No Trailer Brakes - Diesel Forum

desertsands · 03-09-2006, 11:31 AM

Try this one!
I have a 05 Ford F-350 with Tow Commanded, I bought a new trailer (5th wheel) and here's the problem. The tow commanded says alls good when I plug in the trailer but a have no trailer brakes, either on the pedal or when I use the levers inside the truck. When I put my meter on the truck side of the plug and pull the levers or push the brake pedal I get 12 volts. I can hear the trailer brakes hummimg but they won't engage. It's like i'm getting less then 1 volt to the brakes. If I pull the brake away switch and send 12 volt to the brakes they lock up. Does the truck /trailer get it's ground thought the hitch??

Help! How can I trouble shoot?

sdymn518 · 03-09-2006, 01:01 PM

arent those tow command Proportinal so doesnt the trailer have to be moveing to get full brake i know my protigy wont give me full breke at a stop. Im not too sure but maybe this will help you some ]
jarek

cdacaraudio · 03-09-2006, 01:09 PM

sounds like the trailer plug might be wired wrong.. what does the trailer do when u back up i have borrowed a trailer before and had the brakes lock up when i back up but not with the controller because the plug was wired wrong and sense they didn't know better they just made it work for them...

TBlough · 03-09-2006, 01:20 PM

Early tow command controlers will not provide full voltage to the trailer brakes unless the vehicle speed is above 15mph. If you are testing while stopped or at a slow speed what you are experiencing is normal.

If they work normally above 15mph, and the slow speed operation bothers you, you can replace the early tow command module with one made after March '05. Ford fixed the "problem" at that point, but does not consider the previous mode of operation to be a warrentable problem.

You may or may not be able to convince your dealer to replace it at no cost to you.

desertsands · 03-09-2006, 05:06 PM

Thanks a ton TBlough, I was only traveling about 5 to 10 mph when I try to use the manual levers and was parked when I was doing all the testing. I will hook-up and try it at a faster speed and see what happens. Also do a little testing on my Ford Dealer and see if I can free a "freebie". If not I know a guy who knows a guy that works at Ford Dearler. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

larry_minn · 03-09-2006, 05:46 PM

While I can understand the brakes not coming on hard below 15mph (not that I agree with idea) I can NOT understand any system that MANUALLY you can't lock up brakes. Good luck on fixing this.

desertsands · 03-09-2006, 06:02 PM

www.cvsa.org/resourcecenter/documents/safetybulletin2005-01.pdf
Hope this will help other understand what I was going though. So if you were trying to show a officer your trailer brakes are in working order it wiuld be nearly impossible at a stop or very low speeds.

TBlough · 03-10-2006, 10:43 AM

Desertsands, here are a few more links to the solution for the pre 3/15/05 towcommand controllers (first is probably most useful):

Topic: 2005 Trailer Brake Controller

Tow Command problem???