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Member
Posts: 163
Location: Oshkosh | Hi Everyone,
With the recent purchase of my 617Vs came my first boat trailer with surge brakes. My tow vehicle is a Ford Explorer. I had someone put on a flat 5-pin harness on my truck to allow me to match up to the flat 5-pin harness on the trailer. From what I understand, the 5th blue wire is supposed to bypass the brake system when the truck is in reverse, allowing you to back up without the brakes engaging. I'm not sure what the deal is, but if I try to back-up any sort of incline at all (like my driveway) the brakes engage. I always have to insert that little key on the trailer to block the pin from activating the surge brakes. Larry from Wendt's Marine though that maybe there was a fuse missing in my truck that was preventing it from working properly but all fuses are in place and in working condition. Any thoughts out there?
Mark |
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| Have you tested the connector to see if there is power to the blue wire when you shift into reverse? I don't have the Midas touch, but that's where I'd start.
Good luck. |
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Member
Posts: 174
| Mark, I just had the same problem with my Expedition and there is a spcial fuse for the towing package that was needed for me. The fuse is much larger than standard size fuses and I had to go to the dealer to get the right one. |
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| Is this fuse placed in the fuse area below the dash or under the hood?
Thanks for the tip, though! Now if I can only get the skunk out of the new boat, I'll be even happier! Lost a 24"+ eye at the back of the boat today...
Mark |
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| Otis,
I assume you wired the blue wire from the harness to the wire for you back-up lights?
Have same set-up and it works great.
Steve |
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Member
Posts: 163
Location: Oshkosh | I had U-Haul put on the 5-pin flat harness on my truck. Before this I had a regular 4-pin flat... all of the navigation lights on the trailer did not work (side running lights and reverse lights on the trailer) but they now work. I would assume that U-Haul installed it correctly. I will be looking into the fuse scenario on Monday. |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| There should be a fuse under the hood. On my F150, it also handles the running lights. Might be a separate fuse for the reverse lights on your exploroer. Test it at the connector. If you have power switchng with the tester, have someone try to listen for the solenoid click. It should be near the actuator. |
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| My past experiences with Uhaul would indicate otherwise. I think they are considering changing their logo to a big Mickey Mouse. 
Steve |
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| Not sure if this will help you or not, but you might check your hitch height. I had the same problem when pulling my Lund behind my dad's F150 (never have the issue when pulling behind my Suburban with a much lower hitch). Anyway, I resolved the issue by using a hitch with a deeper drop. Not sure why, but it seems that the trailer brakes don't disengage properly if the angle is too high and/or tongue weight is too low. |
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| sorry, one more point. If you're problem is the same as what I experienced it is not a fuse given that it only happens when you try to back up an incline. Check the hitch height. |
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Member
Posts: 163
Location: Oshkosh | Would you say that the main frame of the boat trailer should be roughly parallel to the ground (assuming it is level) to achieve the proper angle? Right now it is close, maybe slightly elevated at the tongue. I will try a lower drop on the hitch.
I guess my opinion of U-Haul is along the same lines... I only went there because they could get me in right away (except for the fact that they "forgot" to order the 5-pin flat for my vehicle... had to go to Fleet to pick one up so they could install for me! |
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| At least on mine, I am pretty much parallel with the ground. When pulling behind my Dad's F150, I first tried a 3 1/2 drop hitch. The tongue was slightly elevated and I still had problems. A 5" drop hitch seems to have solved the problem. Again, no issues when pulling behind my Suburban - the trailer pulls pretty much parallel to the ground behind it. This was admitedly a bit of a trial and error approach on my part to get to a workable answer.
The only caution that I would give is to be cognizant of tongue weight - too much of a good thing may pull down the backend of your vehicle and could cause erratic steering - especially in a hard-braking situation (trailer may "dive" if you hit the brakes hard slightly elevating the front end of the vehicle). As long as you keep it parallel, I would think you would be fine. I did a Google search on "tongue weight" and found a lot of good info on the topic. I'd also suggest checking your owners manuals for both your trailer and your vehicle for guidance on your specific set-up.
