Has anyone else had a problem with the factory trailer brake in their Dodge Ram 3500? Mine is a 2015 Longhorn with 23K miles on it. It has performed flawlessly, until it didn't. It says that TRAILER NOT CONNECTED, when the trailer is. It says it when connected to any of my 3 trailers. Our farm mechanic connected his 2015 Dodge with the ITBM in it, and his truck reads my trailers. The local dealership replaced the ITBM yesterday under warranty.. Even if the replacement works, I'm now gun shy! My question is - Does anyone know how to bypass the ITBM (Hopefully without voiding the truck warranty), so that I can have a P3 put in? I've been told that you can't. I even went to a top truck accessories place that said the same thing. I can't believe, that! I pull a 2017 3H 17' LQ, a 2013 Montana 39' 5th wheel, and a 2000 4 Star 3H MT. I can not be going down the road worrying if my trailer brake will fail again!
Posted 2017-06-16 6:43 AM (#170070 - in reply to #170068) Subject: RE: Factory Intergrated Trailer Brake Failure
Expert
Posts: 2955 Location: North Carolina
Brushy ... Stuff happens.. I'm sure if the tech has done the proper job, you're okay. The factory controller functions better than a P3 since it knows everything the truck is doing. But if you really want a belt and suspenders, you could have a P3 installed parallel to the factory system. It will take separate wires and connections. Including a second trailer connection in the back of the truck. If your factory system failed, merely move the trailer plug to the P3 connector.
Posted 2017-06-19 3:05 PM (#170101 - in reply to #170068) Subject: RE: Factory Intergrated Trailer Brake Failure
Veteran
Posts: 185 Location: riverside ca
it is totally possible to do, all the brake controller does is check if you are a stepping on the brake(it uses a switch on the pedal) then magic happnes in the box and voltage is sent down a wire to your trailer in a way that the controller thinks is appropraite. they are very basic devices that hook up with just 4 wires. The built in one in you truck is smarter in that it monitors how hard you are pressing the brakes using the abs computer. The p3 is a good brake controller for a stand alone, and can for sure be installed in place of your factory brake contoller. But IMHO it is not as good as the specifially engineered for you truck system the manufacturer installed. Guess what the P3 can go bad too, so i would stay with the intergrated system.
Posted 2017-07-05 4:00 PM (#170219 - in reply to #170068) Subject: RE: Factory Intergrated Trailer Brake Failure
Location: Central Arkansas
House, is there a sensor on the brake pedal? Its in the shop now, but they say it pasts when they test it. I dont see how they can duplicate it without hooking it to a trailer to verfiy. They are a small dealership and my trailers wont fit.
Posted 2017-07-05 10:35 PM (#170220 - in reply to #170068) Subject: RE: Factory Intergrated Trailer Brake Failure
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Most probably its the problem with incomplete connection at the plug or bad ground. This message is displayed whenever the ignition is cycled from OFF to RUN without a trailer connected to the 7-pin trailer connector. Once you check this, you'll have your trailer connected and trailer marker lights work properly.
Posted 2017-10-31 9:45 AM (#170786 - in reply to #170068) Subject: RE: Factory Intergrated Trailer Brake Failure
Location: Wentzville, MO
You can easily bypass the ITBC in your 2015 RAM 3500. You'll need to unplug the harness behind the ITBC unit, then make a trip to the dealer to have them disable that feature in the truck's computer.
You can then install an aftermarket brake controller using the connector under the dash, just to the right of the steering column. If you go with the Tekonsha P2 or P3, you'd need the 3024-P harness to connect the controller to the connector.
Posted 2017-11-08 5:40 AM (#170817 - in reply to #170816) Subject: RE: Factory Intergrated Trailer Brake Failure
Location: Central Arkansas
Jeep, I got a 2017 RAM 3500 Limited with all the bells and whistles. I ended up over 14K off MSRP by using USAA Buyers service, True Car. It has the Aisin tranny , 410 rear end, auto leveling, cargo camera, sunroof. My trailer is 34' on the floor with a 18' LQ. I got 14.6 MPG (average speed thru was 60mph) the other day driving to Hot Springs with my electric buggy in the back. This truck is a hauling machine!
Factory Intergrated Trailer Brake Failure
