Community Forums

KC · 03-18-2016, 06:31 PM

I have a 16 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk and getting set up for a flat tow. Have brackets and Roadmaster tow bar. Looking at RViBrake sweet up. I had planned on using a Magnetic tow light plugged into my 7pin. I am worried about how much power the RVibrake might need (it might run down my battery). Any thoughts?

KC

JerryP · 03-18-2016, 06:47 PM

Get the RVI Towed Battery Charger. There should be a +12V pin on your 7 pin connector. This is wired to the Charger. You would also need a ground connection too. It maintains your battery. I put one on my Tacoma.

Regards,

Jerry
2013 Newmar Bay Star 3002 - 2004 Toyota Tacoma

grumpy0374 · 03-19-2016, 04:15 AM

RVI Towed Battery Charger is the way to go. Everytime you hit the motor home brakes, the toad brake system will activate, drawing a bit of power from the toad battery. Nothing is charging the battery, so after a long day or two of towing, especially stop and go, battery may run down.
If you unhook every day and then drive the Jeep, probably not needed. But if you tow for 2-3 days without unhooking, battery will probably go flat.
I have both the RVI Battery Direct KIt and the 12 Volt Towed Battery Charger and both work great.
Also, if you haven't bought them yet, look at the Grote 65720-5 LED Magnetic Tow Lights. I bought mine through Amazon, about 55 bucks. A bit pricer than some others, but really high quality with a good strong magnet.
Grumpy

Forza Tom · 03-19-2016, 08:44 AM

I installed a ISL Toad Charge.

TOAD-CHARGE Dinghy Vehicle Battery Charger/Maintainer

It was easy to install myself and has worked great.

Keeps our Edge charged while towing.

There are helpful videos on there site which will explain how to install the system.

Good luck!

**Lt Dan** · 03-19-2016, 01:05 PM

You might try it without a charge line first. I tow my Wrangler for 2-3 days at a time using an RVI2 without running the battery down. Unlike some braking systems, it does not activate every time you hit the brakes, only with moderate braking. You can adjust the sensitivity to where it only brakes in a hard panic stop, medium hard braking, or when it is just mild-moderate. Just watch the monitor and it will show you when and how hard it's braking. I find with the light weight of a Wrangler Sport, the highest sensitivity works best and it still does not brake in slow speed stops like stop and go traffic but will in situations where it's needed.