When towing a 2013 CR-V do I need to disconnect the battery? My last car had a charge line installed to keep the battery charged, but I forgot to tell them to do it this time. On the list to do when I get home in the spring unless Camping World can do it.

Nice looking Journey by the way!We had a cut-off switch installed to cut off a fuse that controls the radio/navigation. I forgot to flip the switch once and the battery did go down. Otherwise, it works perfectly.The installer put the switch behind a cover to the left of the steering column, looks almost factory.With the key in the accessory position, I think the radio is active even if you don't have nav.MM.

What will kill the battery in a CRV is if you have the in dash NAV system which will be active with the key in to unlock the steering wheel. You can shut the radio off but not the NAV.Page 334 and 335 of your owners manual provides detains regarding which fuse to pull. You'll need a bright flash light, a magnifying glass, tweezers, three arms and a double jointed back, neck and left shoulder to get the fuse in and out.

I have a 2013 that we just finished towing on a 9 week, 7000 mile trip. I installed the kill switch that kills the radio and did the upgrade to a larger battery. The upgrade requires buying the Honda Oddesy battery box ($13.00) and going with a Group 27 battery. The battery in the 2013 CRV looks like something that belongs in a motorcycle. With the above mods, the Honda worked flawlessly for the entire trip with a couple of 450 mile days and no batteyr issues.I also bought a non chipped key from Honda, which performs all the functions needed for towing, but won'yt start the vehicle.

First off, I have to assume that you are running a supplemental brake system that uses the CRV's battery for activation. If so, this will deplete the CRV's OEM battery fairly quickly, and you can't disconnect it if you want your braking system to work.My overkill solution to the dead battery problem was to buy a deep cycle battery which I use to power up my Even Brake toad braking system. I back feed the deep cycle battery into the CRV electrical system. I have a battery cutoff switch on the CRV starting battery which I disconnect when the deep cycle "braking battery" is hooked up. The radio codes and clock stay powered up and the toad can be pulled along for hours without worrying that it won't start. After we hit the campground, we just crank down the battery cutoff, powering the CRV with the starting battery, unhook the deep cycle braking battery, and off we go.I have a smart battery charger that I hook up when we're plugged in at a campsite to recharge the braking battery. I realize this is not as easy a solution as having a 12 volt feed from the RV to the toad, but this solution was our answer when we had a dead battery out on the road (in Nowhere USA) with no easy option to wire a 12 volt feed from the RV to the toad.So, the upshot is, you have to power your toad braking system. You need a source of power that will still allow you to start your toad at the end of your trip. Some folks stop and start up the toad every 2 to 3 hours to charge up the battery and this works. But if you plan on longer jumps between rest stops or campsites you will need to find a way to power your braking system that doesn't deplete your toad's starting battery. A 12 volt feed from some source to the toad (from the RV or a 2nd battery) will allow you to disconnect the toad battery. Lacking that, you have to keep the toad battery connected. I do not recommend towing without a powered supplemental brake in your CRV! Good luck with finding what works best for you.

You'll need a bright flash light, a magnifying glass, tweezers, three arms and a double jointed back, neck and left shoulder to get the fuse in and out.So true! That's part of the reason I opted for a 2nd battery! (Having the spare battery also comes in handy when I need to jump start my various yard equipment toys after we have been out on the road for a couple of weeks.)

Towing 2013 Honda CR-v | Good Sam Community

mfox20
Explorer
Oct 30, 2016
PandS wrote:
Does anyone know if the wires for the circuit switch kit from Roadmaster are long enough to put the switch in the blank switch plate to the left of the steering wheel in a 2013 CRV?

Yes, the wires are long enough. I have mine installed in one of the left side blanks.

Quick tip...drill the blank hole using a small drill bit to get it centered, then a couple of larger bits to finish the hole. Total install take about 10 minutes. I've towed all day for 700 miles with no battery issues.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Oct 29, 2016
Timjet, OK, I'll ask. What is WAZE?

I've been behind in upgrading many times, this won't be the first. LOL!

I literally went from a flip phone to an iphone 6. The only reason is because I can connect to the new coach through my iphone and control most functions remotely.

