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way2roll's avatar
way2roll
Navigator III
Jan 24, 2023

Dinghy charging from MH

We have a 2011 CRV toad. I have installed separate tail lights that run from the MH 4 pin connector. We have ready brute elite tow bars and so the car's brake lights still activate and after hours of driving and in heavy stop and go, sometimes the battery is very weak when we get to our destination. Aside form pulling a fuse, or a battery disconnect which will reset everything, isn't there a charge wire I can run from the MH to the toad? And if so, how does this work if I am already using the 4 pin connector on the MH for the car's tail lights?

Do I just get a toad charge kit and splice the wires into the existing 4 pin harness? and if so, which wires? I assume the 4 pin harness controls right brake, right signal, left brake, and left signal. If that's the case the current wouldn't be constant would it?

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  • willald's avatar
    willald
    Explorer II
    Jan 24, 2023
    Hey, Way2Roll,

    I have always had a charge line wired in with our towed vehicles, although our current one (Jeep Wrangler) doesn't use it or need it.

    With a 4 flat connector, you are right, there isn't a wire to use for charging battery. You will need to switch to a 6 round setup, as the 6 wire setup does have an extra wire you can use for the charge line.

    You don't have to spend tons of $$ and install a battery charge kit or anything (I guess you could if you want, but I didn't). I just ran a charge wire from the Motorhome to the towed vehicle's positive terminal of the battery, I believe it was 14 or 16 gauge. Just make sure you install an inline fuse or circuit breaker on that wire as close to the battery as possible!

    My previous towed vehicle (2014 Ford Taurus) would have a dead battery after just a few hours of towing. Charge line solved that problem completely. Same thing with the hybrid Ford Fusion we had before that.

    PM me if you need more specific info on how to do this. :)

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