I have a 2024 Ranger XLT. Late July or early August the trailer unplugged alarm suddenly started occurring. August 8th I was towing my boat and trailer up north here in Michigan on my vacation. I stopped at a local McDonalds for breakfast. I was there about 45 minutes or so. During my time there the trailer unplugged alarm started going off. It would go off every 10 or 11 minutes or so. I hit the lock button on the fob and the alarm was silenced. It went off 5 times while I was sitting there eating my meal.

Now when I launch my boat I have to remember to unplug the trailer prior to departing the dock in my boat. My fear is that one of these times I will forget to unplug the trailer and when I come back to the dock to pull my boat out of the water I will have a dead battery due to the alarm going off.

Anyone else experiencing this problem with their vehicles. I did stop by the dealership to tell them about the issue. From what the tech told me the problem was caused by a software update in July. My truck did not have the issue earlier. Supposedly there will be another software update in October that will correct (hopefully) the issue. The tech told me the problem is across vehicle lines. I guess F-150's are having the same problem.

Hope the October update corrects the problem.

 

I can say I waited for months on a goofy update once on my F150 a few years back, so sounds like you are just waiting. There is a website, cyanlabs.org, you might be able to grab the previous version, upload with a thumb drive, and turn off automatic updates. edit: and a great practice is to unplug boat prior to dunking trailer, leave unplugged, plug in when putting straps on. Sealed lamps will leak, electrical current never plays nicely.

 

I unplug my boat trailer before ever backing it into the water, leave it unplugged until I retrieve the boat and am ready to tow again...... is this not a normal practice? I've been doing it since I was about 9 years old when backing the boat trailer at the ramp became my job.

 

website link doesn't resolve on cloudflare dns?

"This website wasn’t found by mozilla.cloudflare-dns.com."

 

If the problem is contact related, get some CRC Contact Cleaner and use it to clean the 7-pin leads on both the truck and the trailer. Then add some conductive anti-corrosion paste to the leads. Dielectric grease isn't conductive so it isn't ideal. You can use it to keep a seal around the plug but there are better options for on the leads. My preference is NO-OX-ID.

The backside of the 7-pin bracket (at the bumper) is known to be a source of disconnects on the Super Duty trucks. Sometimes it just gets loose, sometimes it's bad wires (crimps) and sometimes the bracket is broken.

Also, check the ground wire on the trailer side. The trailer should not be getting the ground (negative) from where the ball and coupler make contact.

 

I'm sorry, it is cyanlabs.net not org.
https://cyanlabs.net/

 

Agreed, I always used CRC in the past, but now I'm using this stuff on my trailer plugs. It's expensive, but it cleans like you wouldn't believe and dry lubricates in one step. Plus, the dry lube doesn't get dirty or sticky like grease does. I used to think I was gonna bust a nut unplugging my 50 amp extension cord, but not any more!

 

I use that too. Not always, kind of depends on what's closer to hand.

 

Unfortunately my Ranger has automatic backing brakes. If you unplug the trailer the truck will slam on the brakes because the rear sensors think a collision is imminent. Makes it virtually impossible to back down a trailer with the trailer plug not connected to the truck.

 

I'm surprised you can't turn that off, my 2020 F150 Lariat has something in the menu about rear detection ?? I forget, but take a look.

 

Thanks for the tip. I may try to find if that is possible with the Ranger. I would want it on except when towing.