Can I Use Auxiliary Power on 7-Way Connector to Power a Dump Trailer
Question:
Just bought a 2017 F-250. Can the aux power in the trailer connector be enough juice to power a dump trailers hydraulic motor? Thank you.
asked by: Dennis B
Expert Reply:
The biggest consideration here is going to be what the amp draw of the hydraulic motor is, which you should be able to find on the spec sticker on the motor itself; I would also have some concerns about the gauge of the wiring being sufficient on your 7 way connection to pull enough from the vehicle's battery to power a dump trailer motor. If the power draw is significantly lower than the capacity of the battery on your truck and the dump trailer won't be powered frequently, you may be able to get away with it-especially if your F-250 has a second battery and alternator to keep everything charged.
The best solution here is going to be utilizing an auxiliary battery on the trailer that is charged by the 7 way connector on your 2017 Ford F-250, since dump trailers can pull a lot of amps and quickly drain the battery on your tow vehicle. I'll also mention that you'll want to use a battery separate from your breakaway battery when doing this.
