Dinghy charging from MH

[way2roll]

We have a 2011 CRV toad. I have installed separate tail lights that run from the MH 4 pin connector. We have ready brute elite tow bars and so the car's brake lights still activate and after hours of driving and in heavy stop and go, sometimes the battery is very weak when we get to our destination. Aside form pulling a fuse, or a battery disconnect which will reset everything, isn't there a charge wire I can run from the MH to the toad? And if so, how does this work if I am already using the 4 pin connector on the MH for the car's tail lights?

Do I just get a toad charge kit and splice the wires into the existing 4 pin harness? and if so, which wires? I assume the 4 pin harness controls right brake, right signal, left brake, and left signal. If that's the case the current wouldn't be constant would it?

[willald]

way2roll wrote:
I ran a set of wires/lights completely independent of the car that run from the 4 pin connector on the MH. (it was a blue ox kit that actually installs a bulb in each lens so it looks factory). The issue is that the ready brake still pulls on the CRV brake pedal and activates the factory toad brake lights also. They would work no matter what position the key is in.

I had this issue with our Jeep as well. It is a common issue, I think.

We corrected it by installing a brake light relay on the Jeep. Basically, it is a relay that shuts off power to the brake lights when the car's ignition is turned off. That way when we are towing, only brake light signal that will turn lights on is the one that comes from the Motorhome.

I'm too lazy to put together a link for the relay kit, but look up Roadmaster Item #RM-88400 on etrailer. That is the kit that I used. Was a fairly simple install, and works great.

[way2roll]

willald wrote:
Hey, Way2Roll,

I have always had a charge line wired in with our towed vehicles, although our current one (Jeep Wrangler) doesn't use it or need it.

With a 4 flat connector, you are right, there isn't a wire to use for charging battery. You will need to switch to a 6 round setup, as the 6 wire setup does have an extra wire you can use for the charge line.

You don't have to spend tons of $$ and install a battery charge kit or anything (I guess you could if you want, but I didn't). I just ran a charge wire from the Motorhome to the towed vehicle's positive terminal of the battery, I believe it was 14 or 16 gauge. Just make sure you install an inline fuse or circuit breaker on that wire as close to the battery as possible!

My previous towed vehicle (2014 Ford Taurus) would have a dead battery after just a few hours of towing. Charge line solved that problem completely. Same thing with the hybrid Ford Fusion we had before that.

PM me if you need more specific info on how to do this. 🙂

Thanks, sent you a PM.

[way2roll]

wildtoad wrote:
Interesting. I don’t know the specifics (the reason I let CW do it), but there are wires going from the connector directly to the tail lights to power the turn signals and brake lights. The lights are controlled solely from the rv not from the brake pedal in the Jeep.

Anyhow, good luck with a charge line.

Thanks. My guess is they installed a diode on yours - something I considered but was in over my head in terms of wiring so I just did it the easy way.

[wildtoad]

Interesting. I don’t know the specifics (the reason I let CW do it), but there are wires going from the connector directly to the tail lights to power the turn signals and brake lights. The lights are controlled solely from the rv not from the brake pedal in the Jeep.

Anyhow, good luck with a charge line.

[way2roll]

wildtoad wrote:
I know nothing about a CRV and what’s required for towing. But I do have a ready brake system for my 2015 Wrangler. I had CW install the wiring to drive the tail lights. It does use the 6 pin connector but my RV doesn’t currently provide a charge line. (Newmar decide not to wire it) The lights are driven from the MH, no power needed in the Jeep, no charge line, Jeep key is in my pocket while towing. (Or in the MH somewhere)

Does the CRV need the key set to ACC for towing?

I ran a set of wires/lights completely independent of the car that run from the 4 pin connector on the MH. (it was a blue ox kit that actually installs a bulb in each lens so it looks factory). The issue is that the ready brake still pulls on the CRV brake pedal and activates the factory toad brake lights also. They would work no matter what position the key is in. So they pull on the car battery with no recharge. It happens enough (usually in NOVA I95 stop and go for hours) that it drains the battery.

[wildtoad]

I know nothing about a CRV and what’s required for towing. But I do have a ready brake system for my 2015 Wrangler. I had CW install the wiring to drive the tail lights. It does use the 6 pin connector but my RV doesn’t currently provide a charge line. (Newmar decide not to wire it) The lights are driven from the MH, no power needed in the Jeep, no charge line, Jeep key is in my pocket while towing. (Or in the MH somewhere)

Does the CRV need the key set to ACC for towing?

[willald]

Hey, Way2Roll,

I have always had a charge line wired in with our towed vehicles, although our current one (Jeep Wrangler) doesn't use it or need it.

With a 4 flat connector, you are right, there isn't a wire to use for charging battery. You will need to switch to a 6 round setup, as the 6 wire setup does have an extra wire you can use for the charge line.

You don't have to spend tons of $$ and install a battery charge kit or anything (I guess you could if you want, but I didn't). I just ran a charge wire from the Motorhome to the towed vehicle's positive terminal of the battery, I believe it was 14 or 16 gauge. Just make sure you install an inline fuse or circuit breaker on that wire as close to the battery as possible!

My previous towed vehicle (2014 Ford Taurus) would have a dead battery after just a few hours of towing. Charge line solved that problem completely. Same thing with the hybrid Ford Fusion we had before that.

PM me if you need more specific info on how to do this. 🙂