How can I avoid a dead battery in toad?

USMCRET · 09-01-2011, 06:10 AM

I have the Roadmaster Even Brake system that plugs into 12v receptacle on toad. A simple four hour drive drains the battery. I naively assumed the toad and coach would be wired in such a way that the battery would be recharging while hooked up. I know squat about such things. How do others handle this?

grumpy14 · 09-01-2011, 06:26 AM

how many wires going to toad-4-6-or7, to charge battery has to be 6 0r 7 wires

sparkydog · 09-01-2011, 06:41 AM

I use a 6 wire light cable from the MH to the toad. In my case there is a hot wire, I believe pin # 6 is hot, I ran a wire from that pin, along with a ground to the battery. Never had a dead battery as the MH is supplying charge to the battery.

USMCRET · 09-01-2011, 09:53 AM

There are 7 leaving the coach and that necks down to 6 at the toad. I didn't wire it, paid someone else to do it. It sounds like I need to take it back and have it done right.

sparkydog · 09-01-2011, 11:42 AM

Mine is also 7 pin@ the coach, I have an adapter plug that goes to 6 pin. Most people wouldn't need 6 pin unless they had trailer brakes. It's not that they didn't do it right, I think just need to add power and ground to the battery in the toad, which allows the MH to charge battery while in transit. Hope this helps.

njs42 · 09-01-2011, 12:27 PM

LSL Toad Charge Battery Charger

I ordered one of these and will install it myself.

grumpy14 · 09-01-2011, 01:51 PM

sounds like toad is not wired right

Rich and Cork · 09-01-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCRET

There are 7 leaving the coach and that necks down to 6 at the toad. I didn't wire it, paid someone else to do it. It sounds like I need to take it back and have it done right.

I am sure it was done "right" with respect to what you wanted originally. Just have them redo it and add a wire to your battery, with a fuse in-line, just in case something bad happens. Should not be a very big job.

42Mike · 09-02-2011, 11:03 AM

I am flat towing a 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid with a Blue Ox Patriot auxiliary brake system. After 7 hours of towing the brake system informed the car battery was low. I subsequently modified my wiring to include a battery charge line from the MH to the car - protected with fusing. Works like a champ. You need a 6 or 7 wire brake cable and use the "spare" wire as the charge line.

As our cars are more electronic, you will need to charge the toad's battery while towing. Don't believe you will be able to turn off all electric loads in the toad for towing.

rv rick · 09-02-2011, 07:09 PM

I had a similar problem with a 2010 Buick Lacrosse. I tried the charging wire, but still experienced a dead battery after a few hours. Finally called Buick and they agreed that a battery disconnect would work. Now, I start the car, hook up the tow bar as usual, put it in Neutral, and turn it off to the Acc. position (it has a push button start). Finally, simply hit the disconnect switch and away we go. I have towed this car several thousand miles with no problems at all now and it has proven to be a great tow car.

Oh, I also ran a direct connection from the battery cig. light receptacle for plugging in the Brake Buddy that is not disconnected by the disconnect switch.

sandpiper · 09-04-2011, 04:49 PM

I installed a Toad Charger. Don't know for sure that I would have had a problem without it, but now I don't even have to wonder about it. Cheap peace of mind. At least for me.

wa8yxm · 09-04-2011, 07:11 PM

I can think of 3 ways

1: Towed charge system (There is such a device) adds one wire and charges towed battery off motor home.

2; Invisible Brake system, also by Roadmaster.. Not sure on this one.

3: Scrape the hard to wrangle in and out every time Box system in favor of the US-Gear system.. Easy to hook up (plug in and clip on) invisible when driving, and it includes.... A towed charge lead... In it's connector.

Not joking here: The first time I headed for Las Vegas from Detroit, about 2am Jan-2 2006, Pulled out of my drive, did the walk around and no tail lights on the towed... Found no tail light power out of the motor home when I put the inline LED thing in line.

Checked the US Gear diagrams. Unlocked driver's door of towed, Turned on parking lights, locked door and headed west.. No problems at all, Motor home kept towed charged just fine.