Solution for Vehicle Battery Draining When Flat Towed by Motorhome

Updated 03/19/2024 | Published 09/02/2020

Products Featured in This Question

Brake Buddy Classic 3 Portable Flat Tow Brake System - Preset

(249)

$1160.46

Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit for Towed Vehicles

(1201)

$42.86

Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit for Motorhomes

(140)

$67.45

Question:

After 3 days of flat towing our 2019 Cherokee Jeep 4x4 with our 2019 Coachman Mirada motor home from Florida to Rhode Island using a very old Brake buddy system,the jeep battery died,car would not start.Did charge the battery up with a very old charger so it did start.Looking on line at the Brake buddy classic 3,item HM39494 which has the car battery charger built in.At present the mirada does not have the 12 volt charge line on the 7 pin connector which connects the mirada to the car for the tail lights.The Mirada is a model 34BHF.I did call the coachman cust service dept and they did say that model did not include that option. Would I need that 12 volt line for the battery charger to function in the classic 3?What are my options? For the return trip I plan on connecting the very old Brake buddy system to a 12 battery that we take back with us to keep charged up in Florida for the next 8 months.The 12 volt battery is not connected to any charger so I expect it to dye by the time we get home.

asked by: Richard J

Helpful Expert Reply:

It's pretty common for vehicle batteries to die when the vehicle is being flat towed since the braking system typically draws it's power from the towed vehicle to activate. This is a problem for nearly all systems including the Brake Buddy Classic but we do have a solution for this with a battery charge line kit # RM-156-75 which will complete the circuit on your tow vehicle so the charge line of the Brake Buddy will be active.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Ben

3/18/2024

When the vehicle dies will it cause any damage to continue driving or should I stop and recharge the battery each time it dies?

Jameson C.

3/19/2024

@Ben The only issue you may have is if you are using a supplemental braking system that draws power from the vehicle battery to operate. Once it dies the braking will stop. Aside from that it does not damage the vehicle.