Mark.

On edit: I 'binged' WAZE and saw that it is an APP that you would use for daily communication for morning commutes, etc. Not sure how handy that would be for touring.
timjet
Explorer
Oct 29, 2016
But the in car Nav system doesn't have WAZE -- yet.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Oct 29, 2016
J-Rooster wrote:
Mr.Mark wrote:
Nice looking Journey by the way!

We had a cut-off switch installed to cut off a fuse that controls the radio/navigation. I forgot to flip the switch once and the battery did go down. Otherwise, it works perfectly.

The installer put the switch behind a cover to the left of the steering column, looks almost factory.

With the key in the accessory position, I think the radio is active even if you don't have nav.

MM.
X-2, This is a correct post! And this is why I didn't order navigation when I bought my CRV new

I have to say that navigation has been a life-saver when we are in a strange area and need to locate certain businesses, restaurants, etc. I would not be without Navigation. It's also nice to see the 'map' when driving around to see which streets are coming up next even if nothing is programed into the Nav.

The installation of the cut-off switch was not a big deal.

The Navigation keeps previous trips in the memory which I've referred to many times in different cities that we returned to.

I know I could use my I-phone for Nav but the screen is bigger on the car's Nav.

MM.
J-Rooster
Explorer
Oct 29, 2016
Mr.Mark wrote:
Nice looking Journey by the way!

We had a cut-off switch installed to cut off a fuse that controls the radio/navigation. I forgot to flip the switch once and the battery did go down. Otherwise, it works perfectly.

The installer put the switch behind a cover to the left of the steering column, looks almost factory.

With the key in the accessory position, I think the radio is active even if you don't have nav.

MM.
X-2, This is a correct post! And this is why I didn't order navigation when I bought my CRV new
RLS7201
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2016
Effy wrote:
howdy35 wrote:
.If you do not have a Nav system, you do not need a charge line.

This isn't true as I have learned the hard way after having a dead battery at the end of the day on more than one occasion. If you have any type of brake system - in my case I have the ready brake - when you apply the brakes the car's brake lights still come on. Despite that I have accessory brake lights from the MH independent of the car, the action of the brake pedal activates the car's own brake lights anyway. And since we usually travel the dreaded NOVA section of I-95, it's always miles of stop and go traffic. Eventually the brake lights coming on and off kill the battery. I don't have NAV.

Ahhhh, now I know why I don't have battery problems on my 2013 CRV.
LED tail lights, brake buddy, no nav system, no charge line, no problem.

Richard
PandS
Explorer
Oct 28, 2016
Does anyone know if the wires for the circuit switch kit from Roadmaster are long enough to put the switch in the blank switch plate to the left of the steering wheel in a 2013 CRV?
Effy
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2016
howdy35 wrote:
.If you do not have a Nav system, you do not need a charge line.

This isn't true as I have learned the hard way after having a dead battery at the end of the day on more than one occasion. If you have any type of brake system - in my case I have the ready brake - when you apply the brakes the car's brake lights still come on. Despite that I have accessory brake lights from the MH independent of the car, the action of the brake pedal activates the car's own brake lights anyway. And since we usually travel the dreaded NOVA section of I-95, it's always miles of stop and go traffic. Eventually the brake lights coming on and off kill the battery. I don't have NAV.
Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2016
Jack_Pine wrote:
hottubkid wrote:
I thought the Honda weren't tow able from 2012? I wanted to buy a new one and the dealers tell me that they arn't tow able four down. Confused?

I heard the seam thing but thought it was 2013, you may be right though. Have to google it.
When Honda shifted to the constant velocity transmission for the CRV that ended the four down tow able capability with an automatic transmission.

Honda has a diesel manual transmission model for sale Europe. Wish they had a US version.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Oct 28, 2016
Jack_Pine wrote:
hottubkid wrote:
I thought the Honda weren't tow able from 2012? I wanted to buy a new one and the dealers tell me that they arn't tow able four down. Confused?

I heard the seam thing but thought it was 2013, you may be right though. Have to google it.

CR-V's all the way up to 2014 are towable..... staring in 2015 and beyond, they are not towable.

MM.

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