Battery for power tongue jack
#1
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Brookfield, Wi.
Well, after wanting a power tongue jack for several years, I finally broke down and bought one. I was just wondering what I need for a battery to power it? Can I get by with a garden tractor battery, or do I have to step up to a deep cycle? I’m planning on mounting it in my tool box, so I would rather not go larger than need be. It will probably go for long periods of time without being used, or charged behind a tow vehicle. I guess I probably answered my own question!🙄
#2
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,359
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From: Indianapolis, IN/ Punta Gorda, FL
Well, after wanting a power tongue jack for several years, I finally broke down and bought one. I was just wondering what I need for a battery to power it? Can I get by with a garden tractor battery, or do I have to step up to a deep cycle? I’m planning on mounting it in my tool box, so I would rather not go larger than need be. It will probably go for long periods of time without being used, or charged behind a tow vehicle. I guess I probably answered my own question!🙄
#4
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Brookfield, Wi.
Yeah, I should probably just run a group 24 deep cycle battery. Trailer’s stored indoors, so a solar charger won’t work. If it ever got too low to operate, I could also use a jump pack.
#5
You could put a solar charger in the window, and run a cord to it. Or if there is power, you can buy a small trickle charger for it. There are some products out there that the high end car folks use to hide a little quick disconnect above the license plate of the car or whatever to keep the battery topped off.
I've also seen some folks put a separate 7-way plug on the trailer, wired with just hot and ground, and plug that into the vehicle when you want to run the tongue jack. You could also make a quick pigtail with a female 7-way to connect to a jump box when needed. Solid thing about such is you do not ever have to worry about a switch malfunction when towing, extending the tongue jack when you are towing. (Rare, but I've heard of it happening.)
IIRC, you have surge brakes, not EoH brakes. This might be a good opportunity to upgrade to EoH if not, as the proper way to run such is with a battery that will engage the brakes if the trailer breaks away from the tow vehicle.
#6
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,705
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From: Cedar Rapids Iowa, LOTO, Cape Coral Fl.
My Excursion has a battery cable going back to the hitch area. With a flip of a switch inside, I have 12v power. The best part about this is that I do not have to worry about maintaining a battery on the trailer. Bad part is that is would be a pain for anybody else to tow the boat. Thinking about it, I guess that could aid in security when storing as there would be no power.
#7
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 957
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From: Brookfield, Wi.
Are you close enough to a window, or is their power where you store it?
You could put a solar charger in the window, and run a cord to it. Or if there is power, you can buy a small trickle charger for it. There are some products out there that the high end car folks use to hide a little quick disconnect above the license plate of the car or whatever to keep the battery topped off.
I've also seen some folks put a separate 7-way plug on the trailer, wired with just hot and ground, and plug that into the vehicle when you want to run the tongue jack. You could also make a quick pigtail with a female 7-way to connect to a jump box when needed. Solid thing about such is you do not ever have to worry about a switch malfunction when towing, extending the tongue jack when you are towing. (Rare, but I've heard of it happening.)
IIRC, you have surge brakes, not EoH brakes. This might be a good opportunity to upgrade to EoH if not, as the proper way to run such is with a battery that will engage the brakes if the trailer breaks away from the tow vehicle.
You could put a solar charger in the window, and run a cord to it. Or if there is power, you can buy a small trickle charger for it. There are some products out there that the high end car folks use to hide a little quick disconnect above the license plate of the car or whatever to keep the battery topped off.
I've also seen some folks put a separate 7-way plug on the trailer, wired with just hot and ground, and plug that into the vehicle when you want to run the tongue jack. You could also make a quick pigtail with a female 7-way to connect to a jump box when needed. Solid thing about such is you do not ever have to worry about a switch malfunction when towing, extending the tongue jack when you are towing. (Rare, but I've heard of it happening.)
IIRC, you have surge brakes, not EoH brakes. This might be a good opportunity to upgrade to EoH if not, as the proper way to run such is with a battery that will engage the brakes if the trailer breaks away from the tow vehicle.




