Do I need a charge line to my Toad?

Well Dave,
When you and I had the long conversation on the phone about much of this stuff, I explained the need to CONFIRM that you do, or DO NOT, have your steering lock in your Grand. I said you really need TO MAKE SURE that it does, or doesn't lock. And, I also said that if there is NO LOCK, then your key does not even have to be in the car. And if that is/was the case, then there's no need for any additional wiring for toad battery charging because there's no draw on the battery.

But, apparently you've found out different. Well, I'll ask this. Now that you KNOW you have a steering lock, and, that you need to turn the key to the first position to un-lock that steering, DOES THAT IN FACT, ENGERGIZE ANY ELECTRICS in that key position? In other words, does that first key position turn on anything on or in the dash, to indicate something's on, i.e. Radio, dash lighting, icons in the dash, ding-ding-ding, "the key is on" or, buzzers or anything?

If it does, then yes, you'll need a charge line from the coach to the toads positive battery terminal. In our TJ Jeeps that we towed in the past, the key needed one click forward to unlock the steering but, in that position, it energized NOTHING. So, no battery charge line was needed. It was simply an "unlock" for the steering.

So, CONFIRM if anything is energized or, TURNED ON, with that first click of the key, that unlocks the steering.

Now, as to the last part of your statement concerning the "battery dying and steering lock-up", well, neither has anything to do with the other. Your steering lock-unlock is purely mechanical in the steering column. When you turn the key one click forward, you rotate the control pin that moves another pin out of any one of the many "loops" that are used to lock the steering, in any position the steering wheel is left in, when shutting down the last time you drove it.

If the battery dies, due to being left in the "on" position of the key, the only thing you'll experience because of that is, A DEAD BATTERY and a no-start engine. A dead battery has no effect on steering, unlocked or locked.

If you purchased a 7-pin to 4-pin cord and find out you really need the 7-pin to 6-pin cord and, have not used the first one, then simply TAKE IT BACK and exchange it for the 6-pin one. That way, you'll now have the extra wire in the pig tail to be used for the charge line to the toads positive battery post.
Scott

Scott, well I guess you've come to the same conclusion as me. I don't know my Cherokee like I think I do. Maybe it's because I never drive it. My 17 year old boy has pretty much taken it over. I have probably put less than 50 miles on it behind the wheel in the past 2 years.
So like I said there is a steering wheel lock. I did some google searching and found out like you said there is a position between off and on that allows you to unlock the steering wheel and also doesn't put power to anything. This time I actually checked it. Weird thing is, is that the key can be removed when in this position. Well to make things worse the key basically comes out in every position except aux. I actually started the Jeep and the key basically just falls out of the ignition. Turned it off and it also comes out in the Off position (Where is should) and the next position between Off and On. This makes it a little difficult as I found out tonight. We've been playing around with the tow bar etc a little so I hooked it to my truck to pull my Cherokee around. Had my son do the drill so he could learn how. But he thought it was in the right position but it was in fact in the Off position thus locking the wheels and almost jack knifing my truck when I tried to stop in the rain. Haha.. So we need to somehow figure out that one position between Off and On a little better. Other than that I think we are dialed in. We were supposed to try and leave tonight but my RV is still at the Dealer. Holy **** they are sloooow. They have had if for 3 weeks to just do a Generator swap. It's taken almost 2 weeks for them to order an exhaust pipe for an Onan 5500. I asked them if they couldn't just take it to a muffler shop and have them build one. They said it's a special pipe that has to be 9" drop then make a 90 degree then out to the side of the RV. I can't believe a muffler shop couldn't make one of those and length you need in about 20 minutes. Hopefully in the morning we will have it and get on the road.

Now I just need to figure out if I should leave the key in or take it out. My son said he has been off roading in the Cherokee and had the Key just fall out while it's running. That sounds like a problem..