LCI level up

[gmacecsko]

Having continually issue with the Level Up system on my 2018 38FBD. After a day of travel with the refrigerator running on the inverter it get errors due to low voltage. I have to clear the error on the panel inside. I plug in when I can before leveling or unhitching. This not always possible. The trailer has two group 24 batteries, I'm thinking about adding two more. The dealer says the problem is that my truck doesn't have the ability to keep the batteries charged. The truck is a 2018 GMC Sierra Denali. I have two questions is anyone else experiencing this and is there a way to improve the truck's performance?

[valleyduo]

Originally Posted by gmacecsko

Having continually issue with the Level Up system on my 2018 38FBD. After a day of travel with the refrigerator running on the inverter it get errors due to low voltage. I have to clear the error on the panel inside. I plug in when I can before leveling or unhitching. This not always possible. The trailer has two group 24 batteries, I'm thinking about adding two more. The dealer says the problem is that my truck doesn't have the ability to keep the batteries charged. The truck is a 2018 GMC Sierra Denali. I have two questions is anyone else experiencing this and is there a way to improve the truck's performance?

The trucks performance isn't at issue. It's the light gauge wire in your 7wire harness wiring. They are not designed for transferring the kind of amperage you're hoping for. That being said, how long do you consider a day of travel? We've driven over 10 hours with the fridge running off the batteries (two group 24s as well) and haven't had trouble using the level up before hooking to shore power. Is it possible your batteries are not fully charged before departure?

[gmacecsko]

I'm sure that is a possibility. It happened the last two days after 470 miles one day and 430 the next. I only go by the monitor system that Cedar Creek installed. Maybe I need to load test the batteries.

[Jim34RL]

I believe it is not the Lippert Level up system at all. It is your batteries they may not be fully charged from the start of your trip. Your truck will not provide enough capacity to charge the batteries as you tow your trailer. I know this for a fact.

I tow a 2016, Cedar Creek with a residential fridge and just one battery in my trailer. I will insure that this battery is fully charged before we leave on a trip. The battery is placed on a charger to fully charge the battery. If the battery is not fully charged the inverter will sometimes shut off do to low voltage. So, when we have arrived at our campground and the DW tries to activate the level up system being not plugged into shore power, she will receive an error message saying low voltage and the unit beeps. This will frustrate her to no end and she will walk away from the trailer; saying to me fix-it.
When we arrive at a campground now the first thing I do is plug in the power cord to the pedestal and trailer. She can now activate the Level up system and unhitch. She is than a happy camper with everything working like it should.

[NMWildcat]

My Dad and several friends with residential fridges had the exact same problem on long traveling days.

There were several solutions. Some added batteries, some modified the charging loop from the truck, others limited the power draw by the inverter, some all three.

My Dad stayed with two batteries and turned off the inverter when traveling, making sure the fridge was pre-cooled and used frozen bottles of water to retain coolness. I personally didn't like this solution, but it seems to work for him.

We have the hydraulic level-up and slides, but not the residential fridge. It all works from 12v. We have two series 27 batteries. Just like Jim stated above, you need to start with charged batteries and then supplement the 12v battery power with the converter by plugging into shore, generator power, or leave plugged into the truck while operating these heavy draws. Makes life easier.

You might take your truck by a dealer or knowledgeable RV service tech and have your charging loop tested (or test yourself). I have seen some trucks where the owner had to activate the charging loop as it was there, but inactive from the factory.

Good luck!

[BandJCarm]

I have four six-volt batteries and a residential fridge. I can go days on battery alone. I've never been on a trip long enough to draw my batteries down meaningfully. Refrig is cold and freezer stays frozen.


That said, truck batteries/alternators don't charge the batteries really. They just slow the rate of discharge.

[HenryL]

You might want to check that the truck's charging system is working. I haven't had a GM product since a new 2011, but at that time GM put a fake fuse in the charging system. You had to remove the fake and install a real fuse. 40 amp maybe? It's a square fuse about 1/3 inch if I remember correctly. Some dealers didn't replace the fake at delivery then. Check your owners manual.

[nayther]

Originally Posted by HenryL

You might want to check that the truck's charging system is working. I haven't had a GM product since a new 2011, but at that time GM put a fake fuse in the charging system. You had to remove the fake and install a real fuse. 40 amp maybe? It's a square fuse about 1/3 inch if I remember correctly. Some dealers didn't replace the fake at delivery then. Check your owners manual.

Winner winner, chicken dinner. my 2005 Duramax was shipped this way, didn't discover it until dry camping for a couple of nights, then driving 4 hours assuming it was charging only to find low batteries when I got to new location. Check this fuse (or "post" as GM calls it) and see if there's a fuse there, if so then check that there's 12 volts on the correct pin at your 7 pin connector. I'll bet you're not charging from the TV.

[nayther]

Originally Posted by gmacecsko

Having continually issue with the Level Up system on my 2018 38FBD. After a day of travel with the refrigerator running on the inverter it get errors due to low voltage. I have to clear the error on the panel inside. I plug in when I can before leveling or unhitching. This not always possible. The trailer has two group 24 batteries, I'm thinking about adding two more. The dealer says the problem is that my truck doesn't have the ability to keep the batteries charged. The truck is a 2018 GMC Sierra Denali. I have two questions is anyone else experiencing this and is there a way to improve the truck's performance?

Modern vehicles have minimum of 100 amp alternators, should be plenty of juice to charge the batteries, wire is limiting factor in time to get it done.

[ctufte]

Originally Posted by nayther

Modern vehicles have minimum of 100 amp alternators, should be plenty of juice to charge the batteries, wire is limiting factor in time to get it done.

Doesn’t matter if you have a 500 amp alternator you only have a 12 gauge wire with a 40 amp fuse if it’s there. Like was said earlier you will only get 30 to 35 amps charging from the truck. I had the same problem with 2 group 24 batteries went to 4 never had a problem so far. My 2007 Duramax did not have a fuse.

[Splashes3]

My 2008 2500 GMC didn't have the fuse either....didn't discover that for the first 7 or 8 years of ownership.....our RV repair guy discovered it and fixed it for us, right away.