How do you keep the trailer backup battery charged. (or do you)

[ljjhouser]

Ordered a two pack of sealed lead acid maintenance free batteries off of Amazon a couple of weeks ago for $24.99 and replaced them in both of my gooseneck trailers, one was over 12 years old and the other was over 7 , I hope I get the same good luck out of these 2 new ones and I have never charged either one of them.

That is great. i must have been getting the wrong batteries. Even the new one that came with the trailer did not even last one summer.

 

[Hay Dude]

That is great. i must have been getting the wrong batteries. Even the new one that came with the trailer did not even last one summer.

What the heck? Doesn’t sound right. Look for a parasitic drain. Are the batteries parked in a really hot direct sun?
Maybe over an ancient Native American burial ground or magnetic vortex? (Whatever that is lol)

 

[dirttoys]

Like most people here, over the years, I have had several trailers. Some have proven to be good and some have not. But every trailer that has had a backup brake battery has been a problem. Every battery has gone bad. Every year. So before long, I quit checking it. I live in Missouri which requires a backup battery to last enough to apply brakes on both axles for 15 minutes.

When I bought my new Kubota tractor in 2017, I also bought a new trailer. Best trailer so far. But hauling heavier equipment really makes you want to comply with all the laws. That meant I had to do something about the battery.

My new trailer also had one of those new worthless little weenie batteries. It went bad the first summer. I threw that thing away. Then I did the following.

• I purchased an AGM battery from Menards. Cost $80
• I purchased a small pelican case to hold new battery and charger/maintainer. $60
• I put both in the Pelican case and wired the battery to the original box connections.
• I used Anderson Connectors in case I needed to disconnect any part.
• I purchased a MPPT solar controller, Victron 75 watt. $120
• I purchased a solar panel, SunPower Flex, 50 watt. $110
• Wired it to the controller – 3 connections, battery, solar, and load. The load terminal is used to power the GSP unit.
• The battery maintainer is if I want to charge via 120v extension cord. But I have never used it yet.

I have used this system for 4 years. NOW THE QUESTION – I have not seen any trailer using solar. How many of you guys do something like this, and If not, how to you manage that stupid little worthless battery?

some of the pic's were a little small for me, sorry. Any concern of heat with the sealed pelican case?

Best,

ed

 

[notaz3]

I keep a little solar cell plugged in. Has kept my trailer and truck battery's full between use.

 

[RickB]

I knew that was coming. I knew that would be said when I typed it. But I have invested about half that in those cheap batteries. And since this battery also maintains the GPS locator. It has to stay on the trailer and stay charged.

Well that's the rest of the story and the rest of your problem. Those things suck more power than that little battery was designed to provide over time. So if that was explained in the beginning my responses would have been different.

 

[sandman2234]

If you take a look at tractor trailers that are constantly dropped sometimes for days to weeks at a time, a lot of them have built in tracking devices, and with solar backup panels to keep their battery charged.
I kept one of those purchased from a wrecking yard and kept it on my little Ford 1100. It lasted for years, till someone (and I won't mention that idiots name)forgot to remove it from the battery when he went to bush hog. Since it just laid on the tractor, not mounted, it didn't take long for it to find the blades of the bush hog and become inoperative.
BTW, that idiot is typing this right now.
David from jax

 

[the old grind]

Expect any 'wet' battery's life-span (conventional, maint-free, SLA/AGM) that doesn't spend most of it's life topped up with a reliable trickler on it when not in use to die young. 'Wet' battery life is directly proportional to time spent at full charge. No exceptions.

btw, Battery-Minder 1500/510s (my faves) make up the half the dozen or so I keep on idled equipment. (BH, trucks, mower, CUTs, motorbike, skidder) Good ones are a lot cheaper than batteries.

