4 way club to 6 flat blade on TV

[david]

With the GVWR of the QS 10 at 1,500 lbs and the curb weight of your Ridgeline being 3 times more, I don't think you need brakes. Just get an adapter from the 6 to the 4 pin plug. Your dealer can fix you up.

David

[admin]

I agree with @david, there should be no real need for brakes. I tow a QS 10.0 with a Honda Pilot with is nearly spec for spec the same as the Ridgeline. The converter from the round 6 pin to 4 pin should be all you need.

-Sean

[charliem]

[font size="3"]It depends on where you plan to travel to or through. Brake requirements vary by state. Your QS10 is rated at 1500# GVWR. Some states require trailer brakes for trailers in this weight range

[a href="http://www.brakebuddy.com/towing-laws"]http://www.brakebuddy.com/towing-laws[/a]
[/font]

[gnies]

[quote source="/post/9881/thread" timestamp="1429894873" author="keeponhiking"][div][/div][quote source="/post/9873/thread" timestamp="1429888131" author="@admin"]I agree with @david, there should be no real need for brakes. I tow a QS 10.0 with a Honda Pilot with is nearly spec for spec the same as the Ridgeline. The converter from the round 6 pin to 4 pin should be all you need.

-Sean[/quote]Thanks for the info.

Does the 4 way flat plug charge the trailer battery while traveling?[/quote]no

[keeponhiking]

How does one keep the battery charged on long camping trips?

[admin]

The battery will charge when you are plugged into a shore power source. If you plan to stay anywhere there is no power then there are a wide range of other options. Some that are common are:
1. Use a generator to power/charge your camper while setup
2. Solar panels can be used while at camp to recharge the battery. If done right they can even be used while the camper is closed.
3. Use the tow vehicle to charge the battery. This can be done by running a circuit to charge the battery. You could also just use jumper cables to top off the camper battery when needed.

Many options have been discussed around the forum but much of it depends on your end goal and technical skill set.

[keeponhiking]

[quote source="/post/9894/thread" timestamp="1429901676" author="@admin"]The battery will charge when you are plugged into a shore power source. If you plan to stay anywhere there is no power then there are a wide range of other options. Some that are common are:
1. Use a generator to power/charge your camper while setup
2. Solar panels can be used while at camp to recharge the battery. If done right they can even be used while the camper is closed.
3. Use the tow vehicle to charge the battery. This can be done by running a circuit to charge the battery. You could also just use jumper cables to top off the camper battery when needed.

Many options have been discussed around the forum but much of it depends on your end goal and technical skill set.[/quote]Thank you, wanting to keep it simple so a generator is out, never camp with hookups so that is out for me, solar panel sounds interesting, jumper cables sounds like a hassle, I am just looking for a simple camper to get me out of my tent, at 71 I no longer want to sleep on the ground, but still want to camp with only the basics.   The dealer here in Tucson only has a couple of Quicksilver trailers and neither has the larger tires which I want and they both have the air conditioners which I don't need.  Seems the QS are hard to come by.  Thanks again.

[admin]

Honestly you could use the QS's without a battery if you wanted. If you dont plan to use the AC unit and you are comfortable with just tent camping then there is very little need for the battery.

I've been perfectly happy without using any of the onboard electronics before.

[keeponhiking]

[quote source="/post/9898/thread" timestamp="1429902239" author="@admin"]Honestly you could use the QS's without a battery if you wanted. If you dont plan to use the AC unit and you are comfortable with just tent camping then there is very little need for the battery.

I've been perfectly happy without using any of the onboard electronics before.[/quote]Thank you, I think I would want to use the 12 volt lights and fan, not much then that.  Would a solo panel hook into the battery somehow?  

[admin]

The simplest option would be to use a a solar panel like this:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200578630_200578630

To be safe you should have a charge controller as well. Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SPC-7A-Solar-Charge-Controller/dp/B00752TRNW/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1429908414&sr=8-13&keywords=12v+solar+charge+controller

You might also want an extension cable so you can move the panel around:
http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-EC-25-Cable-Connector-Extension/dp/B003WDEYPE/ref=pd_sim_auto_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1KT5AEPNHHZXRCP9AWC7

[david]

With only minimal lights and fan usage, you will not consume many amphours per day. Maybe 20 AH which will let you camp for about two days without recharging with a typical Group 27 battery.

How long do you plan to camp in one place at time? How long do you plan to camp before going home where you can hook up to shore power?

If you are only going to camp for a couple of days and then move, you can cut off the flat connector and wire up a round 6 pin with the existing 4 wires for the trailer ant then run a new positive wire to your trailer battery. That will charge the battery while you are driving to your next camping spot. Your dealer can wire this up for you.

