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Topic ClosedCharging battery while connected to tow vehicle
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Charging battery while connected to tow vehicle
    Posted: 20 Sep 2020 at 8:37pm
I wold hope so. If you have not already purchased a brake controller, make sure you get a proportional controller and not a time delay controller. The proportional one will apply the trailer brakes in proportion as needed to match the rate the tow vehicle is slowing. Time delay just starts out and builds the braking force without consideration of how much braking force the tow vehicle is using. Time Delay controllers are as one might expect, cheaper. Proportional ones are more expensive, but you do get what you pay for. Don't let them talk you into a time delay one.

Ones to consider: Tekonsha Prodigy P3; Tekonsha Prodigy P2/ Hopkins InSIGHT Flex-Mount (the one I have), Redarc Tow-Pro Elite (can be mounted with only a small control button visible); or Curt Spectrum (similar to Redarc with only small control knob visible). There are others, but take a look at these on etrailer.com and read up on them before you let the U-Haul dealer talk you into something that you would find inadequate later on.
StephenH
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BMac12345 View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2020 at 8:07pm
Thanks for the info, all! I’m going to discuss this with U-Haul tomorrow. Think they would know about this stuff and how to handle it all? I wouldn’t trust myself to do it.
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2020 at 7:49pm
You can't bank on Lexus thinking you would be towing a trailer that required a 7-pin connector to operate electric brakes. I had a 2016 Ford Escape SE with factory installed tow package. It came with a 2" receiver, but only  a 4 pin connector like your Lexus has. In order to add the brake controller, I had to purchase a wiring kit from eTrailer to add the missing 7-pin connector myself along with the required wiring for the brake and 12v power.

Looking on the Lexus site, the towing prep package includes things like heavy-duty radiator and cooling fan plus oil and transmission coolers. It says nothing about heavy-duty alternator or wiring for trailer brake system. Etrailer says that without the 7-way, you need this kit to install a brake controller:

Without a brake controller, you run the risk of an accident. Please install one. If the trailer comes with electric brakes, and the RPods do, you are required to have them operational, especially since the weight of a loaded RPod is most likely to exceed 3,000 lbs. Don't tow without a working controller please. There are wireless ones now that make installing a controller easier, but that does not eliminate the need for a 7-way connector.
StephenH
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2020 at 7:47pm
Originally posted by BMac12345

A couple friends of ours told us yesterday that with just four wires, there is no way there would be power to the Rpod battery. The four wires would only control the lights on the trailer. This didn’t seem to be the case the last time we towed the Rpod. Regarding the electric brakes, I’m not sure the answer. My assumption was Lexus knew what they were doing installing the tow hitch, and the Rpod manufacturer knew what they were doing understanding that not all wiring connections will be supported by every car manufacturer. Incorrect assumption? Possibly. But I wouldn’t know what to do in order to cram 7 connections from the Rpod into just 4 on the car. Suggestions?

Yep, incorrect assumption. If you don't have a brake controller you need one. You can buy one and install it yourself if you feel comfortable, or have an RV or trailer place do it. They will install a 7 way connector on the Lexus at the same time, and you'll be good to go for both charging and brakes. If you decide to do it yourself I recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2. Does everything you need it to without a lot of frills. 
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fwunder View Drop Down
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Posts: 1676 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2020 at 7:22pm
Old thread...but...

Some vehicles like my 4Runner only charge when lights are on. Weird, huh?


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BMac12345 View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2020 at 7:03pm
A couple friends of ours told us yesterday that with just four wires, there is no way there would be power to the Rpod battery. The four wires would only control the lights on the trailer. This didn’t seem to be the case the last time we towed the Rpod. Regarding the electric brakes, I’m not sure the answer. My assumption was Lexus knew what they were doing installing the tow hitch, and the Rpod manufacturer knew what they were doing understanding that not all wiring connections will be supported by every car manufacturer. Incorrect assumption? Possibly. But I wouldn’t know what to do in order to cram 7 connections from the Rpod into just 4 on the car. Suggestions?
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2020 at 6:26pm
There is no charge converter joining the two vehicles. When you are towing the alternator in your tow vehicle is charging both your TV and trailer batteries. The two batteries are connected in parallel by the 7 way connector. When camping, you should disconnect the connector so that you don't discharge the tow vehicle battery into your trailer loads. Otherwise you could end up with a dead battery in the TV at some point. 

To clarify one thing, do you have a brake controller in the Lexus? A flat 4 connector doesn't provide an output to control the electric brakes.  You need to have that in order to legally and safely tow a trailer the weight of ab rpod. 
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BMac12345 View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2020 at 5:57pm
We did our first dry camping adventure two weekends ago, and the battery go down to around 1/3 by the end of the two days. By the time we got home, the battery was fully charged. The 2018 Rpod 178 has a 7-pin connector, and the 2011 Lexus RX450h has a 4-pin connector, and there’s obviously some converter we got that joins the two. So apparently the car recharges the Rpod battery while driving? Or while connected but not driving? Irritating that the owner’s manual seems to mention none of this.
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Craneman View Drop Down
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Posts: 387 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2017 at 10:44pm
With the vehicle running check your battery on the pod ,with a  VOM it should read around 13.8 volts, if it reads only 12 volts it's not charging.    
         Moe
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Posts: 8 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2017 at 10:33pm
How can I check if my tv is charging the ttt battery?
Roger
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