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Old 05-08-2014, 05:18 PM   #1
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Does the battery charge while driving

I have a 09' Baja but I guess that doesn't really matter in this case. I was wondering if when you have the trailer hooked up to the tow vehicle does it charge the battery or is it seperate?
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Old 05-08-2014, 05:27 PM   #2
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If all the wires are connected correctly the battery in an RV will charge a little when the tow vehicle is running; the length of the charge wire (its resistance) is one limiting factor.
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Old 05-08-2014, 05:36 PM   #3
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It does charge it and the trailer can discharge it when connected to a non running truck.
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Old 05-08-2014, 05:47 PM   #4
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It does charge it and the trailer can discharge it when connected to a non running truck.
Not all trucks. The F150s come with a relay that has to be installed. Most of the others, particularly the heavy duty trucks already have it and it de-enrgizes when the ignition is turned off.
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Old 05-08-2014, 06:00 PM   #5
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I have a 95 f 350 and its only hot when ignition is on
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Old 05-08-2014, 08:43 PM   #6
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Same with our Excursion
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Old 05-08-2014, 08:43 PM   #7
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I have a 95 f 350 and its only hot when ignition is on
Same with our Excursion
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Old 05-09-2014, 09:12 AM   #8
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My f350 has the equipment to charge. Ill class on the drain. I may have had it running when I used it with a dead trailer batt.
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Old 05-09-2014, 10:29 AM   #9
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What car do you have the carpenter?


Asking because my 2011 Sierra came with the wire to feed a trailer battery, but it wasn't hooked up at the factory. (even if I have the towing package option)

The wire was tucked nead the battery box, I had to hook it up to the battery terminal and buy a fuse to put in the engine bay fuse box...
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Old 05-09-2014, 10:44 AM   #10
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How long is your wire?

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If all the wires are connected correctly the battery in an RV will charge a little when the tow vehicle is running; the length of the charge wire (its resistance) is one limiting factor.
RVhiker is spot on. The amount of resistance in the wire (wich is a function of the size (diameter) of the wire), the number of connectors and the electrical quality of those connections all effect how much current can flow into the trailer battery to charge it.

My ford van, as others have pointed out, only connects the trailer battery to the van battery when the engine is on. The alternator charges the van battery at 14.4 Vdc, measured at the van battery. Fifteen+ feet away, at the trailer battery that 14.4 is often less than 13.0 Vdc, which does not do a very good job of charging.

Your set up will be different, but a decent voltmeter will tell you what is happening. You may be suprized!
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Old 05-09-2014, 05:03 PM   #11
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My 08 Silverado 1500 did not charge on our first long trip. Checked and there was a relay or fuse that needed to be added in the box under the hood. The manual will tell you which position. If your truck has a trailering package it should have the relay but just because it has a hitch doesn't mean it has the relay, mine didn't. Relay is a few bucks and avail at any auto parts store. My experience is a drive of 150 miles or more should top off a battery that was partially discharged from a couple nites camping.
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Old 05-09-2014, 09:35 PM   #12
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Does the battery charge while driving

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Originally Posted by Bassdogs View Post
My 08 Silverado 1500 did not charge on our first long trip. Checked and there was a relay or fuse that needed to be added in the box under the hood. The manual will tell you which position. If your truck has a trailering package it should have the relay but just because it has a hitch doesn't mean it has the relay, mine didn't. Relay is a few bucks and avail at any auto parts store. My experience is a drive of 150 miles or more should top off a battery that was partially discharged from a couple nites camping.

Correct... Some vehicles have it... Some don't... My ford that has the Trailer upgrade package had the fuse.
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Old 05-10-2014, 06:03 AM   #13
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My 08 Silverado 1500 did not charge on our first long trip. Checked and there was a relay or fuse that needed to be added in the box under the hood. The manual will tell you which position. If your truck has a trailering package it should have the relay but just because it has a hitch doesn't mean it has the relay, mine didn't. Relay is a few bucks and avail at any auto parts store. My experience is a drive of 150 miles or more should top off a battery that was partially discharged from a couple nites camping.
Correct. Purchasing a relay won't necessarily help out though. If the TV isn't wired up for a relay in the circuit you can buy as many as you like and it won't make a difference.

The OP needs to check his TV owners manual and find if there is a slot on the power distribution panel for said relay and then confirm that it is properly wired to the socket that the trailer plug into. Most OEM sockets that came from the factory should be all ready to go with nothing more than plugging the relay into the power distribution center.
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Old 05-11-2014, 09:01 AM   #14
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I have a 2003 f250
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