2006 Dodge Dakota battery disconnect?

[John and Annette]

We just purchased a 2006 Dodge Dakota to tow. The owners manual instructions are fairly simple. After we got home, we found an "Addendum to the owners manual" that states that the battery must be disconnected after shifting the transfer case into neutral.

How have you other Dodge Dakota owners dealt with this issue? How do you provide power to the braking system with the battery disconnected? We have the SMI Silent Partner braking system.

[John and Annette]

We just purchased a 2006 Dodge Dakota to tow. The owners manual instructions are fairly simple. After we got home, we found an "Addendum to the owners manual" that states that the battery must be disconnected after shifting the transfer case into neutral.

How have you other Dodge Dakota owners dealt with this issue? How do you provide power to the braking system with the battery disconnected? We have the SMI Silent Partner braking system.

[Diplomat Don]

John...I just finished the install of the SMI Air Force One on my 2007 Dakota. I struggled over the same issue and have determined that they only want the battery disconnected because with the key on and the depressing of the brake pedal with the SMI unit there will be battery drain.

Here's what I did. I ran a charge wire from the M/H to the Dakota. I connected a 14 gauge wire from the M/H engine battery to a 10amp fuse and then a large automotive diode. I ran the wire through the trailer wire connection and to the Dakota battery.

I also had an ignition key made at Home Depot. It's not chipped and will not let you start the Dakota, but it will allow you to turn it to the off position to free the wheel.

I towed the truck and everything works great. I thought the battery disconnect issue may also cause the speedo to record mileage. It didn't.

[SMI Manufacturing, Inc.]

You have three options:

1) Use Don's method above.

2) Tap into the battery behind the disconnect switch. Dodge tells you to disconnect the ground, but when I install on these types of vehicles, I move the disconnect switch from the ground terminal to the positive terminal. Then I hook it up in this order: Battery (+), SMI power, disconnect switch, original battery cable. In this case, the brake lights of the Dakota would still be inoperable. For your SilentPartner, tap transmitter red wire into the blue wire that goes from unit to the breakaway switch instead of the brake-light switch. *This is the method I usually use.

3) Use a portable power jumper to power your SMI system. In this case, you would still need to tap-in to the blue wire as in the second option.

Feel free to write or call me for any additional information.

Brent Schuck
Research and Development
Graphic Design