Should 2025 Ford Ranger XLT Have Charge Line While Flat Towing

Updated 05/23/2026 | Published 05/19/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit for Towed Vehicles

(1350)

$42.90

Roadmaster Smart Diode Kit for Variable Voltage LED Tail Lights - 7-Way to 6-Way Adapter Cord

(337)

$267.96

Question:

This is a long one, and there are a couple of key questions embedded in here, but what Im really trying to understand is whether or not I should be worried about charging my TOAD vehicle battery while I flat tow or not. I have a 2025 Ford Ranger XLT, that is pulled by a 2022 Forest River Forester 2861DC Class C, and I had a Roadmaster tow bar and harness installed on my truck. I have a BlueOx proportional portable brake system and they installed a dedicated plug under the dash which is connected directly to my RV 12V line so the brake controller is powered by the RV, not the truck. My question is, if I wanted to also charge my truck battery while Im driving, does the standard RV 12V line provide enough power to connect the 12V line to my truck battery, and then go from the truck battery to the brake controller? Or am I running the risk of overloading the 12V RV plug? Worse yet, am I running a bigger risk of draining the truck battery in this situation? Seems to me that having the brake controller direct to the RV and the truck in the off position while being towed truck in neutral so cant turn the key all the way to be able to remove it, so its just in the off position the truck battery shouldnt discharge, but Ive read that they do discharge and you run the risk of the truck leaving tow mode when the battery runs down. What would be draining the battery in the off position if the brake controller is powered by the RV? Im just trying to understand the situation and make sense of what Im reading on line, and whether or not I really need to charge the truck battery.

asked by: Ken G

Expert Reply:

Hey Ken! The battery drain issue on your 2025 Ranger comes from the truck itself, not your Blue Ox Patriot. Some of the vehicle electronics remain active while flat towing which slowly drains your battery. Since your brake system is already powered by the RV, you’ve eliminated one of the larger power draws, but Ford recommends a charge line on these trucks.

Your RV’s 12V charge line is normally capable of maintaining the Ranger battery and powering the brake system at the same time, so overloading the circuit is not a concern. I do recommend adding the Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit # RM-156-25 to keep the Ranger battery charged while towing. You definitely don't want to arrive after a long drive and find your truck battery is dead.

What kind of RV do you have?

expert reply by: Robin H

Charge Line Kit
(click to enlarge)

Ken G.

5/21/2026

Thank you for the insight. I have a Forest River Forester 2861DS class C.

Robin H.

5/21/2026

@KenG you're welcome! Did you ever sort out the wiring? I saw your old question in there, seems to have been lost and never sent to any of us to answer. If you're still looking for a solution one of the Roadmaster Smart Diode Kits # RM38FR should take care of it since they're designed for variable voltage lights like yours.

Keng

5/21/2026

@RobinH. The light kit does not work. The tech I was working with spent many hours with Roadmaster techs and they do not have a solution for the 2025 Ranger XLT. That is why I was surprised to see it say on your site that it worked for my truck. It does not. If there is a solution that has been proven to work and you have a wiring diagram that supports it, let me know so I can let my tech know. But as of a month ago Roadmaster told him they don’t have a solution yet for my 2025 Ranger.

Robin H.

5/21/2026

@Keng that's frustrating, and unfortunate. First I've heard of it and the Ranger isn't an obscure vehicle. Roadmaster still has it on their site that way, feels more like something the installer did but I can't really say for sure. If they couldn't figure it out between the two of them then yeah I'd go ahead with the universal LED strips and be done with it.

Edward C.

5/22/2026

I installed this charging kit on our Chevy Equinox with very little trouble and have been very satisfied with the results. Our toad would virtually drain the battery on an 8/9 hour drive because of the electronics that remain on even when the car is turned off.

Sereita S.

5/23/2026

I tow a 2016 Ford Taurus all 4 down. It was such a pain to stop every couple hours to start and if I couldn’t stop the battery would be dead. I had to carry a charge box. I researched this kit, purchased, and had it installed. Works great! Charges while driving the RV. Worth every penny (especially for me.