Trailer Battery Question

GDSQDCR

Adventurer
I am a lurker and have enjoyed reading all you gals/guys do to make these awesome trailers. I am not so talented.

I bought a Lifetime Tent Trailer, current model, and have used it extensively for utility purposes to date. The time is coming where we are heading to Joshua Tree National in April and then Mount Rushmore in June. I have replaced the anemic 12 inch tires and have a #3500 axle in route. The axle is for the utility not camping. What I would like though is to have power to the trailer. All I want are lights interior/exterior of the tent How would I do that? I believe I need a battery, and it has to be charged through my 4 pin (or do I change it to 7) from the tow rig.

I have searched these forums and see lots of folks who have done it, but not instructions on how to ... Any advice, help would be appreciated.

FYI, the tow rig is nothing spectacular ... 2004 GMC Sierra Crew Cab Z71. It goes off road, fire trails, field work, snow work, but no rock crawling.

Thanks!
Anthony
 

exploreFL

Observer
A battery should suffice, I just purchased a pop up camper and the battery powers the lights interior and exterior, as well as the furnace blower etc. My understanding is you need the 7 pin to trickle charge from the tow vehicle. As for instructions, I am of no help as it was already done for me! Good luck.
 

jeffjeeptj

Adventurer
Reccomend you get an AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery. These do not give off fumes and are liquid tight. I use Odyssey(Sears Platinum), but others will chime in with other brand recomendations. You cannot have too big of a battery, only too small. Your tow vehicle should be set up with a 7 way connector, or it is easy to do. The 4 pin you mention will not charge the batt in the trailer. I prefer using a LARGE wire, from the tow vehicle battery direct to the trailer, thru a fuse located near the tow vehicle battery. As the prior poster mentioned, the 7 way will work. I prefer to use Anderson Connections

Look at the 12V power section of this forum, further down( http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forums/48-Power-Systems-12v-Solar-Gen ). If you read through some of those threads you will get the idea. Remember, USE A FUSE for the loads in the trailer, too. If it "blows", there is most likely something not hooked up properly. The fuse is the safety net, to keep the main wires from melting.
 

GDSQDCR

Adventurer
Thanks for the guidance. I will go look at the 12V forums, as well as the build thread directly linked here.

The truck does has a 7-pin, required when I tow the 10k trailer behind it!

Anthony
 

TheThom

Adventurer
I hope it's OK to link to other forums, but these are the best the best summaries I've found

Terrific, simple wiring diagrams here

Info on wire sizes, fuses, etc here


Hope it helps

Thom
 

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