4 wheel tow experiment done

[JesseS]

Also kill half the life of the battery. That's (Lead acid) battery 101 in the RV world

True that!, The BMS in my RV batteries cuts power output at 10% on my Lithium batteries, I wonder if the BMS on the Ranger cuts the LA batteries at the 50% safe level? But in any case I installed a RVI 10A tow battery charger powered by the RV just to be safe, and keep ford from saying the battery ran low in case of issues.

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[Joeiconic]

*following

I was expecting more from your 4,000th post.

 

[Frio]

I must go on a flurry of activity now and reach 5000 as soon as possible

Oh God, help us all

?‍

 

[D Fresh]

Also kill half the life of the battery. That's (Lead acid) battery 101 in the RV world

True that!, The BMS in my RV batteries cuts power output at 10% on my Lithium batteries, I wonder if the BMS on the Ranger cuts the LA batteries at the 50% safe level? But in any case I installed a RVI 10A tow battery charger powered by the RV just to be safe, and keep ford from saying the battery ran low in case of issues.

Our batteries are not flooded cell though. They are AGM, which withstands discharges MUCH better from what I understand.

 

[JesseS]

Our batteries are not flooded cell though. They are AGM, which withstands discharges MUCH better from what I understand.

Not really, Activated Glass Mat (AGM) are still lead acid, instead of flooding the battery they suspend the acid in padded glass mats between the plates. Makes them spill proof, and reduces gassing a lot, still subject to the 50% DOD limit without damaging the battery.

 

[D Fresh]

Not really, Activated Glass Mat (AGM) are still lead acid, instead of flooding the battery they suspend the acid in padded glass mats between the plates. Makes them spill proof, and reduces gassing a lot, still subject to the 50% DOD limit without damaging the battery.

That could be debated.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/9940/agm-battery-depth-of-discharge-myth-busted

If I were flat towing my Ranger a battery, at less than 10% the cost of a transmission, would be "cheap" insurance. I'd want to cover all the bases.

 

[JesseS]

That could be debated.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/9940/agm-battery-depth-of-discharge-myth-busted

If I were flat towing my Ranger a battery, at less than 10% the cost of a transmission, would be "cheap" insurance. I'd want to cover all the bases.

Exactly why I installed the Tow charger, cheap insurance. I have been flat towing for 15 years, used every 'generation' of battery, and until 'solid state' batteries become a thing I will stick with my LiFePo4 Lithium Iron, which are the best for RV'ers at this time. High output, can go 10% DOD, fast recharge (to rated capacity) and zero maintenance. (and do not need to be ventilated so put them anywhere in any orientation)

 

[D Fresh]

Exactly why I installed the Tow charger, cheap insurance. I have been flat towing for 15 years, used every 'generation' of battery, and until 'solid state' batteries become a thing I will stick with my LiFePo4 Lithium Iron, which are the best for RV'ers at this time. High output, can go 10% DOD, fast recharge (to rated capacity) and zero maintenance. (and do not need to be ventilated so put them anywhere in any orientation)

Makes sense, that works too.

I have this problem, I ask why too much, driven by the need to "get it."

 

[JesseS]

Makes sense, that works too.

I have this problem, I ask why too much, driven by the need to "get it."

No sweat, the only dumb question is the one not asked!

 

[TimmyB]

OK, I'm going to throw this out there, because I truly have zero idea how important the battery is in all of this. On my 2018 Explorer, to make it flat-towable I had to start the vehicle, shift into neutral, turn the vehicle off (push button start/stop), THEN disconnect the negative cable from the battery. The shop that installed my baseplate and wiring told me that step was unnecessary, but like many others on this forum, I did it the way the owner's manual specified. It was an extra 30 seconds to do it the way the manual said to.

I'm thinking it's not logical that in one highly-sophisticated 4WD system, the battery MUST be disconnected, while in another one from the same company, the battery CAN'T be disconnected without potentially having catastrophic damage.

Maybe this will spark someone's thought processes, maybe it muddies the water even further.

 

[SymChris]

I think it could be a different scenario where the truck is actively monitoring a weakening battery and has to take measures to preserve power.

Wouldn’t you then get the alert that it’s going into sleep mode?

Can’t see how that would be programmed to change the drive settings as the state of charge gets weaker, but I ain’t no guru either.

 

[D Fresh]

Wouldn’t you then get the alert that it’s going into sleep mode?

Can’t see how that would be programmed to change the drive settings as the state of charge gets weaker, but I ain’t no guru either.

It seems unlikely.

But look around here and you'll see that our trucks do some weird shit when the battery is getting low.

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