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10-26-2020, 11:52 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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Brake Buddy wiring
Upgraded toad recently. Blue Ox baseplate is being installed, including wiring harness for toad lights. Chevrolet says to not tow without removing negative battery cable. So, I need to supply power to Brake Buddy from MH. Anyone with experience or suggestions on this? Thanks in advance.
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10-26-2020, 11:59 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2020 Magnitude SV34
State: Florida
Posts: 4,154
THOR #12751
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You can run wires directly to the battery terminals and then run them to the Brake Buddy.
Your other options is to use the Auxiliary 12V pin on the trailer wiring connector.
Personally, I would run wires to the battery directly for the Brake Buddy and then wire up the Auxiliary 12V so the coach keeps the toad battery charged.
Or.....
You can take the easy way out an purchase a battery jump starter and just plug the Brake Buddy into it and just recharge it at night.
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10-27-2020, 12:21 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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Thanks Judge. I do have a battery jump start, I'm just trying to keep it clean and simple.
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10-27-2020, 12:23 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Model: 3719 Newmar
State: Arkansas
Posts: 656
THOR #14120
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanford
Upgraded toad recently. Blue Ox baseplate is being installed, including wiring harness for toad lights. Chevrolet says to not tow without removing negative battery cable. So, I need to supply power to Brake Buddy from MH. Anyone with experience or suggestions on this? Thanks in advance.
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I have a brake buddy and it gets power from the MH. I have a 2013 Ford Focus. The key is in the off position when towing. No need to disconnect the battery. Very easy and the Focus is about 2,900 lbs. I have the hatchback. My wife and I and the three Irish Settlers just fit.
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10-27-2020, 12:28 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,347
THOR #7035
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I just did this install on my wife's Chevy Colorado. I installed a remote battery disconnect which supplies power directly from the disconnected battery so you can wire it to a cigarette lighter receptacle for the braking system. Works great in the Colorado.
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Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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10-27-2020, 12:59 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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Jannnda, owner's manual clearly states not to flat tow without removing negative terminal. Apparently different from Focus. Thanks
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10-27-2020, 01:01 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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Thanks 16ACE 27. Would love to hear more. Any pics?
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10-27-2020, 01:04 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Model: 3719 Newmar
State: Arkansas
Posts: 656
THOR #14120
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanford
Jannnda, owner's manual clearly states not to flat tow without removing negative terminal. Apparently different from Focus. Thanks
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That’s why I got a used Focus. Very easy to flat tow and are really cheap to buy. I only use it as a toad. Looked at other cars but the Focus seemed to be the perfect fit for me.
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10-27-2020, 01:41 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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Jannnda, I understand, smart move.
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10-27-2020, 12:39 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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16ACE27, did you install the disconnect switch to the toad battery?
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10-27-2020, 12:55 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Model: 3719 Newmar
State: Arkansas
Posts: 656
THOR #14120
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanford
Jannnda, I understand, smart move.
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I have a friend that did a lot of research on cars/trucks that could be flat tow. Two years ago when I purchased my Hurricane 31Z I realized none of the cars I had could be flat towed. Being a newbie I thought I could tow one of the cars in my fleet. Boy was I wrong. Anyway. My friend suggested getting the lightest car that would fit my needs. He recommended the focus. And it’s been perfect. Not a car I would pick for my daily driver but works great as a toad.
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10-27-2020, 01:30 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,347
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanford
Thanks 16ACE 27. Would love to hear more. Any pics?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanford
16ACE27, did you install the disconnect switch to the toad battery?
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Yes, The disconnect is on the Toad (Colorado) battery. I'll try to get pics today.
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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10-27-2020, 01:53 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 35SF
State: Missouri
Posts: 738
THOR #2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jannnda
That’s why I got a used Focus. Very easy to flat tow and are really cheap to buy. I only use it as a toad. Looked at other cars but the Focus seemed to be the perfect fit for me.
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We had a 2015 Focus with manual transmission. Very simple to flat tow. We looked at the automatic at that point and it very clearly stated in the owners manual that the automatic required the battery to be disconnected. What year is your Focus?
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10-27-2020, 02:08 PM
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#14
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Magnitude SV34
State: Montana
Posts: 40
THOR #17100
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I too was concerned that the manual said to disconnect the negative terminal I use a brake buddy for my 2019 Canyon and it works fine.
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10-27-2020, 02:41 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Model: 3719 Newmar
State: Arkansas
Posts: 656
THOR #14120
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pstandiford
We had a 2015 Focus with manual transmission. Very simple to flat tow. We looked at the automatic at that point and it very clearly stated in the owners manual that the automatic required the battery to be disconnected. What year is your Focus?
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You are correct the 2015 with automatic required the battery disconnect. I have a 2013 SE (it had to be the SE) with automatic. I can’t remember if it was 2014 or 2015 when Ford changed it.
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10-27-2020, 09:55 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 16ACE27
Yes, The disconnect is on the Toad (Colorado) battery. I'll try to get pics today.
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Thanks
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10-27-2020, 10:43 PM
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#17
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,347
THOR #7035
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Pics of the Disconnect under the hood and the remote switch and power plug under the dash.
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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10-27-2020, 11:03 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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Nice job. Thanks
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10-31-2020, 06:32 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Alaska
Posts: 157
THOR #5332
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanford
Upgraded toad recently. Blue Ox baseplate is being installed, including wiring harness for toad lights. Chevrolet says to not tow without removing negative battery cable. So, I need to supply power to Brake Buddy from MH. Anyone with experience or suggestions on this? Thanks in advance.
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could you please state vehicle make and type.
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10-31-2020, 06:49 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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Chevrolet Colorado.
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