Towing a Tahoe - don't want to disconnect battery-

[bamaspiveys]

So, I understand the key has to be left in the ignition to keep the steering wheel from locking and it is recommended that you disconnect the negative battery cable to keep the battery from running down.

So I was wondering if anyone had developed a solution to keep the battery from running down.

I see two options, the wiring harness for the lights has a 12v lead that could be run to the battery to keep it charged.

I could also buy a battery tender/charger and run it off the 120v plug I have on the rear of my coach. (a little more involved but not sure if the 12v lead from the wiring harness would over charge the battery)

Any other ideas or comments on my thoughts would be appreciated.

[RayDK]

Buy a charger such as Toad Charge. You connect the 12 ga wire from the motorhome battery to the fuse then out to the rear of the RV. In the car you attach the supplied charge regulator to your vehicle and run the wire to the front of the auto. Then you make a connection between the two. The charger prevents dingy battery drain. Here is the link.
TOAD-CHARGE Dinghy Vehicle Battery Charger/Maintainer

[lllkrob]

Originally Posted by bamaspiveys

So, I understand the key has to be left in the ignition to keep the steering wheel from locking and it is recommended that you disconnect the negative battery cable to keep the battery from running down.

So I was wondering if anyone had developed a solution to keep the battery from running down.

I see two options, the wiring harness for the lights has a 12v lead that could be run to the battery to keep it charged.

I could also buy a battery tender/charger and run it off the 120v plug I have on the rear of my coach. (a little more involved but not sure if the 12v lead from the wiring harness would over charge the battery)

Any other ideas or comments on my thoughts would be appreciated.

Try this:

1) insert key and turn the ignition to ON

2) Turn the key to OFF, DO NOT REMOVE THE KEY

3) Test steering to see if it remains unlocked UNTIL the key is removed.
Most, but not all, vehicles built since about 2009 will operate this way.

[Dutch Star Don]

"bamaspiveys"......If the Tahoe is like the Canyon, Colorado and Silverado, there is another reason why the battery is disconnected. Your Tahoe has electric steering. Even when the vehicle is off, the steering is still active. You can damage the steering by forcing it to turn, that's why they want the battery disconnected.