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Old 10-04-2024, 07:59 PM   #1
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Tow vehicle battery dead

We just made a 3 day trip, towing our 25KS.
After we arrived at our destination & disconnected from the pickup, we went into town for a few items. When we got in the truck to come back to the camper, the battery in the truck was low enough not to start (no clicks). I hooked up my portable jumper battery & it started right up, but now has the check engine light on.
After getting back to the camper, I shut it off & tried to start it, and it fired right up. Maybe the alternator bit the dust.

So I say all that to ask:
Since the camper is connected to 110v, will it "back-charge" the battery in the truck if I connect the 7-pin?
I will see what happens in the morning, but thought I'd ask.
TIA.
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Old 10-04-2024, 08:23 PM   #2
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Auto zone will check your battery for free.

Then help you change it in the lot.

Most tow vehicles disconnect the. 7 pin from the trailer when the engine is off.

So no, not going to help likely.
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Old 10-04-2024, 08:30 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkatb View Post
Auto zone will check your battery for free.

Then help you change it in the lot.

Most tow vehicles disconnect the. 7 pin from the trailer when the engine is off.

So no, not going to help likely.
Ok, thank you.
I think my multimeter was the only tool I DIDN'T bring!
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Old 10-04-2024, 08:50 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by DynaflowDave View Post
So I say all that to ask:
Since the camper is connected to 110v, will it "back-charge" the battery in the truck if I connect the 7-pin?
I will see what happens in the morning, but thought I'd ask.
TIA.
Trailers do not normally 'back-charge the truck battery.

Batteries do have a 'life' and even if the alternator is working correctly, it won't charge a dead battery or make a battery hold a charge overnight.
You do need the trailer battery to be charged to operate the trailer brakes and you've got to be hooked up to the trailer for the brakes to work.
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Old 10-04-2024, 09:00 PM   #5
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Had that issue attending a wedding in Wisconsin.

On a diesel pickup, the battery change is hard. Two of those BIG batteries.

I am a little old for this.

I let the dumb sales person tell me which battery to change. One was not original. 50/50. She was wrong. I then changed the second one.

About $400 as I remember.

Got to the wedding on time. A Ukrainian wedding. Lord the food. A four hour meal. They like their wodka as well.
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Old 10-04-2024, 10:27 PM   #6
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Dynaflow, it might help if you posted what year, make and model of truck you're asking about.
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Old 10-05-2024, 06:07 AM   #7
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How old is the battery?
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Old 10-05-2024, 06:41 AM   #8
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With our knowing the year of truck its hard to tell if battery is shot. According to my Dodge dealer you are now lucky to get 4 years on a new battery. I had one go bad in my 2018 Ram after almost 4 years. Later RJD
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Old 10-05-2024, 06:57 AM   #9
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The answer to your original question is no. Even if the truck battery is not disconnected when it is off, the trailer will not provide sufficient current to charge a discharged truck battery.
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Old 10-05-2024, 07:01 AM   #10
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Without more information my guess that it is time for a new truck battery....... Any if it is a diesel you need to replace both of them at the same time not just one..........

As mentioned the trailer will not likely charge the truck battery.


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Old 10-05-2024, 08:00 AM   #11
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Tow vehicle battery dead

Sorry guys, it's a 2010 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7 gas, 4x4, 3.92 gears. I replaced the original battery about 3 years ago with a decent NAPA battery.
The thing is, we're about 10 miles from an Autozone in west Tennessee. I should have brought my code reader.......
Anyway, the alternator is the original unit, and the truck has 153k on it! So I wouldn't be surprised if the alternator is toast.
The trailer weighs around 4400 dry, and even though the truck pulled it ok, most of the trip was in 4th gear, 3000-3200 RPM. So maybe it's a combination of engine speed + age that made it give up the ghost.
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Old 10-05-2024, 08:01 AM   #12
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Thank you.
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Old 10-05-2024, 08:02 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkatb View Post
Auto zone will check your battery for free.