Hope that helps. |
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New User
Posts: 4
| I have had the exact same problem, with my new tandem axle "Shorelander" for my 2025 Lund.
The brakes lock up everytime, when backing up, even a slight incline.
Seems the elusive "5th" pin, does not get enough power with certain trucks/suvs to make it work properly. My suburban is one.
I have NO key/pin to put in my trailer, so I purchased a huge "C" clamp, & clamped the release trigger under the trailer tongue to dis-engage them when backing, WORKS now----finally!
My dealer advised AGAINST adding the fuse to the fuse box, for the 5th pin--- he explained--- this overrides the surge breaks "entirely", & you DO NOT want the surge breaks overridden ALL THE TIME. Very dangerous.
No real quick fix, sounds like your best bet may be just to insert the pin when needed, I know its a hassle, but it's probably the safest method.... JMHO
Hope this helps! |
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Member
Posts: 91
Location: West Bend, WI | Not sure if I missed the reply, but did you check the harness to make sure you have power at the plug, (blue wire), when the backup lights are activated? |
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Member
Posts: 163
Location: Oshkosh | I stopped at my local Ford dealer and had them check if there was power at the plug. I put the transmission in reverse and held the brakes while the tech checked for power and wouldn't you know that there was no power there? U-Haul appeared to have it wired correctly. This is a little perplexing to me... when I first got the boat and trailer my truck only had a four-pin harness on my truck. when I plugged-in the trailer harness to the truck harness, the running lights on the sides of the trailer didn't work, nor did the reverse lights on the trailer. With the 5-pin flat harness, every light works. Weird... Anyway, the tech spliced a wire from my reverse lights directly to the blue wire on my truck harness and now I have power there. I have not had a chance to see if this will make the difference, hopefully I will get out Friday.
I do not mind using the "key" when backing up, but the problem is if I am backing up into my driveway to prep the boat for fishing, I cannot remove the key, as the pin in the trailer tongue is pressing on it, oreventing me from removing it. Being the kind of guy where if you cut open my head you would see a school of walleyes swimming around (okay, maybe a couple pairs of boobs, too), I tend to forget the key is in there and once the pin depresses, the key falls out on the road. Thankfully I've recovered it every time... I guess it may need to be part of my routine, just like the boat plug (forgot to put this in once so far this year...).
I appreciate all of the input!
Mark
Edited by Brother Otis 7/1/2008 9:34 PM
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New User
Posts: 4
| Mark,
If you go to your local Home Depot or Menards, you can find light "chain, or linkage".
If you drill a small hole in the top of your tongue on the trailer, & insert a small screw to the trailer and the end of the light chain, you can then run "just enough" length chain to your backup pin, so you can insert it when needed.
Thus, when your "driving away", the pin will pop out, & still stay connected to the trailer via the light chain. Problem solved, & you won't have to worry about losing your pin each time & your pin will be safely attached to your tongue "when" you need it next time too!
Good luck.
Edited by sdlabman 7/2/2008 10:15 AM
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| I struggled with my ford mechanic on this same problem. There is a relay for that wire and mine was not missing. He actually found another relay missing for another circuit. Installed relays and things worked perfect. You need to follow that line from engine fuse block to find those relays. |
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| That is an outstanding idea... |
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Member
Posts: 163
Location: Oshkosh | Well, the spliced wire worked like a charm- I can back up wih no problem.
Still can't get the skunk out of the boat, though... But I managed to lay into a school of MONSTER goats while jigging in the river. MAN, what a lot of fun! 
If someone would want to trade some secret walleye spots for a secret sheepie spot, PM me...
Edited by Brother Otis 7/7/2008 8:48 PM
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New User
Posts: 4
| Brother Otis,
Awesome!! Glad your trailer is working properly now.
Dont have any secret spots near you, but if/when you come to SD we'll head to the Missouri River & fish in a couple of my spots! Just give me a little notice, and we'll make it happen captain!
sdlabman |
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