This Problem Across All Years
Gatormade gooseneck trailers equipped with electric over hydraulic disc brakes will loose trailer connection to ford trucks model years 2022+ and some newer GM trucks upon restart of the vehicle resulting in the loss of trailer brakes. Also randomly while driving the trailer will loose connection with the tow vehicle and loose trailer braking ability. Gatormade is aware of the problem, but refuses to tell customers of the issues and are still selling them with the compatibility issue. They are advising me to try and add resistors to remedy the issue.
Gatormade gooseneck trailers equipped with electric over hydraulic disc brakes will loose trailer connection to ford trucks model years 2022+ and some newer GM trucks upon restart of the vehicle resulting in the loss of trailer brakes. Also randomly while driving the trailer will loose connection with the tow vehicle and loose trailer braking ability. Gatormade is aware of the problem, but refuses to tell customers of the issues and are still selling them with the compatibility issue. They are advising me to try and add resistors to remedy the issue.
04/2022 F-450 with 13,000 miles (garaged over winter) no boat towing. Reporting the first incident/time connected to trailer with electric over hydraulic brakes is 18 months after purchasing the truck. The F-450 has intermittent power to the #5 pin (+Batt) of the 7-way trailer connection. This pin is for powering the electric over hydraulic brakes. There is also an intermittent triple chime and a visual warning of "Trailer Disconnected" when the brakes are released. When first connecting the trailer 7-way, the #5 pin has power. However if you turn the vehicle off and restart the truck without first disconnecting the 7-way, the #5 pin will not have power and the trailer does not have any brakes. In order to correct this, you need to leave the vehicle running, exit and disconnect and reconnect the 7-Way. There are no fuses blown. The wire has continuity from the Trailer Brake Control Module to the 7-Way connector in both the bed and bumper locations. There is no corrosion on the terminal ends of the wires or the 7-way connector. Di-Electric grease remains on pins/connector. Seekins Ford (Dealership) replaced the Trailer Brake Control Module on 14 November, 2024. I asked them to look into Recall 22V193, but there was nothing about it on the repair order and the service writer didn't know. Though the module was replaced, the problem persists. I took the trailer a 2024 Diamond C F-Max 212 with Electric Over Hydraulic Brakes to a servicing dealer who verified the brake system nominal. I connected the trailer to 3 other vehicles to verify the brakes operate. A 2023 Tacoma, 2006 F-250, and a Kubota Farm Tractor. The trailer brakes operated on all vehicles. I have deadlined the truck from pulling a trailer until this problem is resolved.
04/2022 F-450 with 13,000 miles (garaged over winter) no boat towing. Reporting the first incident/time connected to trailer with electric over hydraulic brakes is 18 months after purchasing the truck. The F-450 has intermittent power to the #5 pin (+Batt) of the 7-way trailer connection. This pin is for powering the electric over hydraulic brakes. There is also an intermittent triple chime and a visual warning of "Trailer Disconnected" when the brakes are released. When first connecting the trailer 7-way, the #5 pin has power. However if you turn the vehicle off and restart the truck without first disconnecting the 7-way, the #5 pin will not have power and the trailer does not have any brakes. In order to correct this, you need to leave the vehicle running, exit and disconnect and reconnect the 7-Way. There are no fuses blown. The wire has continuity from the Trailer Brake Control Module to the 7-Way connector in both the bed and bumper locations. There is no corrosion on the terminal ends of the wires or the 7-way connector. Di-Electric grease remains on pins/connector. Seekins Ford (Dealership) replaced the Trailer Brake Control Module on 14 November, 2024. I asked them to look into Recall 22V193, but there was nothing about it on the repair order and the service writer didn't know. Though the module was replaced, the problem persists. I took the trailer a 2024 Diamond C F-Max 212 with Electric Over Hydraulic Brakes to a servicing dealer who verified the brake system nominal. I connected the trailer to 3 other vehicles to verify the brakes operate. A 2023 Tacoma, 2006 F-250, and a Kubota Farm Tractor. The trailer brakes operated on all vehicles. I have deadlined the truck from pulling a trailer until this problem is resolved.
Trailer brake controller will randomly announce "trailer wiring fault" and lose all brakes. Brake power will momentarily show requested power then cut off. Trailer has been confirmed ok, works 100% on two other trucks, ground continuity is 100% via plug only, brake wiring and resistance all in spec for 3 Dexter 7000# axles (electric drum) Will randomly cut out after working for days. Usually when needed most. Dealer claims "cannot duplicate" had been to dealer 4x for it, to include a software update. I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering Automotive Concentration from what used to be GMs in house engineering school. (GMI/Kettering) To say I'm intimately familiar with how this should work is an understatement. Also, the manual slider control should just provide requested power to brakes, bypassing any BXM/TCM interlocks. In aviation, if I use a backup brake it bypasses antiskid, anything else. Towing a 21,000 pound trailer in the Mountains when this thing decides to not work is sketchy. It will eventually cause an accident given that it's a widespread issue known to people but magically no recall. If this was an Airbus 321 or Boeing 737 we'd have an Airworthiness Directive at a minimum.