Then help you change it in the lot.

Most tow vehicles disconnect the. 7 pin from the trailer when the engine is off.

So no, not going to help likely.
Thank you.
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Old 10-05-2024, 08:04 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird View Post
Trailers do not normally 'back-charge the truck battery.

Batteries do have a 'life' and even if the alternator is working correctly, it won't charge a dead battery or make a battery hold a charge overnight.
You do need the trailer battery to be charged to operate the trailer brakes and you've got to be hooked up to the trailer for the brakes to work.
Yes sir. Thank you!
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Old 10-05-2024, 08:05 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkatb View Post
Had that issue attending a wedding in Wisconsin.

On a diesel pickup, the battery change is hard. Two of those BIG batteries.

I am a little old for this.

I let the dumb sales person tell me which battery to change. One was not original. 50/50. She was wrong. I then changed the second one.

About $400 as I remember.

Got to the wedding on time. A Ukrainian wedding. Lord the food. A four hour meal. They like their wodka as well.
Oy! I'm sorry you had all that expense!
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Old 10-05-2024, 08:29 AM   #16
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is there a volt gauge in the truck's dash most cars/trucks have them?
watch the volt gauge while motor not running it should read just over 12v
when you start the truck if it goes up to close to 14v ... the alternator is good and producing voltage


plus the battery idiot light on the dash if it is ON while engine running that will signal a bad alternator

If alternator is dead and battery has some good charge the truck will start... BUT you only have the battery power for running the truck's electrics
takes about 30 minutes for battery to drain and motor to die .
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Old 10-05-2024, 08:07 PM   #17
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Dead battery

Well, the check engine light turned out to be
"U0141 lost communication with body module". My pickup has been in New Mexico its entire life, so I'm thinking it just doesn't like the humidity in Tennessee!
It's been working fine for now.
A sincere thank you to everyone for your input. 🙂
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Old 10-05-2024, 08:11 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussieguy View Post
is there a volt gauge in the truck's dash most cars/trucks have them?
watch the volt gauge while motor not running it should read just over 12v
when you start the truck if it goes up to close to 14v ... the alternator is good and producing voltage


plus the battery idiot light on the dash if it is ON while engine running that will signal a bad alternator

If alternator is dead and battery has some good charge the truck will start... BUT you only have the battery power for running the truck's electrics
takes about 30 minutes for battery to drain and motor to die .
Yes sir, the voltage gauge does go to the positive side as normal, so it's charging.
I found out that there was a communication problem in the body module. I hope it's a temporary issue and we can make it 1300 miles back home! 😉
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Old 10-05-2024, 08:23 PM   #19
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The body module is an important device connecting a bunch of smaller computers to the system. About $1000 or more to,replace.

In my car a poor battery will make them act goofy.

Get a known voltmeter and check voltage. Must wait on a recently driven truck half an hour. Voltage should be about ,12.5 or higher. 12.2 is what pissed mine off. Charging should be. 13-14.

A new agm battery will be over 12.7. Most folks use agm. Will last 5-6 years if not mistreated. Mine was $200 something. Series 48. 850 cca.
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Old 10-06-2024, 11:01 AM   #20
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Dead battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkatb View Post
The body module is an important device connecting a bunch of smaller computers to the system. About $1000 or more to,replace.

In my car a poor battery will make them act goofy.

Get a known voltmeter and check voltage. Must wait on a recently driven truck half an hour. Voltage should be about ,12.5 or higher. 12.2 is what pissed mine off. Charging should be. 13-14.

A new agm battery will be over 12.7. Most folks use agm. Will last 5-6 years if not mistreated. Mine was $200 something. Series 48. 850 cca.

Thanks for that info, Tom. Good to know.
The NAPA battery isn't very old, but that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't on the way out. I'll have to check the voltage after it's been sitting. It's been starting fine ever since......🙏🙏
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