Lightning engaging brakes while backing down boat ramp

[Mike G]

Truck thinks you're going to back into something because you've disconnected the trailer connector and the bumper sensors say you're waaay to close to that thing behind you.

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[JMD359]

My Lightning is engaging its brakes aggressively while I am trying to back my boat down a ramp to launch it. Has anyone else experienced this? I have always disconnected my boat from the trailer before launching so that I can just back it down and launch it without getting out of my truck then drive away. But now with this truck aggressively applying its brakes as I back down I am uncomfortable unhooking the boat from the trailer before backing down. I have researched this forum and have not found any mention of this happening to anyone else. Any suggestions?

You don’t have one pedal on do you? That’s the only time I find my truck to be aggressive backing up.. it almost seems to fight itself.

 

[RickLightning]

You don’t have one pedal on do you? That’s the only time I find my truck to be aggressive backing up.. it almost seems to fight itself.

I have always unplugged the boat trailer to keep from shorting out the truck's wiring , because my boat trailer is always old...

I agree with the previous post on one pedal, I have had similar issues of aggressive braking when backing down a steep driveway with 1 pedal on.

Has nothing to do with 1 pedal and everything to do with disconnecting the trailer plug, so the trailer is seen as an obstacle about to be run into.

I drove my first trailer before I had a license. Our vehicles are sophisticated, you setup a new trailer in the system with measurements, etc. You can, if you want, utilize features to backup to a trailer hitch, back the trailer up with the knob, etc.

The key thing to understand is that the warning systems react to the presence of the trailer, which they identify by the trailer being plugged in. To see how it notices the trailer, after you have it all set up, turn the truck off and lock it, and walk away. Now, have someone without a fob go and unplug the connector...

If you choose to unplug anyway, then simply turn off the warning systems for launching it, then turn them back on. If that isn't to your liking, then either use the systems properly or deal with the brakes coming on sometimes.

Lastly, if you're considering undoing the winch,

 

[SFsparkie]

Can you unplug the trailer and plug in a trailer plug tester to the truck. I imagine the truck will think the light tester is a. trailer and your trailer lights will not be energized. .

 

[dpwmc93]

This has happened to me once when I was using a bike Rack which was blocking the rear camera. Didnt think much of it but the recommendations above sound promising.

 

[chl]

I haven't used my Lightning to launch my old boat yet, so glad to read this thread about what I might need to do to make it go smoothly - other boaters get annoyed when there is someone with problems on the ramp, lol.

My trailer instructions (an old 2000 Shoreland'r) say to disconnect the wiring from the truck before backing into water:
---
LIGHTING
The ShoreLand’r electrical system is virtually trouble-free, especially
with the use of the automotive type wire harnesses. This eliminates
shorts in the system due to bad or corroded connections.

We suggest, however, that you use the following precautions for
trouble-free trailering:

1) Disconnect the tongue harness from the tow vehicle before
backing the trailer into the water. This will eliminate the bulbs
from lighting while submerged in the water. Lighting a submerged
light bulb will cause it to burn out.
---
I always kept the bow winch hook connected while entering the water as recommended.
Made a few mistakes though - one time I forgot to screw in the drain plug at the stern and nearly sunk the boat, the bilge pump got a workout that day, lol.
Had to refloat the boat on rough days a few times - what fun.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

No fake AI electrical engineer analysis needed here. Stop unplugging the trailer. It is not going to "short out the trailer" and that is not how electricity works. Less old wives tales, more logic.

 

[Bill-EV]

I have to agree with some of the others about backing into the water with older trailer lights - I have had brake light bulbs burn out when they enter the cold water when I forgot to unplug the trailer wiring. Will be interesting in a week when I launch for the first time with my Lightning (2025 Lariat). Wonder if it will hit the brakes on me. The Lightning doesn’t jam on the brakes when I back up with the bike rack on, it just yells at me for about 5 seconds and then lets me do what I want.

 

[chl]

No fake AI electrical engineer analysis needed here. Stop unplugging the trailer. It is not going to "short out the trailer" and that is not how electricity works. Less old wives tales, more logic.

I copied that from my PDF owners manual - no AI involved...here it is attached, see page 9.

May not short out anything, but it sure will pop a bulb! Once the bulb pops, anything can happen - but thats why our 12v electrical system use fuses.

Only distilled water is not a conductor of electricity, and most boats get launched into non-distilled water.

And corrosion could eventually cause problems with the connections.

 

[rickbjeepb]

This happened to me right after getting the truck, the first time I tried to hitch to the boat. I got within a few inches of the hitch lining up and it braked suddenly. Several attempts, wouldn't let me get close enough to get the ball under the hitch. I thought it was just a driver assist setting I needed to turn off, but never figured it out because that's also when I found out that leaving the truck in drive when turning it off can make the shifter stuck and the truck immovable. Oddly, I didn't change anything (AFAIK) and haven't had any problem since.

ALSO: The Lightning owners manual says to unplug the trailer before submersion: Launching or Retrieving a Boat or Personal Watercraft

 

[chl]

This happened to me right after getting the truck, the first time I tried to hitch to the boat. I got within a few inches of the hitch lining up and it braked suddenly. Several attempts, wouldn't let me get close enough to get the ball under the hitch. I thought it was just a driver assist setting I needed to turn off, but never figured it out because that's also when I found out that leaving the truck in drive when turning it off can make the shifter stuck and the truck immovable. Oddly, I didn't change anything (AFAIK) and haven't had any problem since.

ALSO: The Lightning owners manual says to unplug the trailer before submersion: Launching or Retrieving a Boat or Personal Watercraft

From the manual:
---
Note: Disconnect the trailer wiring connector before backing the trailer into the water.
Note: Reconnect the trailer wiring connector after removing the trailer from the water.
---
Yes, check boating forums and you will see stories about water shorting out the trailer tail lights when launching even if the tail-light and bulb are not leaking water, sometimes the connectors might,it may be rare but it can happen.

The lightning has fuses that might blow if it happens so it would just be a hassle.

Didn't some 2022-23 Lightning trims (Platinum and Lariat) have water leaking in and sometimes shorting out the rear light bar circuit (23S30)? That's the way electricity works...

 

[Runaway Tractor]

It must just be a miracle that the rest of the world that does not unplug their trailer is even alive today

 

[CdnCGM23]

Now I am wondering since I unplug my boat trailer from the truck before backing into the water if the cameras are thinking I am about to back into the trailer?

The reverse sensors think you're backing into an object because you disconnected the trailer wiring harness..just need to reverse slower or plug it back in.

 

[TheSparo]

From the manual:
---
Note: Disconnect the trailer wiring connector before backing the trailer into the water.
Note: Reconnect the trailer wiring connector after removing the trailer from the water.
---
Yes, check boating forums and you will see stories about water shorting out the trailer tail lights when launching even if the tail-light and bulb are not leaking water, sometimes the connectors might,it may be rare but it can happen.

The lightning has fuses that might blow if it happens so it would just be a hassle.

Didn't some 2022-23 Lightning trims (Platinum and Lariat) have water leaking in and sometimes shorting out the rear light bar circuit (23S30)? That's the way electricity works...

If this is the case, from the manual, then it should also add a reminder to disable the backup-stop nanny, unless it's a different issue causing his brakes to activate...

 

[chl]

It must just be a miracle that the rest of the world that does not unplug their trailer is even alive today

It would just blow a fuse or pop the tail light bulb from what I've read, although over time corrosion could make the connections inoperative...not life threatening

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