Is battery needed to tow

[purplesuebug]

Okay.............laugh you oldtimers, laugh!!!! I've made an appointment for my annual maintainance to be done next week and need to haul our TT to Stoltzfus about 10 miles away. Now my question to you experts.........do I need to install my battery. I am asking because I know the truck charges my battery as we drive but don't know whether this will hurt anything as we drive without the battery. Thanks in advance..............Marshall

[Steve Collins]

Originally Posted by purplesuebug

Okay.............laugh you oldtimers, laugh!!!! I've made an appointment for my annual maintainance to be done next week and need to haul our TT to Stoltzfus about 10 miles away. Now my question to you experts.........do I need to install my battery. I am asking because I know the truck charges my battery as we drive but don't know whether this will hurt anything as we drive without the battery. Thanks in advance..............Marshall

Marshall,

You are OK as far as the electrical system to tow without the battery.

BUT! (You knew there was one... ) Your emergency breakaway system won't work without the coach battery installed and functional. For a short hop like you are planning, you might be OK to not bother with the battery, but I wanted you to know the risk.

Personally, I probably would put the battery in as the rig is going in for annual maintenance. The shop will probably want/need it installed to service some of the systems.

[JohnB]

Marshall

You have a battery disconnect switch on your newer Sunline. This being turned off and no battery installed is "close" to the same thing if your is wired like my 2004. I say close for 1 exception.

Yes the TT lights will work off the truck, brakes lights and the brake when you press the foot pedal and no battery in the TT or the disconnect switch turned off.

However what will not work is the emergency break away switch. This is wired ahead of the disconnect switch right to the battery. So if you come uncoupled, the 7 wire cord yanked, there is no power to the breakaway switch to stop the TT.

Also if you move the TT around with no battery even in your own yard, tape up the hot wire (red in most cases) on the battery leads so it will not touch the TT ground or frame. If it touches the frame, no battery and you press the brakes on the TV connected to the TT, the battery hot wire will become hot backwards thru the breakaway switch and can pop the fuse in the truck on the brake controller for a dead short.

I do move my TT around in the yard here to work on it with no battery. I just tape up the hot lead.

So will it work towing down the road with no battery?

Yes, and tape the hot lead.
You will not have any emergency breakaway brakes.
If you are fortune enough to get stopped by a trooper, and he is wise enough on towing, having no battery installed may present a situation as you have no emergency break away brakes. I know some states give out tickets for not having a physical breakaway switch on electric brakes, but do not know about having one and not having a battery installed.

I know, now you have a choice to make. Hope this helps you with what to do.

John


PS. I know you where joking, but there is no need to laugh here on someone asking a question. Especially on Sunline Club. If someone does not know, ask. We are a good group and try to answer the best we can.

[JohnB]

OK Steve types faster.... or a lot less I know I can be wordy.

Seems we both where typing at the same time.

Good luck

[purplesuebug]

Thanks guys................I knew I could count on you for the answer. Marshall

[Sunline Fan]

I personally wouldn't want to leave the battery on it while at the dealer anyway this time of year. With the temps getting so cold, the battery could freeze if not plugged in and left outside for a number of days. I'm sure Stoltzfus has plenty of batteries around there that they could use, if they need one.

Jon

[Al in PA]

Marshall:

If your annual maintenance includes PA state inspection, your breakaway switch has to work to pass inspection. In this case, you would want to install your battery.

[Mooney]

Actually, this was a really good question- thanks for reminding me to get my battery from it's storage and charge it up before it goes to the shop next Friday! (charging now...) Going through RI to get where it's going- the laws down there actually make sense (I STILL can't believe that you can tow up to 10K in Massachusetts wihtout trailer brakes- they regulate the he77 out of everything else, but not this?????), and I don't like to circumvent road regs....

[kanyonkitty]

Trailer Inspections? Oh that is funny, at least here in this area of WV where I live. First, let me say that inpsections are performed by garages, body shops, and stealers(oops dealers). Back in 1996 I took a Sunny to local garage (not RV place) to have it inspected. Told them what I was there for, and they had this stupid look on their face. They asked me if I knew what they were supposed to inspect. I think they looked at both tires, asked me to hit the brakes, and turn on the lights, and they put a sticker on the trailer. BUT, they asked me "WHERE" the sticker was supposed to be placed. The '06 T-2499 was inspected at Stoltzfus in July '05 when I picked it up, and it STILL bears that inspection sticker. Don't get me wrong, my trailer does get inspected, once, sometimes twice a year by the one bus mechanic that maintains Sunny for me, and he is a certified state inspector. I just don't have a sticker, other than the PA one that came on Sunny. Figured, "IF" I ever get stopped and asked about it, I'd play the "dumb blonde" routine, HUH, I need to have it inspected geesh, DMV never told me it needed to be inspected when I put tags on it. Plus hope for a little proffessional courtesy since son is K-9 police officer.

Kitty