I have a Boatmate trailer for our 2023 ATX 20 Type S that is equipped with the UFP A-60 surge brake system. We bought the boat last year and never had any issues. This spring I purchased a new truck, a 2023 GMC Sierra AT4 with the 3L diesel, and at first we had no issues. These new GM trucks have some "smart" trailering and controllers built into them, and the trailer reverse solenoid worked fine the first couple of times we used it. However, after that it started to not release when putting the vehicle into reverse, and it quickly came to the point that as soon as the vehicle is put into reverse it pops up to check the reverse lights on the trailer.
The manual for the Boatmate trailer includes a wiring diagram, which shows reverse light wires going clear to the rear, but states that the circuit is not present if there are not reverse lights on the trailer. This trailer does not have reverse lights, but I cannot find where that circuit is terminated at. In the tongue up front it appears that wires for reverse lights are present and head toward the rear of the trailer. I tried finding blank plugs at the back corners of the trailer but did not find any, although it is difficult to see in that tight space and there is a good amount of excess wire tucked in there. The reason I'm looking for the termination point of that circuit is because it would be the obvious place to find a short since I did not find one in the tongue of the trailer.
I have thoroughly inspected the surge system and verified there are no shorts or spots in the wire rubbed to the frame. I did test for continuity of the white to blue wire to the solenoid through the trailer plug by testing reverse pin to the ground pin, and it showed continuity (I'm assuming it should?). I believe the issue is with the truck's software but I can't find anyone else who has had the problem when researching. I have seen people who had to install load resistors for LED lights and I think that would be a fairly simple solution, but it worked in April and May so in my opinion I should be able to get it to function as designed again without modification.
I've reached out to the surge brake manufacturer and my GM dealer, but I'm not too optimistic either will reply or be helpful. I have tried testing for 12v at the back of the truck, but without a trailer being hooked up the truck doesn't supply 12v to the receptacle. I did tow another trailer that has electric over hydraulic brakes a month ago and didn't have any issues at all, so I don't know why all of a sudden my truck hates the boat trailer.
I know I need to test the actuator by applying 12v to it with a spare battery to verify it's not a trailer wire issue, and I plan to do that this weekend when I get back to where we keep the boat, but I don't think it went bad in under 1,000 miles of towing and only 12 months of ownership. In the meantime, if anyone has ran into this issue with their GM/Chevy tow vehicle and has figured out a solution please let me know!
The manual for the Boatmate trailer includes a wiring diagram, which shows reverse light wires going clear to the rear, but states that the circuit is not present if there are not reverse lights on the trailer. This trailer does not have reverse lights, but I cannot find where that circuit is terminated at. In the tongue up front it appears that wires for reverse lights are present and head toward the rear of the trailer. I tried finding blank plugs at the back corners of the trailer but did not find any, although it is difficult to see in that tight space and there is a good amount of excess wire tucked in there. The reason I'm looking for the termination point of that circuit is because it would be the obvious place to find a short since I did not find one in the tongue of the trailer.
I have thoroughly inspected the surge system and verified there are no shorts or spots in the wire rubbed to the frame. I did test for continuity of the white to blue wire to the solenoid through the trailer plug by testing reverse pin to the ground pin, and it showed continuity (I'm assuming it should?). I believe the issue is with the truck's software but I can't find anyone else who has had the problem when researching. I have seen people who had to install load resistors for LED lights and I think that would be a fairly simple solution, but it worked in April and May so in my opinion I should be able to get it to function as designed again without modification.
I've reached out to the surge brake manufacturer and my GM dealer, but I'm not too optimistic either will reply or be helpful. I have tried testing for 12v at the back of the truck, but without a trailer being hooked up the truck doesn't supply 12v to the receptacle. I did tow another trailer that has electric over hydraulic brakes a month ago and didn't have any issues at all, so I don't know why all of a sudden my truck hates the boat trailer.
I know I need to test the actuator by applying 12v to it with a spare battery to verify it's not a trailer wire issue, and I plan to do that this weekend when I get back to where we keep the boat, but I don't think it went bad in under 1,000 miles of towing and only 12 months of ownership. In the meantime, if anyone has ran into this issue with their GM/Chevy tow vehicle and has figured out a solution please let me know!