Overnight Hookup OK?

[Ron045]

I would like to have my truck and trailer all set up the day prior so all we have to do is wake up and leave the next morning.

Can I do any harm to my truck leaving the camper hooked up to it for 20 hours or so just sitting in the driveway?

Thanks.
Ron

[yukongold]

I don't see how. I do it almost every trip we take. And if we are making a multi-day trip and just stopping for one night before moving on, I won't unhook then either. Just back in, maybe or maybe not deploy scissor jacks, hook up electric and/or water (usually but not always), make a sandwich, rest/sleep, get up early and am gone within minutes.

[hack522]

Do the same here before heading out. Hooked up and loaded the day before and just have electric going to keep fridge running.

[TowPro]

Ron, I think your RAM trailer wire connector is 100% full time turned on (at least everyone I owned up to 2018 was). So as your trailer is eating up battery sitting there, its also eating up your truck battery.
also if you have your Trailer plugged in, the AC is charging your trailer batteries PLUS your truck battery. Either way (plugged into AC or not) I would disconnect the trailer wire harness until your ready to leave.

[Ron045]

Originally Posted by TowPro

Ron, I think your RAM trailer wire connector is 100% full time turned on (at least everyone I owned up to 2018 was). So as your trailer is eating up battery sitting there, its also eating up your truck battery.
also if you have your Trailer plugged in, the AC is charging your trailer batteries PLUS your truck battery. Either way (plugged into AC or not) I would disconnect the trailer wire harness until your ready to leave.

Good Advice. Thanks. We'll leave the AC power connected to the house to keep the fridge cold until we leave.
Ron

[Aussieguy]

yes you can

EXCEPT .... do not plug in the 7 pin wiring plug

you risk flattening your trucks battery if your trailer has 12v fridge etc


leave it 7 pin unplugged

plug in your shore power if you want to leave fridge on




when ready to go in morning
make sure you plug the 7 pin into your truck

[rowdy boys 3]

Leave the trailer plugged into shore power until ready to depart, then when ready to depart, unplug the shore power and plug in the trailer to the tow vehicle.

[TeachTexas]

Originally Posted by rowdy boys 3

Leave the trailer plugged into shore power until ready to depart, then when ready to depart, unplug the shore power and plug in the trailer to the tow vehicle.

I have done this for years and had no trouble. It makes for a quick get away in the mornings.

[ARhappycamper]

Disconnect the 7 pin cord from the truck.
Run the fridge on propane.

[RickV]

I do the same thing hook up the day before, leave the shore power hooked up as we have a residential fridge, don't hook up truck umbilical cord until ready to go. Another thing I do that probably isn't really doing anything is I leave the front jacks down to take the stress off the trucks suspension and if only stopping overnight I'll put the front jacks down to keep the 5ver from moving around every time someone walks around inside.

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by TowPro

Ron, I think your RAM trailer wire connector is 100% full time turned on (at least everyone I owned up to 2018 was). So as your trailer is eating up battery sitting there, its also eating up your truck battery.
also if you have your Trailer plugged in, the AC is charging your trailer batteries PLUS your truck battery. Either way (plugged into AC or not) I would disconnect the trailer wire harness until your ready to leave.

X 2 Later RJD

[NavyLCDR]

One thing that I might suggest is to leave a checklist on the steering wheel with the remainder of what needs to be accomplished. If you always have the same steps, laminate a 3x5 card and write anything special in grease pencil or dry erase marker.

1. Unplug shore power
2. Plug in 7-pin
3. Raise jacks
4. Make sure DW is in truck

Then maybe a temp note like: Dump tanks on way out.

[Reverse_snowbird]

All good advice. One note of caution, do not hook up the electric to the truck and electric to the trailer at the same time. A friend did that at a campground and it created a feedback to the truck. Burned out electronics to the truck and learned an expensive lesson.

[Boomerweps]

Even if you don’t have a written pre-flight checklist, ALWAYS do a walk around. You will end up having a mental checklist anyways, and looking around the trailer exterior before you leave will remind you of each area of concern. ESPECIALLY, when it’s left overnight ALMOST ready to go.

[Capt Kidd]

To avoid running the tow cars battery down I had a ? not sure what it is called but the trailer can no longer run the tow rigs battery down but the tow rig will still charge the trailers batteries.

[Aussieguy]

you can use a voltage sensing relay between the truck and the trailer


the relay detects that the truck's wiring is 13.7v which means the motor is running


when it detects 13.7 v it allows power to go to the trailer.
turn off the motor the circuit returns to 12v........ and the trailer is disconnected



set and forget.


search the internet for blueseas acr

https://www.google.com/search?q=blueseas+acr

[TitanMike]

When it comes to leaving the 7-pin plug in or out, not all trucks have live charging wires when engine is not running. I'd check the "Plus terminal" first before worrying about "Plugged In/Not Plugged In".

My TV only has power to this pin when engine is running. I leave the plug in whenever hitched up and stopped. Less chance of taking off with an unplugged cable.

It all depends on the truck.

[tomkatb]

Ditto Mike.

We often make 2-3 days overnighting in small campgrounds.

We pull in. Wife puts the level system down manually in the rear. I put the front jacks down. She lets out slides as I attach power only.

We can do this in minutes. Cocktail time!

Most modern trucks shut power off to the rv when the engine is off. This was an issue in the 60’s. Every vehicle is different thou.