LandL
Sun City Hilton Head, SC
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We recently took a trip with our motorhome towing our new 2008 4-door jeep wrangler. It towed just fine except the battery was dead after arriving at our destination the next day. The jeep owners manual said to disconnect the battery when towing but I could not do that because then I wouldn't be able to use our "Brake Buddy" system.
Does anyone have a solution for us?
[blue]Lou Ann & Larry[/blue]
[blue]Sadie our Cocker[/blue][red]
[blue]2003 Winnebago Brave 32V[/blue]
[blue]2008 4-door Jeep Wrangler[/blue]
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polly sue
Colorado
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Joined: 04/21/2007
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I'm sure someone has a better solution than we've discovered, but we are towing a 4-door 07 Jeep Wrangler and have the same problem. We carry a battery charger that provides a quick start and then charge the battery overnight if we won't be driving the Jeep. Sometimes, we'll start the Jeep at a rest stop, but that requires us to remember to turn it off!! (Only happened once that we forgot. It didn't burn too much fuel and the Jeep was nice and cool...) The battery charger adds about two minutes to the disconnect process.
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threedogtrip
Colorado @ 9500 ft and lovin it
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We tow a 2007 4 door Jeep Wrangler with a SMI brake system. Have never had a problem with running down the battery. When "making miles" we don't untoad or even touch the Jeep overnight. We do make sure radio, ac, etc are off.
DW
Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.
--- Philip K. Dick
1999 Gulfstream Sunvoyager
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2006 Jeep Wranger
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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LandL wrote:We recently took a trip with our motorhome towing our new 2008 4-door jeep wrangler. It towed just fine except the battery was dead after arriving at our destination the next day. The jeep owners manual said to disconnect the battery when towing but I could not do that because then I wouldn't be able to use our "Brake Buddy" system.
Does anyone have a solution for us?
IF the Wrangler has a "power plug" in the dash ( NOT the cigar lighter..if that is needed) you can either "feed" the power plug from a fused 12V line from the coach...ORRRR..."feed" the battery itself with fused line from the coach. I prefer #1..because you only need the Brake Buddy when you are "attached" to the coach anyway
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
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KOG
Winterville GA
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Joined: 01/31/2001
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You could run a 12V line from the MH to the brake buddy. Or you could disconnect the battery from the Jeep and run a jumper from it to just the brake buddy when towing. This can be done with a switch to avoid having to actually move wires around.
Running the battery down and then recharging it will result in a junk battery after only a few discharge cycles. If you have do this, consider a deep cycle or semi-deep cycle battery instead of a normal car (starting only) type.
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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polly sue wrote:I'm sure someone has a better solution than we've discovered, but we are towing a 4-door 07 Jeep Wrangler and have the same problem. We carry a battery charger that provides a quick start and then charge the battery overnight if we won't be driving the Jeep. Sometimes, we'll start the Jeep at a rest stop, but that requires us to remember to turn it off!! (Only happened once that we forgot. It didn't burn too much fuel and the Jeep was nice and cool...) The battery charger adds about two minutes to the disconnect process.
IF the engine start battery is depleated to the point where it CANT start the engine...and you re-charge it all the time to get it to do so....you'll kill the Jeep battery long before it would naturally die. Those types of batterys arent made for such usage
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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KOG wrote:You could run a 12V line from the MH to the brake buddy. Or you could disconnect the battery from the Jeep and run a jumper from it to just the brake buddy when towing. This can be done with a switch to avoid having to actually move wires around.
Running the battery down and then recharging it will result in a junk battery after only a few discharge cycles. If you have do this, consider a deep cycle or semi-deep cycle battery instead of a normal car (starting only) type.
LOL..ya beat me by a minute....lol
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Guy Autorino
Emerald Isle N.C.
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Joined: 09/23/2007
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I wired my brake into the RV, I bought a Cig. lighter connector and placed it on the dash and plug into it. this way I do not use any power from car, I disconnect the barked when I stop over night, works great
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sigthor
san antonio, texas, usa
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Joined: 07/28/2002
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I purchased a portable a rechargeable jumper battery with 12V sockets in it. It is set close to the BB which is plugged into it. When needed, I recharge while parked. Works great.
2001 Allegro Bay DP, Banks Stinger Installed
2007 Wrangler X Unlimited 4WD, Blue Ox Aventa II
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RicJones
So. Cal.
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Joined: 10/29/2007
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You could try one of these from Blue Ox.
http://www.rvupgradestore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=442
If you go to the toad forum you will find several discussions dealing with dead batteries when towing. Some vehicles you have to pull a fuse. Your break buddy may not be totally to blame.
A friend had his battery go dead for the first time since he's been towing it. It turns out he had a bad diode.
Like others have said, make sure the key is in the first position and everything is turned off.
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