David

[keeponhiking]

[quote source="/post/9911/thread" timestamp="1429910803" author="@david"]With only minimal lights and fan usage, you will not consume many amphours per day. Maybe 20 AH which will let you camp for about two days without recharging with a typical Group 27 battery.

How long do you plan to camp in one place at time? How long do you plan to camp before going home where you can hook up to shore power?

If you are only going to camp for a couple of days and then move, you can cut off the flat connector and wire up a round 6 pin with the existing 4 wires for the trailer ant then run a new positive wire to your trailer battery. That will charge the battery while you are driving to your next camping spot. Your dealer can wire this up for you.

David[/quote]Thank you, I could see maybe about 3 nights at one place before moving on, maybe being out for a week or so on a trip, at this time I would probably never be hooked up to shore power.  I could take the battery off the trailer when at home and put it on a charger, I live in a condo so no way to charge it while in the trailer.  I could probably just change out the connector and have a new wire run to the battery, I think this is the way to go, thanks for your help.  Actually the more I think about it maybe I should just take a couple of battery operated fans and a couple of battery led lanterns and don't even have a battery on board.  

[pinstriper]

[quote source="/post/9898/thread" author="@admin" timestamp="1429902239"]Honestly you could use the QS's without a battery if you wanted. If you dont plan to use the AC unit and you are comfortable with just tent camping then there is very little need for the battery.

I've been perfectly happy without using any of the onboard electronics before.[/quote]Wait....you run your A/C off that battery ? Skeptical.

[pinstriper]

 [quote source="/post/9914/thread" author="@keeponhiking" timestamp="1429911710"][quote source="/post/9911/thread" author="@david" timestamp="1429910803"]With only minimal lights and fan usage, you will not consume many amphours per day. Maybe 20 AH which will let you camp for about two days without recharging with a typical Group 27 battery.

How long do you plan to camp in one place at time? How long do you plan to camp before going home where you can hook up to shore power?

If you are only going to camp for a couple of days and then move, you can cut off the flat connector and wire up a round 6 pin with the existing 4 wires for the trailer ant then run a new positive wire to your trailer battery. That will charge the battery while you are driving to your next camping spot. Your dealer can wire this up for you.

David[/quote]Thank you, I could see maybe about 3 nights at one place before moving on, maybe being out for a week or so on a trip, at this time I would probably never be hooked up to shore power.  I could take the battery off the trailer when at home and put it on a charger, I live in a condo so no way to charge it while in the trailer.  I could probably just change out the connector and have a new wire run to the battery, I think this is the way to go, thanks for your help.  Actually the more I think about it maybe I should just take a couple of battery operated fans and a couple of battery led lanterns and don't even have a battery on board.  [/quote][p]In all things battery, ignore David's advice to your own peril. He is our resident expert on batteries and extended dry camping.[/p][p]
[/p][p]I vote for cutting the wires and putting in a 6 wire harness. You'll be set up for the eventual trailer brake upgrade anyway.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Regarding battery operated alternatives...[/p][p]
[/p][p]I have 2 of the [a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-ONE-Dual-Power-Portable-Fan-Tool-Only-P3320/205022215?N=5yc1vZc298Z1awZ1z0v1k4"]Ryobi One+ fans [/a] that I use for circulating air when painting, and these run about 6-8 hours on one of the [a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-One-High-Capacity-LITHIUM-Battery-P108/203466938?N=5yc1vZc246Z1aw"]large batteries[/a]. I also have 2 of their [a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-ONE-LED-Workshop-Light-Tool-Only-P780/202545372"]LED lanterns[/a] and they will likewise run for 8+ hours. I use one of the [a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-One-Impact-Driver-Tool-Only-P236/100049838?N=5yc1vZc298Z1awZ1z0v1k4"]One+ nut drivers [/a] with a 3/4 socket to raise and lower the stab jacks in seconds. That battery lasts all season. I bring the lanterns along as backup, but not the fans. I guess I would bring one of the fans when dry camping.[/p][p]
[/p][p]You can also bring extra batteries and a charger for these along but you will have to eventually have hookups.[/p][p]
[/p]

[thudd3r]

as for solar panels, cant get much simpler than the deltrans panels.  i run one at camp sites and while my camper sits in the storage lot to keep the batteries topped off.  they come with a quick disconnect to hook to the battery

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-10-Watt-Built--Controller/dp/B007N7VLWO/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1429919775&sr=8-7&keywords=battery+tender+solar+panel