Dexter Tow Assist Won't Power Up

[You Me and Whiskey]

I have an Influence 2903RL with a Silverado 3500HD. On my 1st three drives, the tow assist (Home | Dexter Group) worked flawlessly. Now it won't power up (no indicator lights or light on ODB II module). I've tried all the steps in the Dexter manual with and without Solar connected, but nothing works.

The Dexter installation manual and the Dexter tech say there should be a fuse on the line to the power supply, but I can't find it in the front bay (in or outside of the junction box). Does anyone know where this might be?

I am new to towing something this large -- I was planning to drive LA to Las Vegas next week. Any thoughts on if I should tow without the tow assist (i.e., the anti-sway and ABS system).

Any ideas on how to diagnose further?

Thank you!

 

[traveldawg]

I think this is a question for both Lippert/Dexter and Grand Design. I won't recommend towing with or without a brake device/circuit/whatever but I don't know anything about the ABS system.

Do the brakes even work when that system has no power.

There must be a fuse someplace. Another reason to ask GD.

 

[Bungy]

We all know you wouldn’t tow without brakes obviously but what I gleaned from the website was the tow assist is an add on system strictly for ABS and sway control.

 

[Wileykid]

As I understand it, when the new fangled system doesn't work, the brakes will still work, just no anti-sway or ABS, a fail safe. Been reading that a number of people are just disabling the system because of the problems.

 

[Cooper]

I have an Influence 2903RL with a Silverado 3500HD. On my 1st three drives, the tow assist (Home | Dexter Group) worked flawlessly. Now it won't power up (no indicator lights or light on ODB II module). I've tried all the steps in the Dexter manual with and without Solar connected, but nothing works.

The Dexter installation manual and the Dexter tech say there should be a fuse on the line to the power supply, but I can't find it in the front bay (in or outside of the junction box). Does anyone know where this might be?

I am new to towing something this large -- I was planning to drive LA to Las Vegas next week. Any thoughts on if I should tow without the tow assist (i.e., the anti-sway and ABS system).

Any ideas on how to diagnose further?

Thank you!

I too have the same trailer and identical problem. I traced the wire that powers the system. Pulled the service loop, which by the way was approximately 18 ft of extra wire. There was no fuse. And I could not determine where it terminated and was told that it would terminate near the axle. I have a friend who owns his own RV repair business and he's currently researching the issue. Also, we tested the brakes. Brakes do indeed engage but you just don't have that anti-sway feature. The tow assist has several features besides anti-sway. I don't recall off the top of my head what all of the features are. I recall one being miles driven. I'd have to look in the owner's manual to find the other functions. If we find the fix I will follow up with a post.

 

[Steven@147]

I was just thinking, I don't think a fuse would be allowed in the braking system electric circuit. It's the same circuit the emergency break away switch uses. If the fuse blew or went bad you wouldn't have any brakes or emergency breaks at all. Maybe a resettable circuit breaker if anything, but I doubt that as well.

 

[18CrewDually]

I have an Influence 2903RL with a Silverado 3500HD. On my 1st three drives, the tow assist (Home | Dexter Group) worked flawlessly. Now it won't power up (no indicator lights or light on ODB II module). I've tried all the steps in the Dexter manual with and without Solar connected, but nothing works.

The Dexter installation manual and the Dexter tech say there should be a fuse on the line to the power supply, but I can't find it in the front bay (in or outside of the junction box). Does anyone know where this might be?

I am new to towing something this large -- I was planning to drive LA to Las Vegas next week. Any thoughts on if I should tow without the tow assist (i.e., the anti-sway and ABS system).

Any ideas on how to diagnose further?

Thank you!

Any outcome?

 

[You Me and Whiskey]

Yes! The bottom line is that the guy who installed my DC-DC charger installed it incorrectly. When I sat down and looked at what he did, it was pretty obvious. I returned the connections to the original wiring without the DC-DC charger, and the tow assist came back on. Then I wired the DC-DC charger back in correctly and had no issues. I am pretty impressed with the system. I live in Southern California and experience wind gusts when driving through the passes to get out of town. The trailer does a great job of keeping things in line.

 

[18CrewDually]

Yes! The bottom line is that the guy who installed my DC-DC charger installed it incorrectly. When I sat down and looked at what he did, it was pretty obvious. I returned the connections to the original wiring without the DC-DC charger, and the tow assist came back on. Then I wired the DC-DC charger back in correctly and had no issues. I am pretty impressed with the system. I live in Southern California and experience wind gusts when driving through the passes to get out of town. The trailer does a great job of keeping things in line.

Thanks for following up. Are you able to access the system through the Dexter App and read your miles? The app (if you didn't know) is in Google app store " Dexter Axle ".
I can connect but then when it checks for software version, it comes back with Unable to Communicate.
System functions great. I'm trying to see miles.
Just looking around to see what others experience.

 

[You Me and Whiskey]

Thanks for following up. Are you able to access the system through the Dexter App and read your miles? The app (if you didn't know) is in Google app store " Dexter Axle ".
I can connect but then when it checks for software version, it comes back with Unable to Communicate.
System functions great. I'm trying to see miles.
Just looking around to see what others experience.

Yes - I can see the miles, but I am using iOS not android.

 

[18CrewDually]

Yes - I can see the miles, but I am using iOS not android.

Does the trailer plug have to be plugged in? Or can you connect and read miles with it unplugged?

 

[You Me and Whiskey]

I assume you mean to the truck...As I recall, the tow assist is getting power from either the battery or the tow vehicle. But it doesn't turn on until the truck brakes are applied, so the trailer must be plugged into the truck. It will turn off about 90 minutes after the last brake signal. The light on the side is the indicator if the system is operating, as well as the blue light on the Bluetooth dongle.

 

[18CrewDually]

I assume you mean to the truck...As I recall, the tow assist is getting power from either the battery or the tow vehicle. But it doesn't turn on until the truck brakes are applied, so the trailer must be plugged into the truck. It will turn off about 90 minutes after the last brake signal. The light on the side is the indicator if the system is operating, as well as the blue light on the Bluetooth dongle.

My system works properly and I understand all that.
I'll rephrase, Are you able to Connect with your phone App via Bluetooth and read your trailer's mileage without the trailer tow plug in the the trucks trailer plug receiver?

 

[You Me and Whiskey]

My system works properly and I understand all that.
I'll rephrase, Are you able to Connect with your phone App via Bluetooth and read your trailer's mileage without the trailer tow plug in the the trucks trailer plug receiver?

I don't think so, but I plan to go out to the trailer tomorrow to organize a few things...I'll check while I am there.

 

[18CrewDually]

I don't think so, but I plan to go out to the trailer tomorrow to organize a few things...I'll check while I am there.

That would be fantastic! Thanks in advance.

Mine will get as far as "checking software version" but then goes to "Unable to Communicate to tow assist" . It is paired and connects to the dongle and the blue light is on and fuse is good at the panel. Depending on your findings, I might be calling on Tuesday either GD or Dexter. In my mind I'm hoping it just needs to be woke up by plugging in the trailer to a truck with a brake controller.
Thanks again.

 

[18CrewDually]

I don't think so, but I plan to go out to the trailer tomorrow to organize a few things...I'll check while I am there.

Well I was able to move stuff around today and hook up. Once it was plugged in and I activated the brake controller to make the system "wake up" the Green light illuminated and I can now via the app & Bluetooth read my mileage.
So mystery is solved, must be plugged in and indicator light illuminated to connect.