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Towing winterized T@b

boiseitesboiseites Member Posts: 23
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
Newbies here - Our T@b is winterized (battery here at home). We are planning on picking it up from storage to bring it home to do a few things on it. Can we pick it up (hook everything up properly, including brake controller) and bring it home and just put the battery back in it here at our house? Or do we need to have the battery hooked up in the T@b for the brake lights to work on the T@b?
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    Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Administrator Posts: 9,530
    The TaB battery is required to operate the break-away brakes in the event of a full disconnect from the TV.  You need to tow with an adequately charged TaB battery in place with the battery switch turned on.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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    dragonsdoflydragonsdofly Member Posts: 1,927
    edited January 2021
    @boiseites, what @Sharon_is_SAM said X2! Never tow without a charged battery hooked up in your trailer. Welcome to the forum and happy t@bbing! 
    2017 t@b sofitel(Dr@gonsFly)TV 2015 Silverado 2500hd(Behemoth). Wyandotte, Michigan.
    Draco dormiens numquam titilandus.
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    pthomas745pthomas745 Moderator Posts: 3,705
    And, Welcome!
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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    boiseitesboiseites Member Posts: 23
    edited January 2021
    Thanks for the information.  However, if we are only towing our T@b back to our house (just a few miles), is it really necessary to hook the battery up? Won't we still have brake lights on the T@b? (BTW, we do have a bluetooth brake connection.)
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    MuttonChopsMuttonChops Member Posts: 1,604
    boiseites said:
    . . . only towing our T@b back to our house (just a few miles)
    . . . Won't we still have brake lights on the T@b?
    With the 7-pin connector in place and your Brake Controller installed the T@B lights; turn and stop will operate.

    As others have said the Break-Away Brakes will not be functional without a battery installed and the battery cut-off switch on.   So in the off chance your tow hitch does fail the break-away brakes won't turn on which will reduce your control of the situation.  Maybe at 25 MPH that is not an issue at 50 MPH could be the beginning of a real bad event.

    State laws in general require the Break-Away Brakes to be functional for a reason - - - safety of all road users.
    You must decide risk vs. task of dropping battery back in.

    '18 320 S,  pitched axle, 3020HE; PNW based
    TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
    Adventures:  51   Nights:  322  Towing Miles 41,200+
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    boiseitesboiseites Member Posts: 23
    Thanks so much for the clarification. We WILL take the battery and hook it up.  
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    MuttonChopsMuttonChops Member Posts: 1,604
    @boiseites
    Know you have your answer and will be installing battery.
    Same topic came up on the T@B FaceBook Page today.
    I created a simple graphic to show the basic wiring.
    You might find it helpful . . .

    Explanation of Figures.
    In the “Normal” figure:
    . . . Trailer lights connect directly to TV and function.
    . . . Trailer brakes connect to TV Brake Controller and different brake pressure voltage is
          sent to the brakes on the Blue Wire as you drive.

    In the " Not Normal" figure
    . . . Trailer lights are no longer connected to TV and do not function
    . . . TV Brake Controller has disconnected from trailer,
         Emergency Break-Away Switch closes, providing
         battery power to brakes, on Red Path, trailer brakes slam on with full force.


    '18 320 S,  pitched axle, 3020HE; PNW based
    TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
    Adventures:  51   Nights:  322  Towing Miles 41,200+
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