Temporary Battery Power In Winter

JimHanus · 02-20-2021, 12:58 PM

I store my trailer in a storage lot and don't have access to electricity. I like to mess with the trailer over the winter, but take my batteries out. What I've done is bought a 7-way jack and hooked it to a small deep cycle battery, which only weighs maybe 20lbs. at most. I can take that to the trailer and plug the trailer into this setup and I have lights and heat (propane is still attached). With this small battery I only get about 2 hours max. If I need all day power I can take one of the big (70lb) batteries instead, but those are rough on my back.

travelin texans · 02-20-2021, 01:23 PM

Or use a set of jumper cables from your running vehicle connected to the rv batteries. I think jumper cables would be even better on your back than the 20lb battery.

**dagst1** · 02-20-2021, 01:24 PM

That's a good fix for temporary power.

**Lloyd** · 02-20-2021, 02:18 PM

That's a slick setup.

You have your RV batteries at home more then likely, and this setup gives you a short fix for your cabin fever on occasion.

divey · 02-20-2021, 02:27 PM

This may be a dumb question (yes I know there is no such thing) but if the RV batteries are removed, can you not just hook your tow vehicle up to the RV power cord and have 12 volt power supplied to the trailer that way?

**Lloyd** · 02-20-2021, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by divey

This may be a dumb question (yes I know there is no such thing) but if the RV batteries are removed, can you not just hook your tow vehicle up to the RV power cord and have 12 volt power supplied to the trailer that way?

I've never tried that. I would think the lite gauge wire between the truck and the trailer might be a problem. It would probably run lights, but I can't believe you could run very much.
Maybe somebody else has had some experience trying that.

**dagst1** · 02-20-2021, 03:15 PM

Not sure what tow vehicle he has but on my GMC there is no power to the plug unless the motor is running. But with a dead camper battery i have plugged in and had enough power to run the landing gear to hitch up.

travelin texans · 02-20-2021, 03:19 PM

Jumper cables from the vehicle connected to the rv battery cables will allow power to the rv, just be sure to leave your vehicle running. Using the umbilical cord connected to the vehicle probably won't give enough except to possibly run the lights, but not likely the slides.

Oliver · 02-20-2021, 04:01 PM

Jim, that's a clever idea. Looks pretty handy too.

JimHanus · 02-20-2021, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelin texans

Or use a set of jumper cables from your running vehicle connected to the rv batteries. I think jumper cables would be even better on your back than the 20lb battery.

I wouldn't leave my truck sitting and idling for that long. If I chose to, I could just plug the trailer into the truck.

JimHanus · 02-20-2021, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by divey

This may be a dumb question (yes I know there is no such thing) but if the RV batteries are removed, can you not just hook your tow vehicle up to the RV power cord and have 12 volt power supplied to the trailer that way?

Yes you could, but I wouldn't want to keep my truck running for several hours at a time. It's just the way I chose to do it.

JimHanus · 02-20-2021, 05:40 PM

Just to clarify a few things: I did weigh the small battery and it's 11lbs.
The trailer is a small 18' with no slides. The wire is a short run of 10ga and I can safely put 20A through it. With my interior LED lights and the furnace running it only draws 10A. Like I mentioned, if I was spending an entire day in it I would just take one of the big batteries (125AH group 31). If the small battery ran out I could just hook it up in the trailer and plug it the truck to give it a boost.

**dagst1** · 02-20-2021, 05:49 PM

Sounds like you have a GOOD plan that works for you.

JimHanus · 02-20-2021, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagst1

Sounds like you have a GOOD plan that works for you.

Thanks!

Papa-T · 02-20-2021, 08:41 PM

Never seen that done, but looks like it would work for a short period of time. Do you remove the batteries due to possible theft or for what reason. Have you put a battery shut off switch on the batteries. That way it will disconnect the batteries and keep them from being drained and you don’t have to remove them. Here’s the one I purchased from Camping World and installed on mine.

JimHanus · 02-21-2021, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa-T

Never seen that done, but looks like it would work for a short period of time. Do you remove the batteries due to possible theft or for what reason. Have you put a battery shut off switch on the batteries. That way it will disconnect the batteries and keep them from being drained and you don’t have to remove them. Here’s the one I purchased from Camping World and installed on mine.

I do have an A-B cutoff switch, but I'm in Michigan and don't use the trailer for 6 months of the year, so I take the batteries home and keep them on a trickle charger.

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