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Is tow vehicle's battery and trailer's isolated from each?

afinepoint
Explorer
Explorer
Is the tow vehicle only wired to the trailer's lights and brakes when attached? Was curious if other loads could get power from the tow vehicles's battery such as the power jack?

I would think the trailer and vehicle's batteries would be kept separate since the potentials are not the same. One battery will be stronger and thus discharge to the other as when car batteries are "jumped". The potential (no pun intended) is there to kill you truck's battery and then be stuck.
Tow vehicle: 01 F350 7.3L CC Lariat 4X4 dually, 220 amp alt, lit by PIAA & KC, thrust by Dp tuner, braking courtesy of ART cryogenics and PF pads, on board air, lane clearing by Nathan Airchime train horns, car catcher by Road Armor. Trailer: RPM M-26FBS
16 REPLIES 16

sele
Explorer
Explorer
with the right elece. package tow vechile will charge rv battery
scott

ScottG
Nomad
Nomad
On your FOrd it is indeed separate and they are only connected together when the key is on.
Dodge and GM are always connected together.
FWIW, I've had it both ways and I actually prefer them to be tied together.