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Old 05-01-2023, 10:05 PM   #1
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Cool Do I realy need a battery in my TT

I have a 33ft Springdale Travel Trailer and a Ford F250. My 12vlt lead acid battery has been dead for over a year. When I have no power I connect my RV to my truck to hook up. The battery disconnect is in the disconnect position. I only camp at full hook-up campgrounds. I assume my trailer disconnect cable will work from my car battery.

Do I really need a battery? Can I cause any damage to the RV or truck functioning this way. Your thoughts and recommendations are appreciated.
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Old 05-01-2023, 10:14 PM   #2
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In my experience your TTs electric brakes won’t work without a battery. Especially, the emergency breakaway if the TT separates from the tow vehicle.
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Old 05-02-2023, 06:17 AM   #3
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You absolutely need a battery. If your trailer should break away from the tow vehicle, the battery applies power to the electric brakes. Very much a safety issue.
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Old 05-02-2023, 06:26 AM   #4
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Your a/c may not work...thermostat power, depends on how it's wired...even with FHU.
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Old 05-02-2023, 06:46 AM   #5
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Your converter/charger is designed to power the RV, including the 12 volts for the A/C thermostat, without a battery in it, if not, then the disconnect would be wired different.

Your truck charge line will give you limited power for inside lights, pumps and inside things but not for the brakes if the trailer got loose and unplugged.

The tail lights, signal lights, brake lights and power for the brakes all come from the truck when connected properly.
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Old 05-02-2023, 09:24 AM   #6
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You absolutely need a battery. If your trailer should break away from the tow vehicle, the battery applies power to the electric brakes. Very much a safety issue.
Yep this; it's unsafe and illegal to run without a functioning trailer battery.

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Old 05-02-2023, 09:28 AM   #7
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Thank you all for your advice. I will purchase a new battery tomorrow
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Old 05-03-2023, 05:55 AM   #8
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The battery is kind of like the brain of your rig, so yes.
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Old 05-03-2023, 06:30 AM   #9
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Here’s another thought about the battery on a Travel Trailer. If you are traveling from one place to another and you have a mechanical problem with either the truck or trailer. You can disconnect them and still have 12v in the trailer. The refrigerator if nothing else will need the 12v to run when disconnected. I can think of other scenarios where it would be nice to have too.
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Old 05-06-2023, 02:25 PM   #10
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My 5th wheel would start to act weird when the small group 24 battery was dead. Even plugged in the landing gear would act up and not work right.

Anyway - when you get a new battery try to get a larger group size. Group 24 is small, group 27 is mid sized and group 31 is the largest. Each size bigger has more capacity and will last longer. Even plugged in a group 31 might last 7 years and a group 24 might last 3 years.
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Old 05-06-2023, 04:11 PM   #11
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My Group 24 is 5 years old and still going.
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Old 05-06-2023, 04:15 PM   #12
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There are always exceptions
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Old 05-16-2023, 04:05 PM   #13
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Thank you all for your advice. I will purchase a new battery tomorrow
Depends on size of trailer and of tow vehicle. Do you need one for your junk trailer? No.. If you have 1 ton with diesel engine brakes.. no..

I mainly said this because, I know this will rile or sorts up who just like to slam their keyboards

Yeah get a battery.. it doesnt need to be charged though...

bahahahaha
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Old 05-17-2023, 11:30 AM   #14
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Depends on size of trailer and of tow vehicle. Do you need one for your junk trailer? No.. If you have 1 ton with diesel engine brakes.. no..

I mainly said this because, I know this will rile or sorts up who just like to slam their keyboards

Yeah get a battery.. it doesnt need to be charged though...

bahahahaha
ummm; "junk trailer"? you mean a single axle trailer used to haul garbage? ....if so you are correct; trailers under 3500 lbs typically don't have or need brakes.

For trailers large enough to require brakes, the trailer break-away switch requires a functional battery......and the tow vehicle size/type/capacity is irrelevant to that requirement since it's intended to activate when the trailer becomes separated from the truck....

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