 

[ljjhouser]

If you take a look at tractor trailers that are constantly dropped sometimes for days to weeks at a time, a lot of them have built in tracking devices, and with solar backup panels to keep their battery charged.
I kept one of those purchased from a wrecking yard and kept it on my little Ford 1100. It lasted for years, till someone (and I won't mention that idiots name)forgot to remove it from the battery when he went to bush hog. Since it just laid on the tractor, not mounted, it didn't take long for it to find the blades of the bush hog and become inoperative.
BTW, that idiot is typing this right now.
David from jax

I think that is where I got the original idea to try solar. It did cost more that I would have liked, but it has worked well for the past 4 years. The GPS tracker is dependable and the controller connects to the phone and gives the solar output and charge state of the battery, and battery voltage. I have not had any experience with Glass Matt batteries, so we will have to see if using AGM was a good idea. My level of frustration was somewhat high because all the times the trailer was not ready to travel. Thanks for the post.

 

[ljjhouser]

Expect any 'wet' battery's life-span (conventional, maint-free, SLA/AGM) that doesn't spend most of it's life topped up with a reliable trickler on it when not in use to die young. 'Wet' battery life is directly proportional to time spent at full charge. No exceptions.

btw, Battery-Minder 1500/510s (my faves) make up the half the dozen or so I keep on idled equipment. (BH, trucks, mower, CUTs, motorbike, skidder) Good ones are a lot cheaper than batteries.

In looking back, that may have been the problem with my I had with most lead acid. I attempted to use a NOCO Maintainer only one time and lost that battery.

 

[ljjhouser]

What the heck? Doesn’t sound right. Look for a parasitic drain. Are the batteries parked in a really hot direct sun?
Maybe over an ancient Native American burial ground or magnetic vortex? (Whatever that is lol)

Well, you made me laugh! NO drain. But I did not check for the possibility that it may be parked on a burial ground. That battery on the new trailer was "blown up." Almost round and bulged out.

 

[ljjhouser]

Thanks for all the posts. I have the info I was looking for. I originally thinking that more would try solar. Not true. From the responses, it is clear to me that most who are successful use some maintaining system other that solar. Probably because of the cost, as RickB inferred - or maybe said. Ha!. I think I like the idea of having more than one and keeping them on a maintainer, and rotating them out. As for AGM, this is my first experience. Well, if the solar system fails, I probably dig out the maintainer and buy a couple lead acid. I do know if only one part of the solar fails, solar panel or controller, it will not be worth replacing due to the cost of that part. Thanks for all the input.

 

[ljjhouser]

some of the pic's were a little small for me, sorry. Any concern of heat with the sealed pelican case?

Best,

ed

Hi Ed. Sorry about small pix. I should have made them larger. The AGM battery in the case is a 18 amp hr Motorcycle battery. The original trailer battery was a 5 amp hr. After 4 years of use, the battery seems to always be in great shape. But you make a great point, Maybe I should paint or coat that box white or any more reflective color. I thought to use AGM because even though lead acid is sealed, most that I know are still vented. I thought AGM might be safer in a closed container. I'll be sure to include larger pictures if I need to post again. Thanks, Larry

 

[nikdfish]

5 watt panel on the car hauler, 10 watt panel on the dump trailer both with a small waterproof controller in the respective battery boxes. About 5 years use on each with no problems. The tractor building has a 100 watt panel & deep cycle battery hooked to interior LED lighting & exterior LED motion lights.

 

[Smily0]

I have used this system for 4 years. NOW THE QUESTION – I have not seen any trailer using solar. How many of you guys do something like this, and If not, how to you manage that stupid little worthless battery?

