"Trailer Disconnected"

Anyone with a 2022 Tundra experience this and have any solutions or workaround? I get a "trailer disconnected" message when I try to adjust gain on the trailer brake controller after plugging in the trailer. I've tried plugging in when the truck is off, on, restarting truck etc. Brought it up to the dealership but they did not find anything other than saying that Tundra's are "touchy". Even with this message the trailer lights work completely, but trailer brakes are clearly not working while driving.

Trailer in question is a Nautique boat trailer with electric brakes (Phoenix is the actual manufacturer). No issues when towing with with my previous vehicle.

Searched but only found a mention or two... thanks in advance

 

Our Malibu boats trailer has surge brakes. Not regular electric brakes. Your trailer in question has a 7 way trailer plug?
Have you tried with another trailer with electric brakes?

 

This has happened to me on 2 towing trips. I sent it back to the dealer to see if they can find anything and nothing ! Said maybe it was my trailer connection. Ever since I’ve gone 3 long tow trips with hard climbs and the messages never came back which is weird. I think they might be right about the “touchy” part. Check the connection and re plug it in and out.

 

Looks like Phoenix trailers all use UFP hydraulic surge brakes, not electric brakes. Your previous truck may have just allowed you to adjust gain even though it wasn't actually sending the signal to the trailer.

My boat trailer has surge brakes as well and truck does the same thing if I try to adjust gain. Surge brakes are different from full electric brakes you would find on something like a travel trailer.

 

Thanks for the input, I'll double check!

 

Have not tried a different trailer. Trailer does have a 7-way plug. Do you get a trailer disconnected message if you try to adjust gain when pulling your Malibu with surge brakes? Appreciate the insight, at least makes me feel a little better.

 

I have had it happen to me on every tow. It connects and disconnects repeatedly thrughout the trip. Took to dealer and without popup trailer with me, not much they could say besides, "it's not the truck." I replaced the 7 pin connector and still get it. I ordered a complete new & pin with cable and all and will try that. Besides the braking issue, it flashes and beeps every time it happens and is super annoying.

 

Surge brakes should be a 5-pin connector with an adapter to plug into the 7-pin receptacle. It uses 5-pin instead of a 4-pin because the trailer needs to know when you are in reverse so it can disable the surge brakes. Surge brakes will have an actuator near the coupler that allows you to top off the brake fluid (electric brakes have no brake fluid).

 

I have a 2018 and it does the same thing. After reading numerous forums, I found out that Toyota simply doesn't know how to make a reliable trailer brake for their trucks. I'm pretty disappointed to hear the same issue is happening with the new ones

 

I have towed 4 times with the Tundra pulling a 2019 Airstream and once I setup the trailer in the menu and set the gain on the brake controller. I haven’t touched it other than the test the brakes by sliding the lever. I haven’t had this disconnect error occur so I must be lucky.

On our first trip, I unplugged the “SUB BATT” relay as I didn’t want to charge the batteries in the trailer. I put it back in for our last trip and there seemed to be no difference.

Perhaps a generous application of dielectric grease on the connector pins. I did notice that the 7 pin connector on the truck is sort of sloppy as it moves around within the hole in the bumper plate.

What I get is warnings about the rear cross traffic alert system not working. It would make sense that the trailer attached would affect this system and the software in the truck should turn off the warnings?

 

I just left the dealership today, asked them to check the TSB for updating the trailer brake controller software. Was told they updated the software but that wasn't the problem, my problem was a faulty emergency break away switch on the trailer......$169 later, my truck now works as it should. But for the life of me I can't make it make sense, that switch shouldn't make the truck show "trailer disconnected" or "trailer brake controller not available" like it was. But of course, it wasn't the trucks fault so I had to pay the diagnostic fee! FML!