I have a 2013 F150 XLT with HD towing and HD payload.
I just bought a lightweight Aluma trailer, plugged it into the 4 wire hitch of my truck, and when I checked my apps, it shows no trailer connected.

The trailr doesn't have electric brakes, so is that why my truck reads no trailer connected?

 

Did you use the truck's menu's to add the trailer?

 

Duh, no i did not. I thought it was automatic electrical sensor. School me on how to put it the truck's menu.

 

It is not automatic. Truck app menu, add trailer. On my 2013 with a boat trailer with no brakes, I have to manually select it each time.

Specifically - Truck Apps, Trailer, Press OK, Options, Change Active Trailer, Add Trailer. Page 121 in my 2013 manual, should be similar in yours.

 

Yup what Ricktwuhk said. Each trailer you own or use needs to be added / programed in and selected each time you connect so the truck knows which trailer. Kind of a nice way to keep track of how many miles you put on your trailers.

 

In order for the truck to detect a trailer, yes it must have electric brakes.

 

I have a camper (7 pin because of brakes) and a small Aluma utility trailer (4 pin). I have both programmed into the truck but mainly because this way it stores the Backup Pro Assist (don't use it much) and more importantly the measurements for the blindspot. Oh also nice how it tracks mileage on the trailer. Doesn't help much with the utility trailer as people borrow that from time to time.

When I connect the utility trailer I go into the towing section and manually select it.

 

On a 2017? On my 2015, when I only had one braked and one brakeless trailer keyed, it would automatically select the correct trailer. As I've added in more trailers, it selects the last trailer I used of the type I hooked up.

 

I will now have to go out and connect my trailer just to see if I can program in my utility trailer. Thanks for all the help.

 

/\ /\ /\ this above My '19 behaves the same