power tongue jack

grege · 06-26-2013, 10:38 AM

When we came home from Florida we left the refrigerator running on propane saince we had food in there so the battery was on. By the time I got the camper back to the storage unit, I ran out of battery power while trying to disconnect the camper from my truck. I was lucky and kept playing with it and waiting and finally got it up enough for the ball to drop out. Whew.

So I have been thinking and wanted to get some opinions. I was thinking of getting a 4 way or 7 way plug with wire on it and using 2 wires to add clips to it so if this happens again I can plug it into my truck and power the tongue jack from there. Good idea or bad? I figure I may have to turn my headlights on if I did it with a 4 way.

**wmtire** · 06-26-2013, 10:43 AM

I'm not sure I'm following or understanding this correct.....which is nothing new for me. LOL

Are you saying that you DON'T have any power going to your tongue jack from your tow vehicle, when plugged into your tow vehicle............or did you unhook the trailer connector from your tow vehicle before trying to raise/lower your tongue jack?

OldCoot · 06-26-2013, 10:48 AM

Most tongue jacks will be powered if you are hooked to the tow vehicle.

grege · 06-26-2013, 10:50 AM

My power tongue jack is connected to the 12v battery on my camper. It is not getting any power from my tow vehicle. Should my TV be charging my camper battery while driving down the road?

OldCoot · 06-26-2013, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grege

My power tongue jack is connected to the 12v battery on my camper. It is not getting any power from my tow vehicle. Should my TV be charging my camper battery while driving down the road?

Should if the tv is wired for it.

Dave_Monica · 06-26-2013, 11:00 AM

Yes, your TV should be charging the campers battery with the alternator. You need to check why you don't have power on your 7 pin plug...not sure which pin it is...the pin out should be marked on the plug.

Dave

**wmtire** · 06-26-2013, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

Yes, your TV should be charging the campers battery with the alternator. You need to check why you don't have power on your 7 pin plug...not sure which pin it is...the pin out should be marked on the plug.

Dave

Dave, maybe this diagram will help him. As I stated previously, I was wondering why your battery was discharged if it had been hooked to your tow vehicle. You could possibly have power from your tow vehicle, but have a bad battery on the trailer that won't take a charge properly. You will want to check both aspects out in your troubleshooting:

grege · 06-26-2013, 11:22 AM

I took it home and charged it so I think the battery is fine. I did have to install a relay in my truck. Maybe I put it in the wrong place. I thought the camper should be charging from the truck but wasn't sure. Thanks for clearing this up. I will figure out what is going on and get it fixed. Then I won't need the jumper.

bwbarnes · 06-26-2013, 11:36 AM

You may have to turn the key on in the truck to enable the power to the trailer as well.

grege · 06-26-2013, 12:13 PM

I just checked it with a meter and definitely no power to charge. I looked in the fuse panel and no fuse in that slot. I will get oen from Auto Zone on the way home.

Thanks all

billt01 · 06-26-2013, 12:20 PM

thats whats great about the group on here. I own a Tundra but I knew that Ford's had a relay and fuse to charge while in tow...Can anyone imagine how hard it would be to learn anything without the internet?...Encyclopedias and a Abacus...HA!

Gripper · 06-26-2013, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grege

I just checked it with a meter and definitely no power to charge. I looked in the fuse panel and no fuse in that slot. I will get oen from Auto Zone on the way home.

Thanks all

You will find with FORD's they do not normally install the fuse and relay that carry the charge fromTV to trailer battery, but they are both placed in a bag in the glove box. Surprising yes, why no clue but ford does not install these.

OldCoot · 06-26-2013, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billt01

thats whats great about the group on here. I own a Tundra but I knew that Ford's had a relay and fuse to charge while in tow...Can anyone imagine how hard it would be to learn anything without the internet?...Encyclopedias and a Abacus...HA!

And folks would have to actually read the instructions that come with the receptacles which we did long before the internet. Had charge wire on our first tow vehicle, a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado.

billt01 · 06-26-2013, 12:31 PM

True words..

However, you can learn how to do rocket surgery or brain science from the interweb.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCoot

And folks would have to actually read the instructions that come with the receptacles which we did long before the internet. Had charge wire on our first tow vehicle, a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado.

grege · 06-26-2013, 03:17 PM

Yeah I installed a fuse and relay from the bag but I must have put the relay in the wrong place.

No way I'll figure out where so I will buy another fuse.

redsuspenders · 06-26-2013, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billt01

thats whats great about the group on here. I own a Tundra but I knew that Ford's had a relay and fuse to charge while in tow...Can anyone imagine how hard it would be to learn anything without the internet?...Encyclopedias and a Abacus...HA!

The Internet is a fad!
Pretty sure it won't last! ,)

grege · 06-27-2013, 12:02 PM

Just thougth I would update. I bought the fuse, installed it, checked the 7 way connector and now I have power on teh pin that will charge the camper battery.

Thanks all for setting me straight.

**wmtire** · 06-27-2013, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grege

Just thougth I would update. I bought the fuse, installed it, checked the 7 way connector and now I have power on teh pin that will charge the camper battery.

Thanks all for setting me straight.

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear you're all fixed up. This topic can be moved to the solved category.

sirbob · 07-02-2013, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grege

Yeah I installed a fuse and relay from the bag but I must have put the relay in the wrong place.

No way I'll figure out where so I will buy another fuse.

I understand that you figured out your problem, but in your TV owner's manual there will be a section that shows what fuse size/relay size and the location of each in the Fuse Box. . Some vehicles not only have a Fuse Box, but also a Power Distribution Box in addition. Both schematics of said Fuse Boxes should be in your owner's manual.

Glad you got it figured out.

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