Toad Battery dead

[Field Trip]

Though this is not Newmar DP sepcific, I thought I seek your counsel for this:

We tow our 05 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd and our 07 Mini Cooper, both 4 down.

After a trip of a couple of hours, both batteries will be drained from having the ignition in the acc position.

The Jeep needed a new battery, as it was 4 years old, but the Mini only has 13k miles and it's battery is in good shape.

I've debated on installing a battery disconnect in both of them, but have concerns regarding the on-board computers and their memory functions, particularly the Mini.

Another consideration is to wire a battery tender directly to the batteries and use the inverter from the coach to power the 110 for this piece. This would be easy on the Jeep, but a real pain in the Mini as the battery is in the trunk (hence the term Mini).

Any suggestions as to how to resolve this?

[RVDude]

1) Start the toad at the end of every day to recharge the battery
or
2) Use an amp meter and start pulling toad fuses until the load is reduced (might be able to google something like "mini cooper toad battery" and find someone who has already figured out which fuses to pull
or
3) bite the bullet and install a Toad-Charge. I would NOT install a 120v battery tender charger/device for multiple obvious reasons. The Toad-Charge is an ideal solution and isolates/limits the batteries to prevent any unexpected damage.

[mountainkowboy]

We have a "charge wire" in the tow harness that lets the MoHo keep the toads battery charged while going down the road. It was very easy to do and eliminates the need to run the toad from time to time. I dont even have to unhook at night if its just a stop during the trip.

[JVR]

Why not put a battery disconnect switcc on the negative terminal, like everyone does on boats. The only loss will be the correct time.
JRV

[Gary RVRoamer]

Field Trip...
Check your owner manual for the Recreational Towing procedure - I think you may have the key in the wrong position (ACC) and that is causing your battery drain problem. According to the 2005 GC manual that I read, the key should be in the "unlocked Off" position" for towing. Your GC has the Sentry Key system (electronic security chip in the key), so the steering wheel is not locked when the key if Off. That allows towing in the Off position.

Please verify this in your owner manual, but I think that will solve your battery problem.

[jdoc]

You may also have to disconnect your negative battery terminal. See my sig below about what I tow. That is what I have to do plus like RV Roamer said leave your key in the unlocked position.
Jerry

[W8RLM]

If the GC 4wd system is the same as the Liberty, with the automatic transmission, there is no steering wheel lock, so you can leave the ignition switch in the "lock" position and remove the key. Then, all of the circuits that discharge the battery will be off and it will eliminate the problem.

On the Liberty, there was a choice of 4wd systems. The "better" one is what I have on my 2008 Liberty.

You can check the GC for a steering wheel lock by turning off the car, removing the key and turning the steering wheel. If it doesn't lock, then there is no steering wheel lock. It's hard to do unless you are on a slippery surface, but to do it once to check for the lock, it shouldn't hurt it.

You need to check with the Mini dealer service folks to see what you lose when you disconnect the battery. On the Liberty, all you lose is the clock. All other memories remain.

Good Luck.

W8RLM - Bob

[GaryKD]

Hi Field Trip,
I have used the toad charge that RV Dude recommended. It's been in use for the last couple of years. It works as advertised and I would make the purchase again.

[clubmed98]

if you mentioned it i missed it but do you have an aux brake, as required in most states. If you do and it is plugged into the lighter/aux pwr plug it can and will dischsrge a battery as it cycles through...just a place to look..also many 4 wheel down cars still need a fuse removed or else the various electronics will continue to run..pulling that fuse or putting a by pass on it will help..fully disconnecting the battery via a disconnect will remove the drain, but you then can not use the aux break as the power is off to the power plug..Honda CRV's with nav set also really suck the juice unless you remove the fuse, impossible to reach, so in my case i just run the car a lot and have de sensitized my aux break so it cycles less by only comming on in an emergancy stop..i would opt for the toad charge..

[Field Trip]

All,
We're the original owners of this GC, and not once did I ever verify the fact that it does not have a steering wheel lock.

The GC's problem is solved, now on to the Mini Cooper... It does have a steering wheel lock.

The dealer advised against a battery disconnect as the computer maintains a memory (short answer for a 30 minute conversation).

Thanks all for your input!!!

David