2018 ram trailer electrical question

[evldsl]

I have a 18 foot car hauler that I have installed a wench on this was powered by my 2004.5 3500 before the trade in and my question is it safe to run a black lead and a red lead directly from my battery like I did on my 2004.5?
I had the wires run directly from my battery - and + to the wench on my trailer and I would let my truck idle while I used the wench but I have been told I can't do this on my 2018 is that true?
How would I run the 04 wires to the wench if I can not attach them to the battery directly?

 

[kthaxton]

Sorry, no help here....but typing "wench" 4 times, instead of "winch" implies it's no typo.... and really changes the meaning of the post.

 

[EZeis]

Be easier and probably cheaper to put a battery on the trailer for the winch and your truck will charge it. If you don't use it often, put a battery maintainer on it. Running heavy enough gauge cables that far would be costly.


Earl

 

[Timd32]

Have you checked out the body builder pages?

https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-commercial/body-builders-guide.html

Also wire prices are actually really not bad at all.

Wireandcableyourway.com

 

[CBari]

I have always run welding cable to the battery on the trailer that runs the winch.

 

[AEdelheit]

I have a 18 foot car hauler that I have installed a wench on this was powered by my 2004.5 3500 before the trade in and my question is it safe to run a black lead and a red lead directly from my battery like I did on my 2004.5?
I had the wires run directly from my battery - and + to the wench on my trailer and I would let my truck idle while I used the wench but I have been told I can't do this on my 2018 is that true?
How would I run the 04 wires to the wench if I can not attach them to the battery directly?

Just curious who told you you cant do that on an 2018? I have seen it on tow trucks that use quick connect jumper cables, the charging system is the same basic concept as the 3rd gen there are just more electronics overall but still a 12V system.

I have a flatbed with a winch , have a deep cycle 12V on the trailer that is charged through the trailer power wire and never had an issue but only use the winch for a few minuets when loading then the battery has a long time to recover so how often and for how long you use the winch for will play a part.

I would definitely put in a circuit breaker to any battery leads just to be safe.

 

[jhenderson]

A deep cycle in the trailer is probably the safest way to go. That being said, every snowplow setup sold ties directly to the truck battery.

 

[mpaulson]

Battery on the trailer makes the most sense. But there's no reason that you can't run cables from your battery. I did it on my 2014 and its now on my 2018. I used one of my AUX switches on the dash to power a solenoid mounted on the firewall and only power the cables to the back when needed just to feel better about any shorting happening etc. I also ran the cables in two layers of large wire loom and taped the loom just to help prevent any rubbing from ever getting to the copper wires.
Depending on where you live, I live in the cold wintered Alberta, so having to maintain a battery on a trailer is a pain come winter. Making sure that a battery maintainer stays plugged in etc. So I'd prefer to not have a battery on the trailer as I know my trucks power source is always ready to go and fully charged.