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Topic ClosedCharging battery while connected to tow vehicle

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fwunder View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Charging battery while connected to tow vehicle
    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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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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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.
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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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Direct Link To This Post 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.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2020 at 5:39am
I would be inclined to go somewhere else if you've been to uhaul already and they didn't get you set up right. Uhaul places are hit or miss in their expertise and focus on that part of their business. Many are just rental locations with some trucks and trailers on a lot. 

Regardless of who you have put it in, you as the driver need to understand what a brake controller does and how to set it up properly and confirm it and your trailer brakes are working as they should. Its not hard, just part of what you need to know to tow safely. So, after you get your rig back from whoever, get out the manual, go to a big empty parking lot and do the set up and test procedure yourself before your next trip. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Sep 2020 at 11:12am
The parts have been obtained and taken to Lexus. Lexus "is not allowed to install" something that will assist with braking because that would encourage/allow Lexus owners of this vehicle to tow something greater than 3500 pounds, which is the maximum towing capacity of this vehicle. Lexus specifically said this equipment is not required to tow a vehicle 3500 pounds or less, so they wouldn't install it. Interesting.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Sep 2020 at 1:02pm
For the record, I agree with Lexus, the trailer you have is too heavy for a 3500 lb rated tow vehicle. 

That being said, you should be able to have any trailer shop install a brake controller for you if you want to proceed, its not difficult. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Sep 2020 at 4:07pm
+1 to Offgrid, vehicle is not right.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Sep 2020 at 7:04pm
Lexus is giving you wrong information. If the vehicle is rated to 3500, the law requires brakes to be working if they are on the trailer. In NC, a house trailer (I read that to include camping trailers) of 1,000 lbs or more is legally required to have brakes controlled by the driver of the tow vehicle. Other states say that any trailer over 3,000 lbs must have brakes. That includes Washington. If Lexus gives the vehicle a 3500 lb tow rating, and if the law states trailers over 3000 lbs requires brakes, then Lexus needs to install a brake controller.

Now, I do agree that the Lexus is marginal for the task though. You would be better served with a vehicle of higher tow capacity.
StephenH
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