Why Does Battery for Trailer Jack Keep Dying

Question

Question:

We have a sundowner 4 horse trailer with equalizer hydraulic jack on the front. The trailer is over 5 years old and I doubt the TAP breakaway battery has ever been replace or tested. It seems that I have to keep charging the battery for the hydraulic Jack every few months it seems something is draining it down when its sitting. All of the lights, fans and switches for the trailer are off I dont know what keeps draining the battery? My question is this. If the Breakaway battery is bad will it keep draining the deep cycle battery that powers the hydraulic jack?

asked by: Brian

0

Expert Reply:

The breakaway battery would usually be maintained from the 12-volt circuit coming off the 7-way trailer connector. You can test the battery with a volt meter to see if it's still good. It's unlikely that the breakaway battery would deplete the battery for the trailer jack.

It's not unusual that you need to recharge the battery for the jack every once in awhile, because the power wire form the 7-way does NOT have enough grunt to recharge the battery once it's depleted. It can maintain a battery such as the break away battery, but once the trailer mounted battery is depleted the vehicle battery is too far away, the alternator isn't powerful enough and the wire feeding the 12-volt pin on the trailer connector is too small to deliver the kind of power necessary to charge that battery when it gets low. Therefore, it's not unusual at all that you'd need to recharge it using shore power from time to time.

expert reply by: Mike L

0

Answer 1

The TorkLift HiddenPower Under-Vehicle Battery Mount with Battery Box #TLA7730 or the TorkLift HiddenPower Under-Vehicle Battery Mount with Battery Box #TLA7726 are ideal for the mount style and location you need. If you want a metal box, then I…

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Answer 2

For your Bulldog Electric camper jack #BD500200 will run just fine off of any 12V battery. Often the trailers that use these jacks will have other components they will run as well like lighting, vent fans, etc so it is recommended to use a deep cycle…

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Answer 3

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 4

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 5

According to Blue Ox, it'll take an experienced installer about 4 to 5 hours to complete the installation of their #BX1128 Base Plate Kit on a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The install isn't what I'd call super-difficult, but the installation…

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Answer 6

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 7

Hi Paul, you’re definitely on the right track here, and I can help you narrow this down with confidence. With your tandem 3,500 lb Dexter axles and 33 inch spacing, both the Dexter EZ Flex part #K71-652-00 and the Lippert Road Armor part #LC53CK are…

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Answer 8

It sounds like you are speaking of the wires for the brake magnets. If this is correct, you will need to connect one of the wires to the brake controller output wire on your trailer connector and the other wire will need to be grounded to a clean…

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Answer 9

The #84 spindle is just a common way to identify the spindle dimensions typically used for 3,500 lb axles. So instead of listing out the parts, people can just say they have #84 spindles and it's easier to know what fits it. The CE Smith Trailer…

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Answer 10

Even though I cannot comment specifically on the grease you used because I am not familiar with it, I can tell you the best grease for trailer bearings is a a grease with a rating of GC-LB, which just means it is made to withstand very high…

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Answer 11

The 5.30-12 tires, being wider, are going to make more contact with the road. This means that the noise, and heat build up will be higher than a 4.80-12 tire but the rolling resistance will actually be less because the tire is larger diameter. The…

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Answer 12

The Demco Hydraulic Trailer Brake Actuator part #DM72VR should be a direct replacement for the Atwood 61101 Brake Actuator that you have now. This newest updated it rated at 7K instead of 6K. This is a bolt on option that mounts on 3" centers.…

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Why Does Battery for Trailer Jack Keep Dying

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