Camping w/o battery
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13757
Printed Date: 14 May 2025 at 11:34pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Camping w/o battery
Posted By: Nomad2
Subject: Camping w/o battery
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2020 at 11:56am
|
Is it safe to plug into shore power and operate without having a battery installed? Appreciate your help. ------------- Gary & Julie 2016 Rpod 179 2010 Toyota Highlander |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2020 at 12:21pm
|
Only if you are sure that the positive cable for the battery will not contact the frame. You would have some fireworks if it did. However, it is better to have a battery.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2020 at 4:38pm
| It would also be very unsafe, and in most jurisdictions, illegal to tow without a battery installed. |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2020 at 4:55pm
|
furpod is, of course, referring to the battery operated electric brakes during a break-away event. If there is no battery, those brakes wont activate during an accidental separation. ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2020 at 6:04pm
|
+ 1 to furpod ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2020 at 6:14pm
|
Wondering why you would want to do this? Aside from the towing issue, which is a big deal. If you are not properly equipped, if you lose shore power, you're in a hard sided tent. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2020 at 8:32am
|
The converter is able to provide the 12V electrical requirements of the trailer if you are plugged in and there is no battery. The batteries are a dealer installed option. Towing laws in many but not all states do require breakaway brakes. The language about how long they need to stay energized varies. Some say an "adequate period of time". MD says 15 minutes. I didn't check every state. Your brakes take about 12A so 15 minutes would be only 4 amphours. So, if you were always camping on hookups and wanted the smallest possible battery and the minimum legal breakaway brake function say for MD a little bitty motorcycle battery would do. After you lose your trailer do remember to put chocks under the wheels before you get distracted trying to explain what happened to the highway patrol though.  ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |