work when he didn't have a trailer attached and not get the trailer attached/blind spot warning every time he drives the truck. At least that is what I think since I too get those warnings when I drive my truck with a headache rack with no trailer attached.
During the day who would even notice if the headache rack lights were working with a 5th wheel hitched? I think you’re making things a lot more complicated than they need to be, but I wish you luck finding a solution.
This is not the only trailer I pull and with the rack plugged in it always shows I have a trailer. I pull a 16ft car hauler, a small ATV trailer, my %W and move my sons when he needs his moved. The issue is the truck thinks I have a trailer if the racks active. I'm still looking at cutting the ground and seeing if that might work. Even if I did pull at night the rack lights wouldn't be an issue for me. Lots of lights at night.
Can you tie the rack into the front turn signal/parking light circuits? That might, but I don’t know for sure, keep the truck from thinking a trailer is attached.
Check out magnumtruckracks.com/wiring-harnesses they have harrness that connect under truck and should solve your problem
works like the one I built, rack "These wire harnesses run under the bed, plugging into your truck’s body harness. The plug and play design virtually eliminates the need for any wiring knowledge, giving you a simple solution to power the LED lights on your back rack. Whether it’s for reverse lights, brake lights or turn signal blinkers." Same tap I did for an in bed 7 pin on my 2015 SD for my 5W.
Tomarrow I try the groind suggestion now that I'm back home and can get into my shop.
