Camping without a battery?

Famof4 · 06-05-2012, 09:01 AM

So I just said a hello in the new member check in and now I am asking my first question.

We recently had our battery stolen while the trailer was in storage

. We are wondering if it is worth replacing it or not. We (currently) camp only in state park campgrounds that have electrical service. We thought we needed to replace it for the purposes of powering the breakaway switch. But found out quickly that wasn't the case.

So here are the questions. Does anyone not have a battery on their trailer? Is there something we are missing as to why we would need a battery?

I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks.

ksfis43 · 06-05-2012, 09:04 AM

This is what I have to secure my Battery! http://www.b-drvbatterylock.com/

Festus2 · 06-05-2012, 09:06 AM

If you have a slideout, you will need a battery! Without one, the slides will not operate and you will have to manually crank them in and out. The battery that was stolen will have to be replaced if you want to use your slides.

Famof4 · 06-05-2012, 09:09 AM

We do not have any slides, so that isn't an issue. (Sorry forgot to mention that.)

smiller · 06-05-2012, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Famof4

We thought we needed to replace it for the purposes of powering the breakaway switch. But found out quickly that wasn't the case.

So how do you supply emergency breakaway power to the brakes without a battery?

**hankpage** · 06-05-2012, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Famof4

We thought we needed to replace it for the purposes of powering the breakaway switch. But found out quickly that wasn't the case.

I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks.

I'm very curious as to where you got this information from ?????? Electric brakes need electric from somewhere.

Famof4 · 06-05-2012, 09:31 AM

I had taken the pin and cable out of the switch for storage. We hitched everything up and were ready to pull out but couldn't budge. That was when we realized with the distraction of the battery being gone that the pin didn't get put back in and the breakaway still worked via the truck's power. Now I could be wrong (and this could be what I am missing on replacing the battery) but I am going with if the break away works while hooked up to the truck that is good. And since the breakaway cable is shorter than the cord for the 7-pin that if something were to happen, the breakaway would trigger before the cord came undone.

smiller · 06-05-2012, 09:32 AM

Only for a few seconds...

The brakes will release again as soon as the power umbilical from the truck disconnects.

Famof4 · 06-05-2012, 09:33 AM

Would the brakes not be powered by the tow vehicle?

smiller · 06-05-2012, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Famof4

Would the brakes not be powered by the tow vehicle?

If the hitch fails and you have no onboard battery then the brakes will be powered only if you have a very strong umbilical cable.

Once it disconnects (which will be almost instantly)... no more brakes...

**hankpage** · 06-05-2012, 09:37 AM

BREAK AWAY means no tow vehicle connected. Trailer will go one way and tv another. By law a battery is required to stop the trailer.

Famof4 · 06-05-2012, 09:42 AM

Thank you all. That was the input I needed. (See I was missing something.

)

I guess, I assumed (insert jokes here...) that once the breakaway switch was triggered it would apply the brakes and stop the trailer. I didn't consider the powering of the brakes after said unfortunate event happened.

I guess we will be going battery shopping.
Thanks again-
Matt

smiller · 06-05-2012, 09:43 AM

You could purchase a smaller battery if all you need to do is power the brakes for a short time during an emergency, but you wouldn't save much as a full-sized battery doesn't cost much more and would be useful so you could have lights in case the campground ever lost power, etc... so just replacing the standard battery is probably the best way to go.

Famof4 · 06-05-2012, 09:49 AM

Yeah we will just replace it and end up getting some sort of lock for it. We were just trying to be "frugal" (read cheap). But there is no way I will jeopardize our safety.

New battery here we come.

rhagfo · 06-05-2012, 11:11 AM

So sorry to hear the battery was stolden, but don't understand pulling the pin and cable for the breakaway switch?
Doesn't your storage yard have security?

Famof4 · 06-05-2012, 11:25 AM

Yes it is a gated storage facility with cameras. They are "investigating" how this happened but there were 15 batteries that were stolen just at this lot along with some others in the area. The police have suspects as there were 500lbs worth of batteries turned in by a couple teenagers at one location a few days after it happened. Anyway, the storage lot of course has the legalese that "they are not responsible".

As far as pulling the cord and pin, I did it just because it is only a year old and showing some signs of wear and rust already. It wasn't necessarily for security.

Festus2 · 06-05-2012, 11:56 AM

Having a battery - even though you don't have slides and will only be using for your break away - does have other advantages. There may be times when you are not plugged in (power failures, for example) and wish to have lights, run your furnace, use your fridge on propane, etc. Having a battery and being able to use your RV in case of an emergency or short stopovers for a meal or whatever - may come in handy some day. Personally, I wouldn't want to be without a battery and; in the scheme of things, they don't cost that much.

If you are concerned about it being stolen while in storage, you can always remove it, take it home and put it on a trickle charger.

SAABDOCTOR · 06-05-2012, 11:59 AM

ONCE YOU LOOSE THE 7 PIN CABLE FROM THE TV YOUR BRAKES ARE OFF

WHEN YOU STORE YOUR CAMPER TAKE THE BATTERY WITH YOU AT LET THEM STEAL SOMEONE EALSE' BATTERY IN FACT SEND THEM TO MY HOUSE THE DOGS WILL LOVE THEM.. YUM

**hankpage** · 06-05-2012, 02:16 PM

Another thing .... If you removed the pin from the break-away switch you applied your trailers brakes ..... until the battery went dead or was stolen , whichever came first. The battery will not last long with full voltage going to the brakes. The thieves may have done you a favor, stone dead batteries don't always come back to 100%.

Famof4 · 06-05-2012, 04:07 PM

Well luckily this has given me an education on the workings of the breakaway switch and its interaction with the battery. Luckily, or unluckily

, this was actually the first time I had pulled the pin for storage. We had the trailer out in April for our first trip of the year and noticed the rust when we put it back. But I also have a disconnect switch on the battery and always disconnect it for any prolonged storage.

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