charge trailer battery while driving

[DDevers]

From what I can tell, my truck doesn't charge the battery in my trailer. Looking at the indicatior panel in the trailer, I see a battery charge lighht when connected to AC but not when connected to my truck. How can I safely remmedy this situation? We're making a trip to Alaska soon and it'd be nice to have the battery charging while we are on the road.



Another issue that has come up that I am sure you seasoned campers would know is running the refer on propane while driving. The owners manual for the trailer says not to but it seems that everyone I speak to does it. The owner of the local RV place says that is why we see burnt rigs alongside the road.



Thanks for your advice.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Power to the trailer is at the 2:00 o'clock position in the receptacle in the rear of truck. First thing to check is that terminal with engine running to see if it has voltage. If you have voltage there, check the RV battery voltage with trailer disconnected from shore power and from truck then plug trailer plug into truck and see if voltage matches truck voltage? You won't get a lot of battery charging from the truck while driving but it should maintain the battery so the circuitry in the refrig will operate. Don't know how you are supposed to keep refrig cold if you can't run on gas while driving. I have always left mine on auto and it switches to gas when I disconnect from shore power. bg

 

[ata]

In some states it's against the law to travel with the propane valve open on the tank. If you have an accident the tank can come loose or a line break and release gas and a fire could happen. But I'll bet almost everybody runs with the valve open. I DO! So it's up to you to do what you want.

 

[ABennin]

Make sure you have power to the plug in the bumper. I had no power at the plug on my truck and after a long inspection I found the spare tire had rubbed through the wiring harness and broke the wire. No other wires were rubbed through for some reason. I fixed the wire and secured the harness up out of reach of the spare.



As for the gas on or off. I error on the side of caution personally and turn it off and load a cooler with ice.

 

[DDevers]

Power to the trailer is at the 2:00 o'clock position in the receptacle in the rear of truck. First thing to check is that terminal with engine running to see if it has voltage. If you have voltage there, check the RV battery voltage with trailer disconnected from shore power and from truck then plug trailer plug into truck and see if voltage matches truck voltage? You won't get a lot of battery charging from the truck while driving but it should maintain the battery so the circuitry in the refrig will operate. Don't know how you are supposed to keep refrig cold if you can't run on gas while driving. I have always left mine on auto and it switches to gas when I disconnect from shore power. bg

Thanks, BG



At the battery with AC disconnected, I have 12. 94 VDC. The truck connection, while running, was anywhere from . 85 to 13. 94; it was always changing. At the battery when connected to the truck with it running, I had 12. 94 VDC.



My truck did not come with the trailer package but the dealership added it. I don't know if that makes any difference. I couldn't get ahold of anyone in the service department that was knowledgeable.

 

[Road Dog]

The voltage regulator (in the ECM) is set up to charge the main batteries. The trailer batteries have another 30 - 60 feet of wire and a significant voltage drop so they'll never fully charge from the truck. You're better off adding a DC-AC inverter and running an extension cord to the trailer. Then the batteries will charge and you can even run the fridge.

 

[Bill Stockard]

If you have an accident the tank can come loose or a line break and release gas and a fire could happen. But I'll bet almost everybody runs with the valve open. I DO! So it's up to you to do what you want.

A common around the campfire RV discussion myth. There is an Excess Flow Check Valve in the system.

Propane 101-The basics



Bill

 

[HBarlow]

No state I've ever traveled through requires LPG/refrigerators to be off.

I've pulled travel trailers with LPG tank valves open and refrigerator running on LPG in every state of the US (except Hawaii) and all over Canada. The ONLY signs I've ever seen prohibiting LPG valves open and refrigerator burners lighted was on the Cheseapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Other tunnels may have similar signs.

 

[fox]

No state I've ever traveled through requires LPG/refrigerators to be off.



I've pulled travel trailers with LPG tank valves open and refrigerator running on LPG in every state of the US (except Hawaii) and all over Canada. The ONLY signs I've ever seen prohibiting LPG valves open and refrigerator burners lighted was on the Cheseapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Other tunnels may have similar signs.

Harvey, I bet you figure out to get to Hawaii too in it!!



Guys make absolute positive sure the wireing is good.

