RVing message boards > Towing and towables

Toad Battery Issue

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DITTO:
I added a 12 volt plug and fused wire harness to my toad battery and used this http://www.amazon.com/Bully-TC-127-12V-Trailer-Adapter/dp/B001FZLE9K   For power

jim and di:
I had the same thing happen when on the NJ turnpike in bumper to bumper traffic for 7 hours. When we finally stopped for the night the toad was near dead. I installed the toad-charger and have never regretted that move. In my case it was the Buddy brake compressor pumping up the brake all day long.
Jim

PBI2YOW:
A couple of further notes in response to some comments received.

We have never had the toad's battery run down in the past regardless of towing hours except in this case. The only difference this time was that the MH lights were on for the duration due to the poor visibility.

When I went to start the Vue and found the battery dead, I then tried disconnecting the electrical connection from the coach to see if there was any difference -- only very dim headlights visible. I then turned on the MH lights and connected the electrics again to see if there was any change and there was none -- still dim headlights and the typical click from the starter solenoid.

So in our case it would appear that the marker lights (riding lights) on the Saturn were being triggered "on" by a signal from the coach but that the power was being supplied by the toad's battery. Sounds very odd but I can't think of another explanation.

schoolsout2:
On a long haul with a break buddy we ran down the weak battery in the toad by not disconnecting it.  we usually would run the car to a store or something but that trip we just parked for the night.

rsalhus:

--- Quote ---So in our case it would appear that the marker lights (riding lights) on the Saturn were being triggered "on" by a signal from the coach but that the power was being supplied by the toad's battery. Sounds very odd but I can't think of another explanation.
--- End quote ---

You haven't said what type of supplementary braking system you have, what brand of motorhome you have, how old your toad's battery is or what type of wiring system you have between the motorhome and the toad, but I don't know any type that would 'trigger' the running lights on the toad to be powered from the toad's battery when the motorhome has its lights on.   

More than likely, driving in the rain and snow caused you to brake more than usual, possibly causing the supplementary brakes to come on more often than usual and thereby running down the toad's battery.  Leaving an accessory on (radio, fan, etc.) or turning the key to 'on' (instead of 'accessories') could also run down the battery.  Even a weak or dying battery could be the problem.

I've discovered on my Apollo braking system that when the outside temperature is cold (below or around 20° F or so) the air 'compressor keeps cycling, building up air pressure and then purging the air (pressure relief) for whatever reason and doing that over and over again.  That'll run your battery down in a hurry.  (I asked Blue Ox about it but they claim there's no fix for it.  My solution is to bring the Apollo into the motorhome at night when it's cold out, and so far that has worked.)

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