Battery Disconnected

[RVisrunning]

Have a 2020 Chevy Silverado that I want to use as a toad, must disconnect negative battery post to tow. Is it safe to use battery to power RV1 brake 3 supplemental braking system or should it get its power from motor home ?

[wolfe10]

If your toad owners manual suggests disconnecting the battery, I don't see a reason you could not install a battery disconnect and have the power lead (positive) for your supplemental brake come off either the battery positive itself or the battery side of the disconnect switch.

[Jim_HiTek]

Usually vehicle manufacturers have you remove a fuse or two before towing. But NEG battery cable removal is pretty simple, too.

I can't think of any reason why you couldn't add a connection to the battery to power the RV1 brake 3 supplemental braking system as their ad states that NO wiring is needed from the towing vehicle. So that tells me you're supposed to connect to the battery somehow, probably using the cigar lighter outlet.

Now, if your vehicle has a 'disconnect the battery ground' rule, you're going to need to find out why, and if you can leave it connected for the RV1 and just pull a couple fuses OR make some adapter that connects the RV1 directly to the battery posts. Both ways are standard practice.

You can of course, provide a charging circuit from the towing vehicle directly to the battery so it doesn't die on you too quickly.

In reading their ad copy, I found this: "In cases where we recommend the 12V Battery Direct Kit (12V Kit), the Towed Battery Charger + (TBC+) or the Towed Battery Disconnect (TBD) you can purchase them HERE."

[Dutch Star Don]

Your Silverado needs the battery disconnected to prevent damage to the electric steering. Even though the truck is off, the electric steering is always active. This has been a procedure since about 2014 or so.

It doesn't matter which side of the battery you disconnect. GM says negative side, so people don't do something silly and short the cable. Roadmaster makes an electric battery disconnect, with a button inside the truck for disconnecting the positive side of the battery. If you use the Roadmaster disconnect, you can connect your brake system to the hot side of the battery, before the disconnect. I ran my GMC Canyon this way for 5 years.

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