Tow vehicle

Topic: Tow vehicle (Read 1674 times) previous topic - next topic

Tow vehicle

September 16, 2012, 05:21:20 pm

We tow a 07 Honda CRV. If we drive for an extended amount of time, 3-4 hours without stopping, the car battery often needs to be jump started. I had the battery checked, all is fine. I wonder what is draining the car battery?

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #1 – September 16, 2012, 05:24:58 pm

Have had same issue with a Honda Element until I realized I did not have everything turned off such as the radio. Since then no issue
Some disconnect the battery (-) terminal while towing
Dave M

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #2 – September 16, 2012, 05:28:49 pm

Greg,

Either disconnect the battery or run a charge line from the coach. If you want information on wiring a charge line, let us know.

Brett

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Reply #3 – September 16, 2012, 05:30:27 pm

I think disconnecting the battery is a quick an effective fix. Thanks.

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Reply #4 – September 16, 2012, 05:32:23 pm

Hi Dave, I see our coaches were made around the same time, if build number has anything to do with it.

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Reply #5 – September 16, 2012, 05:41:47 pm

Quote from: Greg and Viv – September 16, 2012, 05:30:27 pm

I think disconnecting the battery is a quick an effective fix.

Greg,

Quick and effective, yes, but it will be a hassle if you use the radio/clock in the car since it will have to be reset when you reconnect.

We use a 6-pin electrical hookup for our toad and it keeps the battery charged. If you don't have a 4-pin hookup the charge line Brett mentions is the way to go.

Michelle

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #6 – September 16, 2012, 05:43:46 pm

Do you use an auxillary braking system that plugs into the 12 V port? If so, disconnecting the neg battery cable won't be an option. If you don't have an auxillary brake in your CRV, you should give it serious consideration.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #7 – September 16, 2012, 05:51:51 pm

We currently use a 6 pin electrical cord with our blue ox. Is this suppose to also keep the battery charged?

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Reply #8 – September 16, 2012, 05:55:52 pm

Quote from: Greg and Viv – September 16, 2012, 05:51:51 pm

We currently use a 6 pin electrical cord with our blue ox. Is this suppose to also keep the battery charged?

No.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #9 – September 16, 2012, 06:17:19 pm

Quote from: Greg and Viv – September 16, 2012, 05:51:51 pm

We currently use a 6 pin electrical cord with our blue ox. Is this suppose to also keep the battery charged?

It depends on how the coach and car were wired when they were set up for towing. Since we use a US Gear brake in the car, the installer set it up with 12V going from coach to car to prevent battery drain.

-M

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #10 – September 16, 2012, 06:27:33 pm

Yes, with a 6 pin connector, the answer is it COULD have a charge wire. You will have to see how yours is wired.

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Reply #11 – September 16, 2012, 06:39:47 pm

Read your manual carefully. On my HHR you are required to pull a fuse to keep the battery from being depleted as the key is in acces. so the steering is free. I use a fuse switch instead of having to pull the fuse everytime. You should have the same setup. This also keeps the milage from running up while towing. Tks DAN

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Reply #12 – September 16, 2012, 06:46:00 pm

I'm curious. I have a 6-pin electrical connection that FOT installed on the towed last year. But they ran a separate charge wire that has to be connected each time along with the 6-pin connection. Any reason why FOT did not use the appropriate pin for 12V and instead ran another wire?

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #13 – September 16, 2012, 07:00:58 pm

We use Toad Charge (TOAD-CHARGE Dinghy Vehicle Battery Charger/Maintainer ) to keep our tow vehicle battery charged. Works great if we are traveling many days without disconnecting Jeep.

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Reply #14 – September 16, 2012, 09:18:16 pm

My Element regularly goes 8 hours and engine still starts

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Reply #15 – September 16, 2012, 09:21:08 pm

Quote

My Element regularly goes 8 hours and engine still starts

Same here with our 2004 Element. 120K miles (NIC towed miles).

best, paul

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Reply #16 – September 17, 2012, 12:49:42 am

Read the lights and fuse portion of this article and I think you will have your answer.

Outfitting a Honda CR-V for Flat Towing

Jim

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Reply #17 – September 17, 2012, 07:50:17 am

Just a note, you have an issue with phantom loads and discharging. I know my wrangler can be towed for 4 days straight with no issues but the newer ones had oe then the current couple model years removed the steering wheel lock. Maybe that is the way to go and remove the steering wheel lock.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #18 – September 18, 2012, 12:22:18 am

RE "remove the steering wheel lock".

