This may not be relevant but what is your 'trickle charger'? If it is a voltage controlled charger well and good, but if it is one of those old 2-6-12 amp boxes that rely on switch controlled transformer windings then I have seen those where the 2 amp setting actually doesn't exceed 12 volts output (a fully charged battery ought to read 12.65 or so)
A battery can stay on one of those forever and never get more than a partial charge. The voltage drop from the starter motor consumes most of the available current in such a battery.
It might eliminate some gremlins to make sure the battery actually carries a measured full charge for the sake of troubleshooting.
you lost me at transformer windings lol
Although you're right in the sense the trickle charger really wasn't doing anything. It was one I had laying around used for bringing back motorcycle batteries back to life after winter.
This gremlin has to be the lights (i hope) seeing as once I fully disconnect them from the battery and give the machines a boost (just once) it is fine after that. I haven't been able to fool around with this for a couple days but I have gone in to start the rig everyday and it fires up just fine without the lights hooked up.
These were just a spur of the moment purchase to do something for a reverse light. I plan on removing the whole set up and getting a light system a little more reliable along with a wire hub so i can make sure the whole thing is grounded properly with fuzed links.
Appreciate all the input on this and if someone happens to be able to figure it out I would still appreciate that as well. This is just bugging the hell out of me at this point. lol