Why Do the Trailer Brakes Lock Up When 6-Way Connector Is Plugged Into Ford Truck

Updated 06/16/2020 | Published 08/30/2012

Question:

If I hook up trailer to my dodge and every thing works ,and then try to hook it up to the ford the brakes are locked up. The trucks are 2011 models. Any suggestions ?

asked by: G P

Expert Reply:

A 6-Way round pole connector can be wired one of two ways; with the center pole as the 12 volt hot lead, or as the brake. Having the center pole as the 12 volt hot lead is probably most common.

In your case, the 6-Way round connector on your Dodge is probably wired with the center pole as the brake lead. The Ford is probably wired with the center pole for the 12 volt power. When you plug in the connector to your trailer and the center is 12 volt power it is just going to lock up the brakes on your trailer.

You will just need to switch the center pole wiring of the 6-Way connector on your Ford to be for the brake lead and not the 12 volt power lead and it will keep the brakes from locking up on the trailer.

If you have 7-Way connectors on your vehicles and are using an adapter to go to the 6-Way on the trailer, you will need to rewire the adapter to get it to work correctly, or purchase another adapter like the Hopkins 7-Way To 6-Way Adapter, part # 47549, and wire it so the center pin will activate the brakes when it is plugged into the connector on the Ford truck.

expert reply by: Jeff D

Jeremy G.

6/16/2020

same thing happened on my 2020 chevy when I used an adapter to go from a 6 pin on the trailer to a 7 blade on the truck. The trailer rolled free until I hit the brakes then the trailer brakes locked up