toad charging

[njtony]

Hi all. Getting ready to head south for the winter. I was checking wiring to toad from my 2012 f-53 and found that the charge line and no power to it. Tried to check fuse but the book does not tell me which fuse to look at. Pulled all the 30 amp fuses and all good. These were underdash. Any other place to look ? And does vehhicle need to be running to get power ? I've tried both ways. Thanks.

[enblethen]

Toads normally do not have electric brakes like trailers. Many auxiliary brake systems use the brake light wiring to operate them.
Coach manufacturer may have extended the wiring harness and did not run the full harness to the rear of the rig.

[Allworth]

So now there are no brakes on the toad (and no brake lights). Good luck with that!

[troubledwaters]

Two things:
1. So now you have a charge wire for your toad but no brake line.
2. Ford doesn't make wiring harness that some have a charge wire some don't. All the wiring harnesses are the same. Some wires are connected, others left unconnected. If there was supposed to be a charge wire, it would be there.

My guess is most MH don't tow something that needs a charge wire, more then likely they may need a brake wire.

[njtony]

Update. I had a tech from slk mobile rv service out of new Jersey come out. He found that the charge line was never installed by ford. So the quick fix was he used the electric brake wire and rewired it to become the charge line. There was a fuse and relay already installed for electric brake line. So now I have my toad chrge line. Happy happy.

[Harvey51]

When you find an owners manual, look for the "auxiliary battery" fuse and relay.
On our 2004 E350 these are located in the engine fuse box over the wheel well on the driver's side under the hood.

You might trace your way back from the trailer lights connector at the hitch toward the engine. Ours has a connector a few feet forward that had a poor connection causing a voltage drop. If you could buy or borrow a tracing tool with a signal injector and tracer you could follow that wire all the way to the relay and fuse.

[Krusty]

Typically, Ford would put their trailer charge relay in the power distribution box under the hood. Your owners guide should show you which relay is for what. With your vehicle being an F53, the trailer connector, no doubt was installed by the coach builder, and they did not necessarily use the Ford wiring.

[troubledwaters]

Well the charge line on my F-250 is on a block, under the hood on the wheel well. I don't know where it would be on a motorhome but I would look in the engine compartment near the battery.

[enblethen]

Have you got the chassis owner's manual? It should say in there.
Or wait as someone here may post location.

[njtony]

yes engine was running. Any ideal where relay and fuse are located? Or do I need a professional?

[enblethen]

Ford's charge circuit goes through a relay that disconnects when ignition is off.
Believe the relay and fuse are under the hood.

[gnrenfeld]

my first question is did you have the motorhome ignition on

[njtony]

Hi again. Was just reading online... I not sure my charging line was ever hooked up ! Have a different car since I bought this unit and have never towed before. Does this seem right ?