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txcpl · 05-20-2019, 05:51 AM

When I had the braking system installed on our first and current MH, I did not know to have a charge wire installed for the toad battery. After having the toad battery run down, I now recognize the importance of that charge wire.
There is an open pin on our 6-way connector where I could install a charge wire. Running a line from a connection point on the coach to the connector then from the connector to the toad battery is a no brainer . My question is where to make the connection on the coach. Can it be directly wired, or is there a system that needs to be installed? Isn’t the coach a 24 volt system while the toad is a 12 volt system. Thanks in advance.

**Spdracr39** · 05-20-2019, 06:49 AM

The coach is a 12 volt system. What ever you do be sure to fuse wiring on both sides with a fuse size appropriate to the gauge of wire you will be using.

jalewis · 05-20-2019, 07:25 AM

I am in the process of setting up my vehicle to be towed now too. I am going to be installing an RVi Towed Battery Charger so that I can safely maintain the towed vehicle's battery and don't arrive to my destination with dead batteries on my hands. It's a bit costly at $85 but comes with the circuit protection components built into the unit. I will be pulling power off the 6-pin connector which is fed 12v by the coach's 7-way connector.

l1v3fr33ord1 · 05-20-2019, 08:31 AM

txcpl-

Page 7-12 of your coach's owner's manual (link here) would lead me to believe the coach is already wired with a charge line.

Easy enough to check. Start the coach, then put a voltmeter set to measure 12VDC across the one and seven o'clock pins of the seven-pin coach hitch connector. If it reads 13-14V, you are in business.

If it doesn't read 13-14V, then I would call Freightliner and/or Tiffin and ask them about it. Note: If someone at Tiffin says "No, it doesn't have a charge line" I'd ask him to explain the diagram on page 7-12 of the manual.

sedaliaterry · 05-20-2019, 09:42 AM

Some coaches have a charge line (12v) run to the RV connector in the back, but a lot do not (not sure what type coach OP has). Here is a reference thread for charge line (in this case run for Jeep Cherokee but it is not specific to just them). Hope this gives you some ideas (there several ways to skin this):

Ljwt330 · 05-20-2019, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdracr39

The coach is a 12 volt system. What ever you do be sure to fuse wiring on both sides with a fuse size appropriate to the gauge of wire you will be using.

This^^.

All good advice so far, but the above is essential. To fuse correctly, you need to know the wire gauge of your umbilical cord as not all cords nor wires within a specific cord are of the same gauge. Fuse as close to the power source as you can in both the RV and toad.