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01-27-2020, 06:14 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
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Tow vehicle battery keeps dying
Good day all,
My tow vehicle battery keeps dying on long drives. It is connected to the MH battery. It is a 2018 Ford Explorer. I am wondering if the cable from the coach to car is bad or if the charge is just not enough to keep up with the drain.
Leaving it in neutral there is a dash display that reads " Transmission not in park" I wonder if that is depleting it faster than the trickle charge can keep up with. Any thoughts will be much appreciated.
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01-27-2020, 06:21 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,513
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Test the charging circuit at the rear of the coach and at every subsequent connection going to the toad battery. Sometimes the connection pins get dirty and need to be cleaned. Wires sometimes come loose inside the plugs and receptacles. The diode could be bad, or the fuse blown. There should be a fuse in the coach that feeds the 7 pin. And another fuse near the toad battery that goes to the diode.
__________________
Newmar Ventana 4037, 2023.
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01-28-2020, 01:07 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 1,793
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Did it ever work correctly or is this a new paired coach/toad setup?
Sounds like the charge wire is not supplying the proper amperage to the toad. Many newer vehicles these days only offer minimal charging when paired to a trailer or toad.
Personally... I would install a battery isolator in the coach and run a circuit protected #10 AWG stranded copper wire to the rear. Then make sure it is correctly wired to charge the toads battery without back feeding back into the coach.
__________________
2017 22K Bounder 415/6spd/5:38s
2018 F150 Lariat 502A 4X4 Toad & Tow Vehicle
2023 Rockwood GeoPro 20BHS
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01-30-2020, 09:03 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
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I don't think it ever did work properly. Every trip we've been on the battery is totally depleted.
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01-30-2020, 09:04 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
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I will check that, thank you.
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01-30-2020, 09:13 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,385
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Sometimes people have had to put in a bigger battery.
If your charge line from the MH is good, it should keep the battery charged though.
Happy Glamping.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand! 
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01-30-2020, 09:22 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Southern Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjgman44
Good day all,
My tow vehicle battery keeps dying on long drives. It is connected to the MH battery. It is a 2018 Ford Explorer. I am wondering if the cable from the coach to car is bad or if the charge is just not enough to keep up with the drain.
Leaving it in neutral there is a dash display that reads " Transmission not in park" I wonder if that is depleting it faster than the trickle charge can keep up with. Any thoughts will be much appreciated.
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Have you followed the directions in your Ford Owners Manual “to the letter”? In both of my GM toads, there is step by step instructions. Included.....there is fuse(s) that need to be removed to minimize battery drain while being towed. Instead of pulling fuses, I installed a bypass switch. I also have a battery maintainer that trickles the toad battery, and I’ve never had a toad battery issue.
__________________
kenandterry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD carried by a 2017 Ford E450
Bye 2010 Georgetown 330TS after 10 terrific years, as we downsize for the next phase. 
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02-01-2020, 09:45 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,007
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O K. I Have to ask, on my 2006 Ford truck It says you can't tow 4 down. But it does have a spot in the ignition switch that allows it to be turned off yet key will not come out if truck isn't in park. And yes steering is unlocked. Can't you do that with your Explorer? Why do you need the ignition active when towing it? If the ignition was off I don't see why the light would be on. Also make sure your power is getting to your toad.
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02-01-2020, 10:08 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,007
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I got curious about this so I called local ford dealer and his statement was that you needed to disconnect the battery to properly tow a newer Explorer. He suggested you check your book. It will explain it.
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