Battery hookup on new travel trailer: loose connection.

[carybosse]

I screwed up and left the battery turned on, forgot to switch the disconnect when I stored my trailer last weekend. I remembered Tuesday morning, but battery was dead. I pulled battery this morning to take home and charge while checking storm damage.

I did not pull the battery Tuesday because I did not have easy access to my tool bag and was dressed in a coat & tie.

When I pulled out the socket to loosen the nuts, I learned that the nuts were not even what I would call finger tight. I assume the battery is not connected at the factory, but the retail outlet is supposed to make that connection. In any event, check your battery connections. On cars, loose battery connections is often the issue.

[Ray,IN]

To be legally transported/towed a trailer must have a working emergency brake/breakaway switch. This means the trailer arrived at the dealership with a battery. Said battery is normally removed by the dealer while the trailer is stored on their lot. They install a battery when showing or selling a trailer, great opportunity for the lot boy to forget to tighten the retaining nuts.

[carybosse]

With the caveat that I have never seen one on a flatbed, I guess I always assumed they transported on a flatbed. But a good point.

Actually, messing with this has raised a secondary thought. The way the battery case is just sitting in an area with 2 pieces of angle iron and lashed down with a nylon strap, doesn't that create a pretty rough ride for the battery? Seems like it should be more sure than it is.

Of course, my popup had the same issue.

[Mark_K5LXP]

No more rough a ride than any other vehicular battery. Provided of course it's not loose and bouncing around. Being on the tongue of the trailer it's not really getting any more rough of a ride than the chassis of the tow vehicle it's attached to, which is the same as what the driver seat is attached to.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM