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01-20-2011, 12:53 PM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Weldon Spring
, Missouri
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 463
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Question for our hitch experts:
During periods of extended travel (days/weeks), can hitch remain connected (including w/d bars) without causing harm to any component involved?
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01-20-2011, 01:11 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fmrcaptevil
During periods of extended travel (days/weeks), can hitch remain connected (including w/d bars) without causing harm to any component involved?
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I see no reason why not, as long as everything is hooked up within specs in the first place.
I routinely leave mine hooked up during multi day cross country trips.
At times I slacken the WD bars and use the tongue jack to level for and aft.
Ken
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01-20-2011, 01:16 PM
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#3
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Wise Elder
2010 30' Classic
Vintage Kin Owner
South of the river
, Minnesota
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,169
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Yes.
The bars will not be damaged by remaining flexed.
Over a period of many months or more, regular maintenance, particularly lubrication, would be something to consider.
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01-20-2011, 01:17 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
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I agree. But I disconnect the umbillical. Sal.
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
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01-20-2011, 01:28 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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Quote:
Originally Posted by noreen
I agree. But I disconnect the umbillical. Sal.
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I do also, especially when not hooked up to shore power. I don't want to drain the TV batteries as well as the trailer batteries.
However I am assuming that if the trailer was plugged into shore power and the umbilical was left in, the converter would maintain the charge on the TV battery as well as the trailer battery as long as there was not a battery isolator in the circuit. Is that correct?
Ken
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01-20-2011, 01:39 PM
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#6
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Chief Chili Cook
2010 30' Flying Cloud
Bakersfield
, California
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 738
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Most vehicles produced for a good while now have a relay on at least the 12v feed for the 7-way. When you turn off the key, that line is disconnected from the vehicles electrical system. So no battery drain or charging from 7 way connector. To be sure though, check your 7 way with a voltmeter when the key is off.
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01-20-2011, 02:36 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Weldon Spring
, Missouri
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 463
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Thanks, guys.
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01-20-2011, 04:22 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
St. Cloud
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,280
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Quote:
Originally Posted by noreen
I agree. But I disconnect the umbillical. Sal.
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Totally onboard with this. Stress vs strain (stress does not alter the physical characteristics of the spring bars).
Modern vehicles are supposed to have a diode to prevent night-time flow from truck to trailer. But in my memory Foiled Again has woken up to a dead tow vehicle by leaving them hooked up.
Unhook the umbilical at night just to be safe. I do.
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01-20-2011, 06:47 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2020 30' Classic
Derwood
, Maryland
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,515
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Concur, but I too would disconnect the umbilical so not to drain the auto battery...
__________________
John "JFScheck" Scheck
2020 30’ Airstream Classic
**I Love U.S.A.**
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01-22-2011, 02:15 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newroswell
Most vehicles produced for a good while now have a relay on at least the 12v feed for the 7-way. When you turn off the key, that line is disconnected from the vehicles electrical system. So no battery drain or charging from 7 way connector. To be sure though, check your 7 way with a voltmeter when the key is off.
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None that I have ever used. I frequently go to the storage lot, no batteries in the AS, no shore power. I plug in the umbilical so I will have lighting to perform some project. Keys are in my pocket. Charge line to trailer is hot at all times.
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