I just bought a 24' travel trailer, used. I just found out that the truck has power to the trailer. Never needed this before on a utility trailer. Now, my question is does the hot lead on the hitch plug stay hot all the time or is it supposed to go off with the key? The guy at the camper store couldn't remember how dodges where set up. Is this feature supposed to charge the trailer battery? Does this over work the trucks charging system? I dont want to forget to unhook the truck from the trailer while camping and find a dead truck battery! Thanks for any help.

 

It's hot all the time.<br><br>If you want to check just take a test light and touch the connectors till you find the one that lights up. That one would be the constant hot wire. I use mine run the loading lights on my big goose neck trailer, and to charge the batteries on my TT.<br><br>DB

 

Mines hot all the time too....they are wired like this mosty for interior lights in trailers....its a fused circuit for protection and with 2 batterys you shouldn't worry about your CTD batterys going dead unless your camper is wired wrong most campers have a battery for camper power that recharged from the inverter and not your truck batterys

 

Yes the hot lead does charge your trailer house batteries.<br>The system is designed to trickle charge the trailer while you are driving. The bad news is that if you run down your trailer battery during the evening you will draw down your truck batteries if you leave the trailer plug into the truck...<br> For more information on this check out the link below<br>http://www.hellroaring.com/rv.htm

 

A battery isolator is not a bad idea. Motorhomes use isolators. <br><br>The cheap way to do it is go to an RV supplier such as Camping World and ask for an isolator for a motorhome. They look like the old fashioned starter relays. They will typically have two types: one has three connectors - line in, line out, and activator - - the other will have a built in fuse link. <br><br>The idea is to break your hot line to the trailer and place the isolator in series at the break. Then, wire the third connector (activator) to some spot that comes hot when the ignition is turned on. The trailer batteries will only be connected to your truck batteries when the ignition is on, hence no surprise when you try and start your truck after leaving the trailer hooked up. <br><br>The simple switch only runs about $15 and can be mounted on the fender wall under the hood or under the truck close to the engine compartment. As far as I know, all our trucks are fused on the charge wire to the trailer so the simple one is really all you need. Some people add an inline fuse at the rear of the truck to protect against the possibility of damage to the wiring under the truck. Might be overkill!!<br><br>Bob

 

Definatly hot all the time as others have stated. I just unplug the trailer when I get to the camping spot.<br><br>Say Katoom, are you a fellow Orangeman ???? If so, what's your pleasure ? 520 EXC here - most fun on 2 wheels I've ever been on ;D !!! A close second goes to my Rally adventure D.S. ;D ;D<br><br>MisterKTM

 

My understanding is that the always-hot lead on the trailer is for charging the emergency brake battery (with electric brakes). I suppose it could be used for other things, but I think that's what it was put in there for.<br><br>Chris

 

Why yes I am a fellow KTM rider! And I love my LC4 640. With a pipe and some mild tweeking, this bike will smoke any dirt bike I have come across. In an open space that is. Its a little big to be whipping it around in the tight stuff but give it some room, twist the throttle and hold on!!!

 

Your trailer plug should be wired like this link shows<br><br>http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1996/08-33-96.htm

 

[quote author=pappyman link=board=11;threadid=11182;start=0#107929 date=1046005315]<br>Your trailer plug should be wired like this link shows<br><br>http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1996/08-33-96.htm<br>[/quote]<br><br>The location of B+ is current on 02's. When you open the little door of the connector, it's at the the one o'clock position.

 

Katoom - 640 LC4 is a fantastic do-it-all bike- I had an '02 for a short while. (lost in divorce :) <br><br>My rally has the same motor - but of course has the BIG gas tank and dash etc. great bike - but a little more road oriented than your 640. <br><br>Welcome to the site - good to have a fellow pumpkin head ;D