Break Away Battery

You have to temporarily mount the breakaway battery to the trailer. If you have it in the bed of your truck it will not be able to provide power to the trailer brakes if the trailer becomes separated from the truck. The battery connects to the main 12 volt power leads on the trailer resulting in 12 volt power being provided to the entire trailer not just the brakes. I use a small lawn tractor type battery. When the dealers inspect the trailer upon delivery it powers out the slides and awning without issue. Upon sale of the trailer the dealer installs full size deep cycle batteries which get connected in the same way that the breakaway battery had been connected. I have found that on some of the larger more expensive 5th wheels the factory has installed batteries. Resulting in not having to use my own battery.

 

Some of the requirements listed on some RV transport companies websites and literature are not very accurate. I was confused by the wording (in the bed of your truck) prior to talking to other drivers.

 

As long as your alternator is working properly I don't think their is a problem with over charging. At least I haven't had that problem. I purchased a kit with a small battery in a plastic case which was attached to a metal bracket that is designed to slide over the trailers A frame. The battery is about the same size as you would find mounted on a typical box trailer or smaller motorcycle.

 

No it does not, it is related to the brakes only. Serves no other purpose except to apply current to the brakes in a brake away emergency that is it's one and only purpose. Anybody that has ulled an rv or owned one has to know that fact.

 

Every one I have seen has been a small lead acid battery the same size as the ones used in those portable halogen spotlights. Usually mounted towards the front of the trailer to the frame rails. Many times they are disconnected from the factory so you must open the small box the battery is located in and connect the wires.

 

If the trailer has a house battery as all rv's do the breakaway switch draws it's power from it. If the trailer is a flat bed or just an inclosed trailer then it is necessary to have the small battery for a power source, that maybe what has created a little confusion here. Never the less the breakaway switch has nothing to do with other electrical systems on an RV.

 

View attachment 67411 If you don't know what this is or how it works... You've probably never even pulled a boat trailer.

 

Most boat trailers that have brakes use hydraulic surge breaks because water and electricity don't mix very well