|
01-19-2016, 01:11 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 159
|
Towed brake light solenoid
Im preparing to tow a 2000 Grand Cherokee behind my 01 Winnebago Journey. I am using the SMI AFO supplemental brakes and a combined wiring harness to use the lights on the GC for turn and brake. My question is, do I really need to wire in the solenoid to keep the GC brakes from interferring with the turn/brake signals from the coach. It seems like I could just pull the brake light fuse while Im towing and then once I arrive pop the fuse back in.
Im not really looking forward to crawling under the dash to install the solenoid.
__________________
2016 Winnebago Tour 42QD
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
01-19-2016, 03:18 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,912
|
rshackleford-
I don't know whose "solenoid" you may have already, but etrailer sells a product by Roadmaster that is suggested for the same purpose. Here is a link to the product page. In the middle of that page (which also has installation instructions) is a section titled: "Is a Relay Required?" Answer the questions in that section and it should determine if a relay is necessary for your application.
In my installation, a brake light relay was not required, so I can't tell you I know how difficult it is to install. I do know I would not want to be pulling any of the little fuses under the Fit's dash every time I had to tow. For one thing, I've gotten too farsighted to see them clearly!
__________________
Mark
2008 Holiday Rambler Admiral 30PDD (Ford F-53 chassis)
2009 Honda Fit Sport
|
|
|
01-19-2016, 03:48 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,899
|
We have a 2014, with LED brake lights, so ours is different.
I would make this suggestion as an alternate to pulling the fuse.
Install a switch in series with the wire that comes from your Toad brake light switch. I think in your vehicle, when the brake light switch closes, the brake lights come one. So putting a separate toggle switch in series with this, will prevent the circuit from completing when you tow the GC.
Now a relay is just an electrically controlled switch. In my case, I have a charge wire in my tow cable harness. I use this to control a relay instead of a switch that you must remember to activate. So when I hook up the toad, the relay is energized, and the toad brake lights are inhibited.
Regards,
Dan
__________________
2014 40QBH Phaeton DP Cummins 380HP ISL, Freightliner XC, 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk TOAD
Blue Ox Aventa tow bar, SMI Air Force One -Cave Creek, AZ.
|
|
|
01-19-2016, 04:11 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Quitman MS
Posts: 2,967
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dpinvidic
We have a 2014, with LED brake lights, so ours is different.
I would make this suggestion as an alternate to pulling the fuse.
Install a switch in series with the wire that comes from your Toad brake light switch. I think in your vehicle, when the brake light switch closes, the brake lights come one. So putting a separate toggle switch in series with this, will prevent the circuit from completing when you tow the GC.
Now a relay is just an electrically controlled switch. In my case, I have a charge wire in my tow cable harness. I use this to control a relay instead of a switch that you must remember to activate. So when I hook up the toad, the relay is energized, and the toad brake lights are inhibited.
Regards,
Dan
|
Dan that is a unique and smart way of controlling the brake light !!
__________________
Walt & Will
2000 Dynasty
2017 Ram Big Horn Crew C 4X4 w/ M&G
|
|
|
01-19-2016, 04:36 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 159
|
I meant to say relay not solenoid. Sorry for the confusion.
The issue is access to the wire for the brake light switch. IF I could get up under the dash and put a switch in series I could probably install the relay as well. Im trying to avoid having to crawl under the dash by just pulling the fuse.
I was hoping someone would be able to comment on that technigue.
Ill just give it a try in the next couple days and see if that works.
Thanks for the suggestions.
__________________
2016 Winnebago Tour 42QD
|
|
|
01-19-2016, 08:55 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,899
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rshackleford
I meant to say relay not solenoid. Sorry for the confusion.
The issue is access to the wire for the brake light switch. IF I could get up under the dash and put a switch in series I could probably install the relay as well. Im trying to avoid having to crawl under the dash by just pulling the fuse.
I was hoping someone would be able to comment on that technigue.
Ill just give it a try in the next couple days and see if that works.
Thanks for the suggestions.
|
I agree, workingunder the dash is torture on these newer cars. Not at all like oldef cars.
They also sell switches that connect to the fuse block for the fuses that people need to pull when towing. You might be interested in one for this application.
Dan
__________________
2014 40QBH Phaeton DP Cummins 380HP ISL, Freightliner XC, 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk TOAD
Blue Ox Aventa tow bar, SMI Air Force One -Cave Creek, AZ.
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|