Trailer brake controller will randomly announce "trailer wiring fault" and lose all brakes. Brake power will momentarily show requested power then cut off. Trailer has been confirmed ok, works 100% on two other trucks, ground continuity is 100% via plug only, brake wiring and resistance all in spec for 3 Dexter 7000# axles (electric drum) Will randomly cut out after working for days. Usually when needed most. Dealer claims "cannot duplicate" had been to dealer 4x for it, to include a software update. I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering Automotive Concentration from what used to be GMs in house engineering school. (GMI/Kettering) To say I'm intimately familiar with how this should work is an understatement. Also, the manual slider control should just provide requested power to brakes, bypassing any BXM/TCM interlocks. In aviation, if I use a backup brake it bypasses antiskid, anything else. Towing a 21,000 pound trailer in the Mountains when this thing decides to not work is sketchy. It will eventually cause an accident given that it's a widespread issue known to people but magically no recall. If this was an Airbus 321 or Boeing 737 we'd have an Airworthiness Directive at a minimum.
Connected to 5th wheel, intermittently the brakes would "buck" and "grab" when braking. Message to the effect of braking wire malfunction.
Connected to 5th wheel, intermittently the brakes would "buck" and "grab" when braking. Message to the effect of braking wire malfunction.
2022 F450 King Ranch will not recognize an electric over hydraulic brake system on the trailer. It will recognize it if you connect while running. Once you shut the engine off and turn it back on it disconnects and will not recognize the trailer until you get out and go back to the plug and unplug and plug it in again. The 2021 F450 will work with the trailer. The dealer tried hooking up (4) different 2022 F series and they all did the same thing. Have been emailing every email address I can get ahold of at ford. Field service engineer came out on 6/8 and he cannot figure out the issue. This truck was taken in after the brake controller recall on 4/18/22. First attempt updated software on 4/20/22. Supposed to fix. Still not fixed as of 6/13/22. Also had our 2021 Gator Trailer inspected for any issues. There were none. The fact that Hardy Ford hooked up 2022 F150, F250, F450 to the trailer and none of them would recognize and electric over hydraulic brake trailer system.
2022 F450 King Ranch will not recognize an electric over hydraulic brake system on the trailer. It will recognize it if you connect while running. Once you shut the engine off and turn it back on it disconnects and will not recognize the trailer until you get out and go back to the plug and unplug and plug it in again. The 2021 F450 will work with the trailer. The dealer tried hooking up (4) different 2022 F series and they all did the same thing. Have been emailing every email address I can get ahold of at ford. Field service engineer came out on 6/8 and he cannot figure out the issue. This truck was taken in after the brake controller recall on 4/18/22. First attempt updated software on 4/20/22. Supposed to fix. Still not fixed as of 6/13/22. Also had our 2021 Gator Trailer inspected for any issues. There were none. The fact that Hardy Ford hooked up 2022 F150, F250, F450 to the trailer and none of them would recognize and electric over hydraulic brake trailer system.
Towing 18,000 trailer and truck disconnects trailer breaks. This is risking somebodies life… if this is an active recall why arent we being notified about it when we are purchasing a brand new truck to haul. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen
Towing 18,000 trailer and truck disconnects trailer breaks. This is risking somebodies life… if this is an active recall why arent we being notified about it when we are purchasing a brand new truck to haul. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen
The trailer brakes fail after a random period of time. Though the trailer works fine with other controllers, the entire trailer was rewired with new brakes and a new 7-pin connector, the problem did not changed - there are no shorts, grounds, opens in the brake circuit, and the ground circuit is OK. There previously were and are no intermittent problems with the trailer. The trailer brakes will start off the trip working, but stop working at random times. I've often noticed that they'll fail shortly after sitting in traffic. After the failure, I remove and reinstall fuse #62 in the under hood fuse box, and the trailer brake operation will be restored for a while. Being aware of this problem, and the dealers being no help (this is a common topic on groups and forums), I regularly manually test trailer brake operation, especially before descending a hill, but sometimes even shortly after confirming proper operation, the trailer brakes will not work. After the failure, I will pull over, then again confirm that they're not working, then R&R the fuse without disturbing any other circuits or connectors, and the trailer brakes will resume operation. Turning the truck off and on does not fix the problem even temporarily. I experience this problem about every hundred miles or so of driving. The truck currently has about 2,500 miles, but the problem was noticed at about 1,100 miles during the first tow. I'd estimate I've experienced the trailer brake failure about seven times.
The trailer brakes fail after a random period of time. Though the trailer works fine with other controllers, the entire trailer was rewired with new brakes and a new 7-pin connector, the problem did not changed - there are no shorts, grounds, opens in the brake circuit, and the ground circuit is OK. There previously were and are no intermittent problems with the trailer. The trailer brakes will start off the trip working, but stop working at random times. I've often noticed that they'll fail shortly after sitting in traffic. After the failure, I remove and reinstall fuse #62 in the under hood fuse box, and the trailer brake operation will be restored for a while. Being aware of this problem, and the dealers being no help (this is a common topic on groups and forums), I regularly manually test trailer brake operation, especially before descending a hill, but sometimes even shortly after confirming proper operation, the trailer brakes will not work. After the failure, I will pull over, then again confirm that they're not working, then R&R the fuse without disturbing any other circuits or connectors, and the trailer brakes will resume operation. Turning the truck off and on does not fix the problem even temporarily. I experience this problem about every hundred miles or so of driving. The truck currently has about 2,500 miles, but the problem was noticed at about 1,100 miles during the first tow. I'd estimate I've experienced the trailer brake failure about seven times.