You can order it an option on many trailers new (the solar maintainer). I bought a used Diamond C gooseneck last year, put in a new battery and added both a 1.8W panel with built in maintainer ($21.99) and also a Hopkins break away battery charger ($5.89). I only haul a handful of times a year, but so far, this has kept the battery in top condition. I drilled and tapped four mounting holes in the top of the gooseneck for the panel and installed the hopkins charger in the battery box with the new battery. At roughly $30 and 30 minutes time, it was worth the time savings of not having to bring the battery in to charge regularly. I have 6 battery tenders I use on other equipment that sits in the garage/basement, but my wife would be unlikely to reinstall the battery if she needed to take the trailer somewhere and I wasn't around. (That's a fun story for another time, my 5'2" 110lb wife has no problem taking the dually with the 32' flatbed when she finds something she wants to go buy, hehe)

 

[twowoode]

I pull the battery if it’s going to be a long time between uses. I store the battery hooked up to a battery tender, not a cheap harbor freight one, battery tender brand. Some people don’t believe they help but my batteries in my rv, motor cycles, and equipment last a lot longer.

 

[Mudfarmer]

I have a question, my most recent trailer came with a small Lithium Ion Battery pack. I use the trailer a couple of times a year. I admit i don't check it. In all the posts above are you talking lead batteries only or including lithium Ion which don't have the same discharge problems in general?

 

[ljjhouser]

You can order it an option on many trailers new (the solar maintainer). I bought a used Diamond C gooseneck last year, put in a new battery and added both a 1.8W panel with built in maintainer ($21.99) and also a Hopkins break away battery charger ($5.89). I only haul a handful of times a year, but so far, this has kept the battery in top condition. I drilled and tapped four mounting holes in the top of the gooseneck for the panel and installed the hopkins charger in the battery box with the new battery. At roughly $30 and 30 minutes time, it was worth the time savings of not having to bring the battery in to charge regularly. I have 6 battery tenders I use on other equipment that sits in the garage/basement, but my wife would be unlikely to reinstall the battery if she needed to take the trailer somewhere and I wasn't around. (That's a fun story for another time, my 5'2" 110lb wife has no problem taking the dually with the 32' flatbed when she finds something she wants to go buy, hehe)

That is a great option. 4 years ago I did not know anyone had it. Sounds like what I wanted to do but at 10 percent of the cost. Thanks.

 

[Smily0]

That is a great option. 4 years ago I did not know anyone had it. Sounds like what I wanted to do but at 10 percent of the cost. Thanks.

It sounds like you need a bit more than that little panel for the GPS tracker, but I do believe you could build a new solution now much less than what you built then. Either way, I like your setup.

It may not be for everyone, but personally, I wanted to ensure my battery was always present and functional. I use my flatbed mostly for hauling hay a few times a year; with an average load at 9T of hay, the overall trailer is 12.5T being towed. God forbid it ever came detached, but I try to do everything in my power to make sure all safety equipment (brakes, batteries, tie downs, tires, etc) are in full working order for a worst case scenario.

 

[mk2133]

I'm amazed at the amount of responses to this post and the differing opinions. Batteries are like pizza, everyone has their favorite. Keeping them charged is the same, everyone has their idea of what is the most cost efficient and practical. It appears from all the posts, maybe a couple of common denominators are appearing, location (weather), frequency of use, and my favorite, "that's they way my daddy did it". I just started solar tenders this past fall for tractor, mower and trailer. So far I'm impressed. Batteries are getting closer to $100 but if they aren't charged when you need them, what's the actual cost? Good luck to all and I will now return to obscurity.

 

[jschlosser]

I have a 10W solar panel from Northern tool on my 18' flat deck equipment trailer. I installed a 12v deep cycle RV battery. The motorcycle battery that came on the trailer never stayed charged up properly even using the trailer multiple times per month. There is enough voltage drop between the tow vehicle electrical system and the trailer battery that even when everything was new, the charging voltage at the trailer battery may only be slightly above 12 volts, or maybe less. It takes 13-14 volts or more to charge 12v automotive batteries. The solar panel keeps the RV battery charged up and ready to use when I need it. I also have a 9,000 lb winch fed from the RV battery which is always ready to go. Breakaway switch is also wired to this system. The solar panel cost about 37$ from Northern. This system works great for my use. If I used the winch daily a bigger panel would be needed. Been using this system about 3 years now.