Hello, I have been thinking about a camping trailer.
I'm looking in to a Chalet trailer, used. But this bring up three thing I might need to know.
1. If the trailer has electric brakes can I install a Electric brake controller?
2. Electric brakes can pull up to 15 amps(but I doubt it will pull that much) from the battery, What can the inverter output to the 12 volt system?
3. If it has a 3 way little Fridge can I use the 12volt car battery to run it and charge the camper battery. Once again it comes down to how much the inverter can give the 12 volt system?

Thanks Mark..

 

This post might help answer your question

https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...nerator-15819/

 

So if what I am reading was right, the car inverter can make 1200 Watts at 12 volt that a little over 80 amps.
I think I'm good.
thANKS MARK

 

I've had excellent luck towing with my 09 FEH. I tow a 1500lbs small travel trailer with over 20,000 miles of towing to date. My wife and I have travelled coast to coast and now up to Alaska with the car loaded to the max and the camper in tow. We do not have trailer brakes installed but I definitely would have appreciated them on a few mountain passes. If you're trailer is going to weigh much more than 1500lbs I would highly recommend them. On long steep grades once the hybrid battery is completely charged you lose the regen braking assist and it is quite noticeable. The engine braking you get from L on the eCVT is noticeable but not quite the same as what you can get from a geared transmission.

As for battery draw, we don't have trailer brakes as I mentioned but we do charge a 12v deep cycle marine battery off the car while driving. I ran a 10ga wire directly from the 12v battery back to the rear of the vehicle then installed a relay and switch to enable or disable the charging circuit, with the switch being on ign power so anytime the car is off no electricity flows to the camper battery. I've got a 30amp fuse at either end and it's all worked great without a single blown fuse or issue. The switch is mounted in a hidden spot up under the dash next to the fuse box so other than the plug outback you'd never even know it's there.

I was a little worried at the start about choosing the feh for my tow vehicle since the rating was so low but I'm glad I did. She's treated us very well over the past year.

 

Here she is atop tail ridge rd in rocky mountain national park.

 

Thanks Woodi,
you gave me confidents to get my 1250 Lb. Trailer as soon as I find it.
Mark F.

 

I tow a 1500 pound fiberglass camper. I did install brakes on it and also charge the trailer battery as I tow. I added a heavy (4 gauge) cable that allows me to charge the trailer battery at a campsite without even running the engine (just key on). Handy to be able to top off the battery with the FEH when off grid camping.

I'd encourage getting trailer brakes, especially if you plan to tow in the mountains.

 

Thanks Travelover.
I am going to look at a trailer Wednesday.
I will have brakes.
Mark.

 

Towed my new/use 2nd home, home yesterday.
I was surprised at how well it towed a 1200 lb. Tailer and brakes did a great job.
Now I have to install the Electric trailer brake module.
Then we are ready to go.

Mark

 

I towed my new/used 2nd home yesterday.
I was surprised by how well it towed and stopped.
Now I just have to install a new electric Trailer brake module and we are ready to go.
Mark F.