Trailer Brakes Not Working

[Kraig]

2021 F350 SRW Diesel

2022 Oliver Legacy Elite II - Hull #1014 

While traveling through Montana, rolling up to a stop light I decided to check my trailer brakes so I reached down and grabbed the controller and gently squeezed. To my surprise, nothing happened then I received a dash notification stating "trailer disconnected"! That will make you look behind you for sure. All good, trailer was still there. I tried it numerous on the rest of our trip, I would get the same notification. So, Wednesday I began looking into the issue. I heard there was some software issues with Ford and the brake controller but that was 2020 models. I saw somewhat of a wiring diagram in someone's post so I reached out to Oliver for a diagram. Mike said he didn't have one. So, to keep my man card I reached out to a Chris Scarff. I knew he had a similar problem. Unfortunately, our trailers wiring was different so that meant I had to do it the hard way and follow the trail of 12 volts. Without a diagram. With junction boxes below the bathroom sink. With wiring harnesses between the hulls. 😓

Although I am enjoying telling this story, I will cut to the chase. Someone at Oliver had used a solder connector, or at least one side of it, to connect 4 wires. The blue brake wire to the two blue wires that go outside the trailer and a red wire that I am assuming is the power for the emergency disconnect. So, if you are having a braking issue, check under the drivers side bed for a connector problem. I reported this to Mike and hopefully this is a one off, but you never know. I must admit the idea is kinda genius in a lazy couch potato kind of way. But not recommended! 

On a positive note, the trailer didn't push my truck at all, even in the mountains I didn't notice it. Another positive for bigger trucks than needed...until you do. Had I not pushed the brake controller I would have never known. 

[Steph and Dud B]

Sloppy work by OTT for sure. Like you said, good thing you have the big truck. (I always check my brakes as I pull out of a location after hitching up.)

[Steve Morris]

Oddly, my brakes stopped working on our 2023 this past week. Brake light works, but no brakes. That’s on my list of things to do before it gets cold and before heading to Florida in January. 

[Patriot]

7 hours ago, Kraig said:

Another positive for bigger trucks than needed...until you do. Had I not pushed the brake controller I would have never known. 

@Kraig My wife and I just completed one of our bucket list 7400 mile, 48 day trips out west camping and touring through CO, UT, ID, WY, MT, NB. I can say without any hesitation we were so glad to have the comfort, safety and cargo capacity of our 1 ton diesel F350. Ford nailed it with their diesel engine brake on the 10 speed 6.7 liter power plant. It sure came in handy on steep mountain passes like Wolf Creek and Teton Pass just to name a few. Good on you for checking your brake controller and identifying the issue.
 

Thanks for passing this info forward.
 

Safe Travels!

Edited October 12 by Patriot

[Mike and Carol]

There have been other posts on trailer brakes disconnecting. What happened to me, and others, is that the brake wires in the axle frayed and shorted out against the metal axle, a Dexter issue.  We pulled the wires and rerouted new wires on the outside of the axle, problem solved.  Oliver service is aware of this issue, they looked at my solution last time I was there.  Ours also failed in Colorado, so I was also happy to have a big truck with a big diesel engine.  Mike

[Rivernerd]

How did  you resolve the issue?  Was it just a failed connector which was replaced, or should the two blue and one red wires be separated?  If so, what should they be connected to?  Where, exactly, under the bed on the driver's side in a 2022 Elite II should I look?

Had you been involved in a catastrophic accident where functioning trailer brakes would have made a difference, the photo of the shrink-wrap solder connector you attached should have made Oliver a defendant in the case, and ultimately liable for a large percentage of any awarded damages.  Such revelations demonstrating Oliver's obvious lack of production quality control, even in 2022, are disturbing to me.  Whoever was responsible to verify the integrity of electrical connections was obviously asleep on the job.

We have Hull #1291, one of the last built in the 2022 model year.  Your post makes me glad I verified, and adjusted, trailer brake function on the road leading away from the Oliver Service Department facility right after we accepted delivery of the trailer.  I recommend that anyone taking delivery of a new Oliver do the same.  Particularly if their tow vehicle is not a 1-ton like yours!

Edited October 12 by Rivernerd
typo

[Rivernerd]

14 hours ago, Kraig said:

I must admit the idea is kinda genius in a lazy couch potato kind of way. But not recommended! 

You are very kind.  As a retired attorney whose litigation practice included defense of auto claims involving life-altering catastrophic injuries, I am not so generous.  Cutting corners with a critical safety system, like legally-mandated trailer brakes, is not "genius;" it is remarkably stupid and grossly negligent.   Given this discovery of such sloppy work, Oliver would be well advised to verify the efficacy of trailer brakes on each Elite II before they allow it to leave the factory.

Edited October 12 by Rivernerd

[jd1923]

If our trailer brakes did not test working positive when leaving a campsite, I would certainly fix the issue prior to any highway travel. Hope you were not in western Montana!

Yes, the big F350 can stop itself and a 7K LB trailer, but not the issue. If the road gets slippery or some gravel, or an odd angle on a downhill slope, the trailer can easily jackknife w/o brakes. Then there are legal issues in you knowingly driving on US highways with faulty equipment required by law. Trailer brakes are required by law for 7K+ trailers. 

[Geronimo John]

On 10/11/2024 at 7:01 PM, Kraig said:

While traveling through Montana, rolling up to a stop light I decided to check my trailer brakes so I reached down and grabbed the controller and gently squeezed. To my surprise, nothing happened then I received a dash notification stating "trailer disconnected"!

Our 7-Pin connection failed us last year.  Art and I replaced it with one that has LED indicators for each of the wires heading back.  Worth the extra few $ in my opinion.

We check the trailer brakes with the manual trailer actuator every time we start out our day.  A good idea to know if you have trailer brakes before leaving the camp site.  Twice in 7 seasons we circled back to our camp site and worked the issue.  Sort of like a "Don't Leave Home" without brakes idea.

GJ