I have a 36' gooseneck enclosed car hauler. Trailer has a factory-installed car battery to power the winch, 12V lighting and hydraulic jack. Manufacturer also put one of those small batteries that come with breakaway kits on as well, but I don't care for how its setup since it appears to have no means to charge that battery when hooked to the truck.

From a safety/legal standpoint, is it ok just to use the 12V car battery in the trailer instead? The car battery also is wired to the +12V output of the harness so it is charged when the truck is running...

Thoughts?

 

I don't see why you couldn't. That's the way my camper is wired, no separate battery.

 

I believe dot states that it has to be its own independant battery source.

 

thats what I was worried about...didn't really make sense that the company would've added that battery for no apparent reason...guess I should retain the small breakaway battery and add one of those breakaway charging kits then...

Thanks

 

You don't need the extra battery if you already have one on the trailer itself. That statement about the independant battery source is refering to being independant from the tow vehicles battery. So it still has power if it breaks away. Every towable RV I've ever seen uses the onboard battery as the break-away power source. Toads use their battery as the power source as well. Since it's already installed, I'd be tempted to hook it to the trailer battery so it'd charge from the TV.

 

I concur. No need for two batteries and two charging systems.

 

Well that settles it then~!

chaikwa.

 

Are you stirring the pot?

 

No, not at all. Just giving credit where credit is due. A compliment!

chaikwa.

 

Why not just run a wire connecting the 2 batteries. That way you have the amps of both batteries put together. Both will charge and you have added capacity. That's what I would do if the battery is already there.

 

that little battery ain't adding anything compared to the capacity of a full-size car unit

 

Uh huh. lol

 

Breakaway braking requirements for trailers. Every trailer required to be equipped with brakes shall have brakes which apply automatically and immediately upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. With the exception of trailers having three or more axles, all brakes with which the trailer is required to be equipped must be applied upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. The brakes must remain in the applied position for at least 15 minutes.

Found this.