2025 incandescent trailer light issue

[Renegade18]

So this has been on this forum but I have been dealing with the incandescent trailer light issue. The 2025 Ram 1500s will not light up a snowmobile trailer with incandescent lights. I have brought it to two different dealers and they both confirmed the way they designed the trailer system on the 25s, through the new trailer module, cannot put out enough amperage to run the number of incandescent lights on multiple trailers that I have access to. The regional Ram service engineer (from Buffalo) was out today at my dealer in NH and confirmed what we already knew. They have no fix for it but offered to change my trailer lights to LED, I have over 20. That is nice of them but I tow multiple trailers with incandescent lights and they will only change trailer. I am curious how many people are having this issue and if enough I bet we could file a class action lawsuit

 

[GTyankee]

Too bad they can't make a New Truck with the latest goodies, Backward Compatible.

Now you know how Apple Phone Owners, that also Have Dodge/Ram Trucks have felt for years.
Until Apple decided to make Backwards Compatible Software.

Apple makes 1 or two phones a year & every Year, Ram owners have to complain

 

[2003F350]

So this has been on this forum but I have been dealing with the incandescent trailer light issue. The 2025 Ram 1500s will not light up a snowmobile trailer with incandescent lights. I have brought it to two different dealers and they both confirmed the way they designed the trailer system on the 25s, through the new trailer module, cannot put out enough amperage to run the number of incandescent lights on multiple trailers that I have access to. The regional Ram service engineer (from Buffalo) was out today at my dealer in NH and confirmed what we already knew. They have no fix for it but offered to change my trailer lights to LED, I have over 20. That is nice of them but I tow multiple trailers with incandescent lights and they will only change trailer. I am curious how many people are having this issue and if enough I bet we could file a class action lawsuit

Out of curiosity, why would you NOT want to upgrade your trailer lights? I went to LEDs on my flatbed (completely new housings because my incandescent ones were broken, thanks neighbor kids), and they're so much brighter and react as fast as my truck flashers/lights. I need to update the TT bulbs, but we MAY be in the market for a new trailer this year so I may not.

It's worth the price of the upgrade.

 

[Renegade18]

One it is a pain in the ass to change over 20 lights and I shouldn’t have to, two I cannot tow any trailer that has incandescent lights, three when you buy a truck and spend the money we spend the expectation is to be able to tow no matter what lights a trailer has. My trailer is not the only one left on the planet with incandescent lights.

 

[chopperman1]

Add a t-tap harness in to the rear tail lights, problem solved.

 

[HarryN]

Just throwing out an idea here.

If most of those lights are for visual safety ( easy to see ) vs brake lights, then one option is to make an adapter.

Power the lights themselves from a dedicated 12 volt wire, but do the switching either directly or via a relay.

 

[mtnrider]

Add a t-tap harness in to the rear tail lights, problem solved.

Actually that will create a Bunch of problems.....

 

[chopperman1]

Actually that will create a Bunch of problems.....

Disagree. Maintains a parallel path which keeps resistance within range of bulb out detection. Done quite often these days for tailgate light bars when they wreak havoc on false trailer detection. They t-tap typically under the bed and not at the tail light itself due to all the other electronics in some of them.

 

[Badger 13]

This is definitely an amperage problem and not just an incandescent vs LED issue. It would be interesting to know what the max amperage is coming out of the trailer plug for "lights" is. There should be no reason that a person should have to change trailer lights just to make them work. According to the OP, they knew they know they have a problem, but not a fix ? There answer was to replace the trailer lights with LED versions... So, now someone wants to add more LED lights to their trailers for "show", how many more can be added before they reach the limit ??? Some have said that LED's are better and safer, I agree, but that is not the point. Regardless of the manufacture, trailer lights should work regardless of the light type. Just my 2 cents worth...

 

[joesstripclub]

Sounds like another cost cutting measure. The accountants saved 20 cents per truck by shrinking wire size and now they have to limit amperage to the trailer.