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I have 2029 F150. I sucessfully tow several trailers without electrical issues. I got an electric lift for heavy bicycles and a scooter. The lift did not work with the 7 pin plug, so I disconnected it and tried a direct connect to the battery. The lift worked great. The lift only had a positive and negative wire, so I put a 4 pin plug on it instead of a 7. I verified there is power from the truck side 4 pin to the lift 4 pin wires. The lift won't work. I added the "trailer" to the truck towing program. I pumped the brake, put it in drive, etc., all the tricks I know to get it to recognize the connection. The lift will only operate with a direct connect to the battery.
Do I have to resort to running a direct connect wire?Suggestions PLEASE on how to resolve this.
4 pin does not have power to the trailer, only turn signals, brake lights and ground. You need to wire off the 7 pin, then the usual tricks you mention might work. Not sure which wire the truck uses to sense that a trailer is connected, that may be your issue trying to figure out.
4 pin does not have power to the trailer, only turn signals, brake lights and ground. You need to wire off the 7 pin, then the usual tricks you mention might work. Not sure which wire the truck uses to sense that a trailer is connected, that may be your issue trying to figure out.
There is no trailer. Only a bike lift, with 2 wires, positive and negative.
If your f150 is like the super duties, and assuming it is a 2019 not a 2029, there won't be any power to the trailer charge wire until certain conditions are met. With mine, the engine has to be running, alternator load below a pre determined number then push the brake pedal.
if the load goes higher than a pre determined amperage the computer will disconnect the power.
If your f150 is like the super duties, and assuming it is a 2019 not a 2029, there won't be any power to the trailer charge wire until certain conditions are met. With mine, the engine has to be running, alternator load below a pre determined number then push the brake pedal.
if the load goes higher than a pre determined amperage the computer will disconnect the power.
Yes, it is a 2019. Your answer makes sense, but then I have a question. How do I determine the threshold amperage for the truck and the amperage drawn by the lift?
Yes, it is a 2019. Your answer makes sense, but then I have a question. How do I determine the threshold amperage for the truck and the amperage drawn by the lift?
for the lift I would contact the manufacturer.
as for the truck I have never seen or heard the amperage. Maybe the ford coffee table book, it can be found online.
also ask in the year appropriate f150 section here on fte.
See your owners manual, with factory brake controller truck has to sense trailer attached, truck has to be started and brakes applied. All conditions not met power not turned on. See note section below:
For this application, I highly encourage you to run a separate fused wire to the battery, or fusebox.
I totally agree, the motor that drives this lift will have different needs than the typical trailer battery charge circuit. And a dedicated power supply will not require the above mentioned gymnastics to energize the circuit from the 7 pin connection, like when parked and loading or unloading the bikes.
What if you connected to the 4-pin brown wire and turned on your running lights?
This would likely blow a fuse. A lift motor takes a lot more power than a trailer worth of running lights.
Originally Posted by helifixer
for the lift I would contact the manufacturer.
as for the truck I have never seen or heard the amperage. Maybe the ford coffee table book, it can be found online.
also ask in the year appropriate f150 section here on fte.
I think this is your answer to the electrical behavior.
I suppose you could equip the lift with a number of light bulbs that are connected to the trailer brake/turn light circuits to satisfy the test for brake light presence. Then you'd have power while the engine is started, and the brakes have been applied at least once. I'm not sure how well the pickup's trailer power circuit would tolerate the inrush and continuous loads created by the lift.
Personally, I'd run a separate circuit straight from the battery.
