Towing 4 Down

[RoadtripsOfUnusualSize]

Wire Insertion Tool - Piercing

The tool is in my possession. Tomorrow, I operate.

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[P. A. Schilke]

Phil, I also use the portable system, Patriot II from Blue Ox. I'm glad to see you and some others doing this without issue. I do have a couple of questions about the battery issues. First, when I had my baseplate and wiring put in my Explorer by a VERY experienced and reputable shop in Florida, they put in a trickle charge line from rv to the Explorer so that the battery would not become fully drained while towing. When I told them the Explorer requires me to disconnect the battery after placing the transmission in neutral, they said nah, no need to do that. Well, after I left there, I panicked and said I'm not going to screw up my transmission, so I bought a portable jump starter with a 12v cigarette lighter plug for my braking system and disconnected the battery every time. Was this necessary in this vehicle?

Secondly, since the 12v plugs in the Ranger Limited time out, could I continue to use this power pack or should I run a hot wire as you did?

HI Timothy,

I spent some time trying to get my head around the Ranger electrical system, and concluded that a charge line was not necessary. I do put my Ranger in tow mode, and check it is indeed in tow mode. The per the manual...I leave it in neutral. There is a reason for this to keep the transfer case lower output shaft spinning and lube the transfer case...Putting the Ranger in Park freezes the engine put shafts. I am suspecting that the transfer case in neutral helps keep everything lubed while being towed. There are folks here that "followed" the owners manual and trashed their transmissions. I do not wish to be one of them. I follow the owners manual instructions, but I ensure the Ranger is in tow mode and ready to tow. How? I hook up and then attach the tow bar. I then release the parking brake and allow or push the vehicle toward the RV. If it does not move...the something is wrong and I would repeat the neutral tow process. So far, So good...never had a problem. You must follow the owner's manual process, step by step...do not short circuit...it may be a disaster.

So off the soap box. Short answer...I have not need a charge line from the RV.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[TimmyB]

HI Timothy,

I spent some time trying to get my head around the Ranger electrical system, and concluded that a charge line was not necessary. I do put my Ranger in tow mode, and check it is indeed in tow mode. The per the manual...I leave it in neutral. There is a reason for this to keep the transfer case lower output shaft spinning and lube the transfer case...Putting the Ranger in Park freezes the engine put shafts. I am suspecting that the transfer case in neutral helps keep everything lubed while being towed. There are folks here that "followed" the owners manual and trashed their transmissions. I do not wish to be one of them. I follow the owners manual instructions, but I ensure the Ranger is in tow mode and ready to tow. How? I hook up and then attach the tow bar. I then release the parking brake and allow or push the vehicle toward the RV. If it does not move...the something is wrong and I would repeat the neutral tow process. So far, So good...never had a problem. You must follow the owner's manual process, step by step...do not short circuit...it may be a disaster.

So off the soap box. Short answer...I have not need a charge line from the RV.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Ok, thanks. I'm one for following the directions to a tee, simply to cover my behind in case all heck breaks loose. I guess I'll be watching ROUS's install very closely! I don't have to worry about it until May or June. ?

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Ok, thanks. I'm one for following the directions to a tee, simply to cover my behind in case all heck breaks loose. I guess I'll be watching ROUS's install very closely! I don't have to work about it until May or June. ?

Hi Timothy,

If all goes well, Margie and I will be in Flagstaff for the month of June with our Sonoran Desert Tortoise, Tito. Tito loves the RV park campers attention....

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[RoadtripsOfUnusualSize]

Okay, today's operation went successfully. Getting through the firewall was a hassle (and stressful), but made possible with the magic tool above and with the instructions/photos that I found here in the forum. Now, I've got the motorhome sending power through the umbilical to an RVi Toad Battery Charger and then on to the battery. I've got a new 12v power port in the cab floor for my Patriot II brake system. I also have the breakaway switch installed, with the cable running through the engine compartment, through the firewall, and into the cab. I've got the 12v port and breakaway cable bundled up and strapped up under the dash to keep them out of the way.

Excluding research, shopping, and procrastinating, that represented about four hours of actual effort. I've got pics below.

Pic 1: the new bumper components
Pic 2: the RVi charger unit
Pic: 3: My wire bundle emerging from it's path through the firewall (There was cheering.)

When all finished, I'll probably paint that 6-pin socket and breakaway switch flat black so they're less noticeable. Now, I just need to remove those tow hooks and install the base plate brackets. I also need to tap into those (ridiculously expensive) tail lights and get them wired into the umbilical circuits.

 

[RMD3819]

I have the RVI battery charger mounted behind the front grill. I can check charging status during my walk around without opening the hood. I’ll post a pic if you want.

 

[RoadtripsOfUnusualSize]

Okay. I finished up my tow bar project this weekend with the (enormous) help from my brother-in-law. Everything went well, but wiring in the taillight kit was a bear. The Blue Ox paper instructions seemed problematic. So, thank goodness etrailer.com was there. They have an excellent video on this wiring process that differs some from the BO instructions. This was a life saver. We followed the steps in that video and it worked fine the first time.

