Will 7-Way Installed in Truck Bed Provide Power to Charge Battery of Truck Bed Camper

Question:

Im going to install a 7-pole plug in my pickup bed for my camper. In my last truck, the plug was near the front of the bed on the drivers side. My question is this: Will this supply current to the camper while the truck is running to charge the campers batteries? The truck is a 2015 Ram 3500 Cummins 4x4 with the factory 7-pole trailer hookup at the back bumper.

asked by: Stan H

Expert Reply:

The accessory power wire from the 7-way doesn't have enough power to charge a depleted battery. It can maintain a fully charged battery, but won't recharge one that's dead. To recharge the battery, using shore power and a charger like the CTEK # CTEK56353 is the best way to go.

To provide the connector in your truck bed, I'd recommend the Hopkins # 41157. You can see an installation video by clicking the provided link.

expert reply by: Mike L