I just lost my truck because wires were swapped in my new to me 5th wheel.



The harness at the bumper has damage and the harness melted in transit.

Truck burnt to the ground.

 

[Okie-Go]

Fox, Don't you know by now that that hb has something to say about everything. You can tell that by looking at the amount of his post. Sorry to hear about the loss of your truck!

Okie

 

[Gonzo 1066]

As mentioned before, because of the gauge of the wire in your truck harness and the length of the run, very little actual charging can happen to your trailer batteries. You can install a solenoid near the rear of the truck with a large gauge wire feeding it, the exciter to the existing wire. This will provide more amps of power to the trailer plug. I decided to just install solar panels on the roof of the trailer , that way the batteries get charged when ever the sun is out, towing, sitting makes no difference.

 

[fox]

Fox, Don't you know by now that that hb has something to say about everything. You can tell that by looking at the amount of his post. Sorry to hear about the loss of your truck!

Okie

I respect and enjoy his input.



Experience is always a great teacher and he has it.

I just wish I had the $$ he has run thru fuel tanks!!! Just kidding you harvey!

 

[HBarlow]

I respect and enjoy his input.

Experience is always a great teacher and he has it.
I just wish I had the $$ he has run thru fuel tanks!!! Just kidding you harvey!

I am not offended by the good natured jabs I get. I understand I am a target occasionally.

Did your insurance company step up and agree to cover the loss of your truck and trailer?

I ignore the bitter comments from wannabes like the okie above. He craves attention.

 

[AClayton]

It's always fun to jab every now and then... ... ... it makes things interesting! I always enjoy HB's input also. We have all learned or benefited from his posts at one time or another... and I mean that Harvey! That WASN'T sarcastic!

 

[fox]

Well, the adjuster has doubled back on me.

He told me wed the truck and storage fees are mine. That I am responsible for them. I said can store it for free. So I went paid all costs and had it brought to my shop. I was told I can take the steel bumpers if I want them.



Now, he says, they will pay storage and the truck has salvage value. This is what I said up front to him!!



I can store it but not take anything!!!

He said he is looking at about $13-14,000.

 

[RustyJC]

I've run with the propane on to power the fridge in transit for 20+ years and haven't lost an RV yet. Could something happen? I suppose so, but I guess a meteorite could fall from the heavens and wipe out an RV as well.



Rusty

 

[Bill Stockard]

I've run with the propane on to power the fridge in transit for 20+ years and haven't lost an RV yet. Could something happen? I suppose so, but I guess a meteorite could fall from the heavens and wipe out an RV as well.



Rusty

Yep, I agree. I've been doing it since 1970. (You can do the math as to how long. :-laf)



Bill

 

[BIGNASTY]

I've run with the propane on to power the fridge in transit for 20+ years and haven't lost an RV yet. Could something happen? I suppose so, but I guess a meteorite could fall from the heavens and wipe out an RV as well.



Rusty

:-laf:-laf Use to have a driver at work that always came up with a MILLION WHAT IF'S and prolonged the safety meetings and the boss one time said



I suppose so, but I guess a meteorite could fall from the heavens :-laf After that every time I looked at the driver I would look up and act like something was falling. :-laf



Thanks Rusty I needed a laugh today



BIG

 

[mwilson]

I've run with the propane on to power the fridge in transit for 20+ years and haven't lost an RV yet. Could something happen? I suppose so, but I guess a meteorite could fall from the heavens and wipe out an RV as well.



Rusty

My fridge is on propane while under tow as well, no trouble yet. I believe that the modern versions will relight all by themselves if snuffed out by an errant air current while towing.

If the older ones went out the gas stopped as soon as the thermocouple cooled off.



I worry way more about dumb drivers while towing. The fridge is the least of my concerns.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

The greatest potential danger to us can occur when we pull into a fueling lane at a truck stop or convenience store with our RV refrigerator lighted and some dimwitted leftist or woman leaves a gasoline nozzle unattended and the safety shut off fails, as they do on rare occasions, and a widening pool of gasoline emitting highly explosive vapors in the lane across from your trailer reaches the road side of your trailer.

That combination can result in a massive fire or explosion.