Dead Batteries- No Lights or Brakes when hooked up to truck
So I went to check on our Surveyor SP-186 which is in storage. Even though I had disconnected the batteries, they are both dead. So, I hooked up to my truck and found that none of the running or brake lights or the trailer brake would would work. Would the batteries on the trailer be the cause of this?
Any help would be appreciated!
So I went to check on our Surveyor SP-186 which is in storage. Even though I had disconnected the batteries, they are both dead. So, I hooked up to my truck and found that none of the running or brake lights or the trailer brake would would work. Would the batteries on the trailer be the cause of this?
Any help would be appreciated!
Sounds like it could be a corroded plug. You can try cleaning the contacts with a Bargman plug brush.
Each line is fused seperately and while it is possible your dead batteries froze and shorted themselves out, that should not have an impact on the running lights.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Dead batteries on the camper have no effect on the camper lights. Illegal to tow without the batteries, as they operate the beak away switch, but who knows whether they are connected or not.
Thanks for the advice folks! As it turned out, once the trailer was hooked to the hitch, everything worked just fine! Although I do believe my batteries are shot.
Thanks for the advice folks! As it turned out, once the trailer was hooked to the hitch, everything worked just fine! Although I do believe my batteries are shot.
What threw us was your subject line.
"Dead Batteries - No Lights or Brakes when hooked up to truck"
I made the assumption you were actually "hooked up to the truck" not just plugged INTO the truck while unhitched. Whoda Thunk?
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
But shouldn't the ground through the 7-pin connector taken care of the ground path? I know that on my TT my running and stop lights and power work without the truck physically connected to the TT through the ball.
Sounds like there is still a wiring problem in the umbilical.
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Rick & Debbie; Brandy Schnoodle & Bucky (Dexter & Fritz R.I.P.) the Doxie "Kids"
2015 Jayco Pinnacle 36RSQS 5'er
2018 GMC Sierra Denali 3500HD, 6.6L Diesel Dually; B&W Companion 5'er hitch
ScanGauge, TST 507 TPMS
But shouldn't the ground through the 7-pin connector taken care of the ground path? I know that on my TT my running and stop lights and power work without the truck physically connected to the TT through the ball.
Sounds like there is still a wiring problem in the umbilical.
Maybe, but I have seen many boat trailer light issues fixed by cleaning the rust off the ball. I think your bad ground in the socket may have merit. The juice has to get back to the truck somehow.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
There is a ground pin in the 7 pin plug. Pin #1 on Lou's diagram. Sounds like it is broken in either the truck or the camper. Should not rely on the ball hitch for a ground. Usually too much rust and stuff on the slide portion of the hitch for a "good" ground.
With the 4, 6, or 7 pin trailer wiring systems the ground for the lights is the frame and the white ground wire in the connector.
The "common ground" connection on the plug is only hard wired to the battery charging line, breakaway switch and the trailer brakes and then bonded to the trailer frame.
The running, turn and stop light grounds are through the frame.
However, that wire connection between the frame and the the ground pin on your connector is your weak link. If that connection is corroded you won't get a return path for the lights without being hitched.
See attached wiring diagrams.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Linear Mode