On our 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, we removed the steering wheel lock, which allowed us to tow without ignition key.
Removed plastic collar trim around steering column. Opened up steering lock and removed spring and pin.

Also eliminated any accidental steering wheel lock-up while towing.

Our 2012 Jeep Grand does not have a factory steering wheel lock and does not need ignition to tow.

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Reply #19 – September 18, 2012, 07:56:20 am

Barry, what tow bar are you using with your 2012 Jeep? We just bought a 2013 grand Cherokee and currently use Blue Ox and will again with the new Jeep.

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Reply #20 – September 18, 2012, 08:55:01 am

Wow, a 2013 already? What model and choices did you buy?

I assume you are questioning our baseplate.

We had a Blue Ox baseplate on our 10-yr old 2002 Jeep Grand Limited and put another Blue Ox baseplate on our 2012 Jeep Grand Overland Summit. The 2002 baseplate was one piece of steel that bolted to left and right frame members. The 2012 is two separate pieces of steel that each bolt to a frame member without any BlueOx steel between them. The baseplate uses the strength of the Jeep OEM cross frame to keep the tow-bar connection solid. It has towed for 8 months just fine. We are using our same Blue Ox Aventa LX steel towbar that we used for many years. The tabs are a bit wider apart than our 2002.

We used Tow Daddy for wiring and it simplified connections and we did not have to cut any OEM wires. We are using a 7-way tow plug so we only have one cable plug for wiring, brakes & battery charging.

The electronic transfer case neutral is new to us, and works fine. It is easy to remove the keyless ignition button for towing. The jeep is awesome and loves sand and water.

We think that Blue Ox is the only baseplate to use because of the easy small removable tabs. I just don't understand why the Roadmaster bulky, leg banger, baseplate is used by so many.

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Reply #21 – September 18, 2012, 02:36:07 pm

We also have a 2013 grand cherokee on the way. This will be our fourth jeep to tow and have been happy with the blue ox base plates. Never had any battery problems towing up to four days without unhooking. Barry, glad to see the electronic neutral on the transfer case is working out. We will keep our 2005 liberty as well.

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Reply #22 – September 18, 2012, 02:55:48 pm

I bought a 2011 Chevy half ton ,4 by 4 last year . The electric neutral switch . Big time trouble with it .I have sat for hours waiting for it to switch to neutral so i could travel .Took it to Chevy dealer and nothing was found wrong .I got that thing home and it will never be towed again .Nice truck , looks good , runs good,but it will not hold back going down a grade worth a toot , so it is now my daily driver grocery getter etc .Wanted a manual lever transfer handle type , but GMC won't build that type any more . So i now have to tow my 2008 F-250 4by4 , no problems here ,towed it many miles , just weighs more . Brad Metzger

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Reply #23 – September 18, 2012, 03:42:55 pm

It appears that it's getting harder and harder to find a brand new vehicle that can be towed 4-down. I have decided that I want a Jeep (Wrangler, probably) for our towed once we actually get to the point of going off for extended periods. That's subject to the DW's ideas, of course, but so far she's on board.

Right now I'm lusting after a Rubicon.

Craig

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Reply #24 – September 18, 2012, 04:29:05 pm

Jeep Grand is our choice for a single car family as it tows great and is our most comfortable car to drive long distances that we have owned. And when driving on dirt roads, over rocks, on sand, steep climbing or crossing water we always comment glad we have this Jeep. And for $1,900 Chrysler has a factory lifetime bumper to bumper warranty option.

Not to mention its many safety features that automatically apply brakes if needed, beep if something is in front while driving, or next to us when changing lanes or behind or near us when backing up. Chrysler got it right with this model and I am sure the 2013 will be the same.

2012 Grand is about a thousand pounds heavier than our 2012 Jeep Grand. We also added Mopar rock rail sliders which add a few pounds. We are doing ok on mountains with our Cummins C8.3 engine, but 3rd gear is getting a little more use and 2nd gear has made sure we can climb anything. Our change to a new motorhome Aero muffler has probably helped.

To put transfer case in neutral for towing, pop out keyless ignition pushbutton, turn key-fob ignition on, foot on brake, transmission in neutral, push transfer case neutral button for a moment, confirming light stays on, remove key-fob, lock door.. Reverse procedure to drive car. We use a plastic window installer tool to pop pushbutton out and use an old-style hard plastic LCD stylus to push neutral button.

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