Battery isolation switch/ Atwood Tongue Jack - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Maintenance, Winterizing and Routine Care
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 10-22-2017, 05:06 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2016 19 / Toyota 4Runner 2019
Posts: 343
Battery isolation switch/ Atwood Tongue Jack

Just tucking my 19 away for the winter and charged the batteries up to full before isolating them for the winter. I checked after throwing the switch and nothing 12V is working inside the trailer but the tongue jack still works. Is this normal?
__________________
Hugh
hughharden is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2017, 05:30 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
I'll say it's normal, I know my front jacks on the 5.0TA still work with the 12v switch off.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2017, 05:32 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2016 19 / Toyota 4Runner 2019
Posts: 343
front jack

Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin View Post
I'll say it's normal, I know my front jacks on the 5.0TA still work with the 12v switch off.
Good to know I will pull a fuse to disable it I guess.
__________________
Hugh
hughharden is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2017, 11:46 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 17b - 2017 model
Posts: 334
Quote:
Originally Posted by hughharden View Post
Good to know I will pull a fuse to disable it I guess.
I don't have an electrical tongue jack, but I would suspect that you don't need to remove the fuse. If the tongue jack switch is mechanical, and disconnects the unit entirely, which seems likely, then there should be no parasitic draw when the switch isn't being pushed. You can check with an ammeter.

Incidentally, the terminal on the exterior junction box that I suspect is being used to power the tongue jack is also used to power the breakaway switch, but that doesn't need to be disconnected either because it doesn't transmit any electricity in its normal position.
paulk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2017, 08:56 PM   #5
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by hughharden View Post
Just tucking my 19 away for the winter and charged the batteries up to full before isolating them for the winter. I checked after throwing the switch and nothing 12V is working inside the trailer but the tongue jack still works. Is this normal?
Hugh, I'm guessing they wired the power jack similar to what I did - directly to the batteries. It was just an easy way to do it on the 19 because of the battery location, and didn't require any additional wire besides the one coming off the jack.

As Paul mentioned, there's no need to disable it - zero draw unless it's on.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2017, 04:35 PM   #6
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Sauk Centre, Minnesota
Trailer: 2015 Escape 21
Posts: 24
Quote:
Originally Posted by hughharden View Post
Just tucking my 19 away for the winter and charged the batteries up to full before isolating them for the winter. I checked after throwing the switch and nothing 12V is working inside the trailer but the tongue jack still works. Is this normal?
I don’t know if it’s “normal” or not, but I discovered the same thing today as I was getting ready to put my trailer into storage for the winter. Batteries fully charged, shore power disconnected and battery disconnect switch off and the electric jack still worked. However, I have decided to remove the batteries and store them in the basement and as soon as I disconnected them the jack no longer worked. That makes perfect sense, but it caused me a problem as I intended to have the trailer winterized and batteries out before taking it to the storage facility - so now how would I disconnect the trailer from the tow – except by using the emergency hand crank. However, on a whim, I backed the tow up to the trailer, plugged it in and voila! the electric jack works apparently getting power from the tow vehicle.
__________________
________________________
Paul & Clara, "Posttoasties"
2015 Escape 21 - "The Caboose"
2015 Dodge Durango 3.6L
Posttoasties is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2017, 04:44 PM   #7
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by Posttoasties View Post
However, on a whim, I backed the tow up to the trailer, plugged it in and voila! the electric jack works apparently getting power from the tow vehicle.
AND, you no longer have emergency brakes on the trailer because the switch to activate requires a "house battery."
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2017, 06:31 PM   #8
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Sauk Centre, Minnesota
Trailer: 2015 Escape 21
Posts: 24
WOW! Thanks Donna. I didn't even think of that. Obviously if the trailer emergency brake switch activates the trailer has probably become disconnected from the tow - so now power in it at all. I'll have to drive the four miles to the storage facility very carefully!
__________________
________________________
Paul & Clara, "Posttoasties"
2015 Escape 21 - "The Caboose"
2015 Dodge Durango 3.6L
Posttoasties is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.