Jump starting the truck and charging T/C

mkirsch wrote:
I would be fixing the problem that is causing me to have to jump start my truck off the camper batteries on a regular basis, first.

If you know you have a problem the wise thing to do is fix it ahead of time . I guess you have never been surprised by a weak or dead battery in a vehicle . Lucky man . :)

My backup for charging the camper batteries if dead is to jump start the generator and let it charge. I've never thought about doing the reverse to start my truck, so I only have 12 gauge wire that reaches from my closest truck battery to my battery compartment. It's tiny. I can't say I'd want to idle my diesel for an extended period of time to charge although it does charge the camper batteries while driving without a cable.

To start the truck, I agree that buying commercial battery cables is probably better/cheaper. The wire and connectors will probably cost more than the cables. There are both 4 gauge ($15-30) and 2 gauge ($40-50) jumper cables at Amazon at 20-25 foot length. Some even have a bag to store them.

work2much wrote:

Has anyone used jumper cables to charge their camper batteries from a running truck using jumpers directly from the truck battery to the house battery?

Many do better than that -- here's mine .
2 gauge wire, and it works both ways -- heavy duty camper battery charge, allows the camper batteries to help start truck (if ever needed), and disconnects truck from camper when truck not running or starting.
It other words, a correct charge setup.

I would be fixing the problem that is causing me to have to jump start my truck off the camper batteries on a regular basis, first.

I have a similar system to NRALIFR . This is probably the best way to accomplish the OP's objectives . Charge the TC batteries from the truck and using a switch for the solenoid , jump the truck batteries from the TC . If you have shore power you can also charge the truck batteries with this system .

On other hand - why run truck engine when you can buy generator for $80 ?
I bought one of those 2-cycles at Harbor Freight and small thing powers everything in my camper, including microwave oven.
This way I avoided starting build-in monster, that is design to run AC

The length of time you would have to leave the jumper cables connected in order to get a decent charge on your camper battery makes that method a bit cumbersome. Consider installing a heavy-duty charge circuit from the truck to the camper instead. It takes a bit of work, and will definitely cost more than a set of jumper cables, but it will be (in my opinion anyway) worth the time and expense.

Here's a link to a topic I started when I bought my current truck, and was documenting some of the mod's needed to haul my camper.

New Truck Camper Hauler Topic


:):)

My camper batteries automatically got charged from running truck via trailer plug.
Seem Ford is the only one having trailer charging circuit wired via relay, when other brands have it wired permanently, so you better pull the plug on longer stay.
It is not recommended to charge battery with more than 10 amp, so #12 wire is all you need.

Before I had solar I would hook a inverter to the truck battery and then plug the TC power cable in to that, it worked great for charging the camper battery's. Just keep the truck running.

No need to make a special pair of cables. Go to Sears and buy a jumper cable 16' or 20' long that are 2 or 4 ga. In each of my and my kids vehicles, we carry a pair of these jumper cables. Folks are amazed when I can pull up behind them, reach the front of their car and they are able to hit the starter immediately. I've even done this with diesel trucks though reaching from the back of those crew cab longs bed doesn't work.

The charge rate won't be to high. I ran 2ga wire from the battery through a ignition controlled relay battery through a connector to the camper and have seen as high as 20A/hr charge rate which is the max rating recommended for my battery (1/5 of capacity). Been running this setup on two different trucks for seven years. First cheapo Sam's Club battery lasted 6 years so it can't be hurting it to much.

If you are this worried about charging and rates, you are probably boondocking. Hopefully you have a good battery monitor such as the Trimetric so you know the true charge state of your battery. I was all worried about the amount of battery drain until I installed one only to find out I was on using about 15 of 50 A/hr during the cold winter nights. Now boondocking is even more fun because I don't have to worry so much about battery status.