toad engine running

Make sure your battery on the toad is good under load. If old get a new one. Brick

Snomas wrote:
...RVi brake just put out a promo on their new charge wire for a toad.

Good find. I just looked on RVi's web page at their new toad charge tool, right here.

Not a bad idea, and not terribly expensive at $50. Costs less than half what the Toad-Charge costs, and looks like RVi's version is much easier to install. Gives you a bit more protection than just running a fused wire between the MH and toad like I'm presently doing.

I might just put this RVi toad charge tool on my list, of upcoming mods/upgrades to do. :)

Will

Spizzer wrote:
I'm not real familiar with the Even Brake. But I believe it is designed to work with no power assist on your brakes. With the engine running I would suspect the unit would lock up your Jeep brakes to the point of the ABS kicking in.

Jeff

This is my thoughts as well. The brake boxes are meant to be used with the power brakes OFF. Therefore with the engine running, the brakes will be engaged as if the engine is off therefore causing huge problems, some that may be damaging to the Jeep. When you stop to pee, start the Jeep for a minute. Problem solved.

WW

I put on a charge wire from the MH to toad and it keeps battery up. RVi brake just put out a promo on their new charge wire for a toad. I love their toad brake system.

Unless you had issues don't assume you will. Many of us tow cars with brake assists units. If we all had dead batteries at the end of the day I'm guessing those brake assists would go out of business.

I would not want a running car behind me, that would feel like an accident waiting to happen, who knows it may even be illegal.

If you're really concern about a dead battery then purchase a battery jump box in the unlikely event you would need to use it. Most even have a plug in that you could use to run the brake assist off instead of the jeep if you're really concern.

If you have a good battery, and their is nothing that is pulling power while you're towing you should not have a problem, even after a few days without starting the Jeep.

Hey Skipole, you did the Alaska trip. Super. A favorite. Hope the bags are still working well for you. We rarely do an all nighter anymore but will this time so we can get to Florida to watch our Badgers Bowl Game. Thanks for the info. Bet you have a lot of snow up on the mountain.

Oddly enough, if you must tow with the engine running, put it in drive. It will burn far less fuel as it will spend most of the time with the fuel shut off. Most, if not all, modern vehicles shut down fuel delivery in about 20 or so seconds from entering a coast mode providing the engine is at normal operating temperatures. (This includes your MH) I am not suggesting you do this, just pointing out the facts of fuel reduction compared to just idling in neutral.

We have traveled for 2-3 days towing our Jeep Liberty and not disconnected it from the motorhome. We have a Brake Buddy. After a day we'll just start it up for 5 minutes or so but it always starts. No problems.

Goldencrazy wrote:
I'm going to be towing my 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee instead of my Smart Car to Florida. I understand that I run the danger of running my battery out of power with my even brake. Wondering if that is the case and I lose my charge in toad battery and need it to operate my brake I ask this question. Can I run the engine to recharge while towing. Obviously the transfer case remains in neutral and tranny in park. It might be my best way as we would like to get south of the snow and ice line the first day so we will push a little.

Golden,

We used a Brake Buddy with a Ford Escape on our Mini Winnie for 4 months on trip to Alaska with no problems. We took a battery charger with us mounted in the Escape engine compartment hooked up to the battery. Would plug it into an extension cord every night and never failed to start on the whole trip. So you should be able to make it to Florida with no problems.

Our Sunstar 30T's have a spare wire in the tow plug that has 12V live to it. It works when you are driving down the road. We had the local dealer swapped the tow vehicle 6 pin plug out for a 7 pin plug and wire a "battery charging module" to this pin in the tow vehicle side. The charging module is hooked to the tow vehicle battery and charges it while towed down the road.

Skipole

If you are concerned about a dead battery carry a good jump box. Road side service use them all the time. Very handy to have.