So, my toad transfer project seems to be finished. I've moved from a Jeep Liberty to my new XLT--tow bar, wiring, new charge line, breakaway system, onboard battery charger, and a new 12v power port for the cab. All that's left is a test tow and we'll do that later this week. It will be a hassle breaking down, unleveling, slides, gear stow, driving configuration, etc. And, then setting it all back up again 20 minutes later. But, it needs to be done and we can use the practice learning the new toad's needs.

 

[TimmyB]

Okay. I finished up my tow bar project this weekend with the (enormous) help from my brother-in-law. Everything went well, but wiring in the taillight kit was a bear. The Blue Ox paper instructions seemed problematic. So, thank goodness etrailer.com was there. They have an excellent video on this wiring process that differs some from the BO instructions. This was a life saver. We followed the steps in that video and it worked fine the first time.

So, my toad transfer project seems to be finished. I've moved from a Jeep Liberty to my new XLT--tow bar, wiring, new charge line, breakaway system, onboard battery charger, and a new 12v power port for the cab. All that's left is a test tow and we'll do that later this week. It will be a hassle breaking down, unleveling, slides, gear stow, driving configuration, etc. And, then setting it all back up again 20 minutes later. But, it needs to be done and we can use the practice learning the new toad's needs.

Nice work, John. Did you wire the tail lights in the Ranger as a shared system, with the brake light sharing the duties of brake lights and turn signals, or did you add the extra diode to keep the separate functionality?

 

[RoadtripsOfUnusualSize]

Hi Tim. That was a big issue and we went back and forth. There are three circuits back there and BO allowed for only two in their kit. Ultimately, we went with the two (shared) method and it worked fine. None of this was addressed by BO in their instructions, but the etrailer.com guy showed us the way. Thank goodness.

 

[TimmyB]

Hi Tim. That was a big issue and we went back and forth. There are three circuits back there and BO allowed for only two in their kit. Ultimately, we went with the two (shared) method and it worked fine. None of this was addressed by BO in their instructions, but the etrailer.com guy showed us the way. Thank goodness.

Yeah, I know there is an extra relay that must be purchased to make this happen. I really don't like the shared method but I really don't like messing with wiring, either!

 

[RoadtripsOfUnusualSize]

I really don't like the shared method but I really don't like messing with wiring, either!

Well, seeing that you're in Jensen Beach and it's cold here in Texas, it might be better for me to explain my wiring method in person. Maybe I could park in your driveway for a month or two. That way, I could really explain what I did. Yeah, that sounds like the best thing to do.

 

[TimmyB]

Well, seeing that you're in Jensen Beach and it's cold here in Texas, it might be better for me to explain my wiring method in person. Maybe I could park in your driveway for a month or two. That way, I could really explain what I did. Yeah, that sounds like the best thing to do.

This park was completely sold out for the winter. Then, our Canadian friends couldn't show up. Come on down, brother; lots of room, now! Although, two months might not be enough. I spent most of my career teaching technology and computers, but when they see me with a screwdriver in my hand, it can be an adventure.

 

[RoadtripsOfUnusualSize]

I performed a 'test tow' yesterday for the first time. Sure, everything was installed and triple checked, but until you actually drive down the highway you have doubts. Lying in bed at night picturing your new pickup passing you and then soaring off a bridge does not help your sleep cycle.

So, we decamped (one hour of hassle) and hooked up. Everything attached fine and our checklist seemed to cover all the needed steps. The new toad battery charger sprang to life and started supplying juice. The Ranger's screen gave us the correct messages and the transfer case did its thing. With slack in the tow bars, I did a push-pull test from the tailgate to ensure that the wheels were free turning.

As we rolled out of our current park, I was surprised at how different it felt. Now, on paper, the Ranger only weights 300 lbs more than the Jeep Liberty toad that it has replaced. But, it felt like it weighed much more. With that little Liberty, I never knew it was back there. But, it won't be that way with the Ranger. My gas V10 32-footer pulled it fine, but seemed sluggish and slowed much more on hills/overpasses.

After this 20+- mile trip, the ranger's hubs felt cool and the xfer case hopped right back into action. So, it did fine. But, I was confused by the feel. My 'big truck mechanic' brother-in-law discussed it with me and thought it was no big deal. He said that some vehicles just roll differently than others. Thinking about it, the tires, hubs, etc on the Ranger are much beefier than the little Jeep had. It was a successful test, but the motorhome will probably be in tow/haul mode all the time now. In the past, I only needed to use that mode in hills. I may be buying more fuel too.

 

[BillinPCB]

I drive with Tow/Haul engaged pretty much all time. With the motor home on top of the chassis you are always hauling.

 

[TimmyB]

Good to hear, ROUS. I'm looking at 300 pounds in the other direction from my current Explorer, which pretty much maxes out my 5K towing capabilities. Glad it went well for you.

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