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Old 10-20-2016, 12:03 PM   #1
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Underground winter storage, batteries, generator

Can anyone who stores their motorhome underground for the winter please let me know what you do since you can not run the generator on a regular basis and your battery is not hooked up to a trickle charger?

Thanks!
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Old 10-20-2016, 02:49 PM   #2
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Do you have a battery disconnect switch?
I don't store mine underground but my batteries are still nearly fully charged after 4 months of storage by using the disconnect switch.
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Old 10-21-2016, 07:18 PM   #3
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Thanks for your reply. Yes, we have a disconnect. Do you have a generator? What do you do about that?
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Old 10-21-2016, 09:24 PM   #4
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I don't own a motorhome, so no built in generator.
But I would assume that you'd treat like any generator by adding Stabil.
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Old 10-22-2016, 02:10 PM   #5
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what do you mean underground? Like in the basement of your house, dampness may be a problem
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Old 10-22-2016, 02:48 PM   #6
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Maybe like Cleveland,Ohio, Salt Mine Storage? Youroo!!
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Old 10-22-2016, 06:52 PM   #7
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Hello
We store our Sunseeker under ground in an old limestone mine. All I do before storing the MH is plug it in for a day or two before going to the mine. I measured the voltage and both house batteries were at 13.5 volts. Also check engine battery to make sure it is charged as well. Lastly I make sure all tires have proper air pressure.
When I park it in the mine I disconnect the engine battery and turn off house batteries with the switch. Have stored it for the past 4 years and when I pick it up in April everything is good. Mine temperature is 55 degrees year round.
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Old 10-22-2016, 07:45 PM   #8
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what do you mean underground? Like in the basement of your house, dampness may be a problem
I was making reference to an underground limestone mine that is now used for storage. I am concerned about the dampness underground. We are trying to figure out if it would be better to store underground or cover the roof and keep it parked in our driveway.
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Old 10-22-2016, 07:49 PM   #9
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what do you mean underground? Like in the basement of your house, dampness may be a problem
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Hello
We store our Sunseeker under ground in an old limestone mine. All I do before storing the MH is plug it in for a day or two before going to the mine. I measured the voltage and both house batteries were at 13.5 volts. Also check engine battery to make sure it is charged as well. Lastly I make sure all tires have proper air pressure.
When I park it in the mine I disconnect the engine battery and turn off house batteries with the switch. Have stored it for the past 4 years and when I pick it up in April everything is good. Mine temperature is 55 degrees year round.
Thanks for your reply. I see you are in Butler, PA. Do you store at Toys Underground? That is where we were looking. We are in Saxonburg.
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Old 10-22-2016, 07:59 PM   #10
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Yes that is where we go. Have been there since Toys bought it from US underground in 2012. Very nice people. If you store it don't forget to use damp rid. We use 3 tubs 1 in the bedroom 1 on the kitchen counter and the third one in front of the sofa.
Good luck.
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Old 10-23-2016, 05:49 AM   #11
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You read the battery while charging; that shows you that the charger is working but not the battery voltage. A full resting battery should read 12.65 to 12.7 volts. Resting means it must not be charging or discharging for a couple if hours ... then take your reading. If its not the sealed type battery, a hydrometer is the better than a voltmeter to measure for % of charge.
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Old 10-23-2016, 06:50 AM   #12
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Being from SW Florida, underground storage is something we will never experience. Curious though, what do they charge?
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Old 10-23-2016, 07:01 AM   #13
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Being from SW Florida, underground storage is something we will never experience. Curious though, what do they charge?
Normally between $350. - $450. for Oct - April.
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Old 10-23-2016, 07:07 AM   #14
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Yes that is where we go. Have been there since Toys bought it from US underground in 2012. Very nice people. If you store it don't forget to use damp rid. We use 3 tubs 1 in the bedroom 1 on the kitchen counter and the third one in front of the sofa.
Good luck.
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Now that I put up my own 20x 36 carport what is the cost of using the mind?
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Old 10-23-2016, 07:10 AM   #15
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Maybe like Cleveland,Ohio, Salt Mine Storage? Youroo!!
You never want to use the salt mine first everything goes down a elevator and what goes down never comes back up only people. Things get so much salt dust in it that when it hits open air it will rust away in a few weeks
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Old 10-23-2016, 07:22 AM   #16
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Dang. I'm paying 250 a MONTH for 40' covered (open front, not a garage) and that's a good price. 40' garage storage is another 60 a month. The upside is that it's a very secure place. 15' solid walls, video security all over, entrance is an overhead garage door operated by code. We jokingly call it Fort Knox.
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Old 10-23-2016, 08:32 AM   #17
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Dang. I'm paying 250 a MONTH for 40' covered (open front, not a garage) and that's a good price. 40' garage storage is another 60 a month. The upside is that it's a very secure place. 15' solid walls, video security all over, entrance is an overhead garage door operated by code. We jokingly call it Fort Knox.
That sounds like a nice storage facility....and you don't have to worry about problems cause by dampness.
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Old 10-23-2016, 02:12 PM   #18
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This is fascinating to me. Never thought about it before, but my wife says they do this in WV in their mines too. Our humidity levels here in the summer reach 90% plus. What are the temps and humidity in those mines? Do you have frame/steel component rust issues?
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Old 10-23-2016, 02:43 PM   #19
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This is fascinating to me. Never thought about it before, but my wife says they do this in WV in their mines too. Our humidity levels here in the summer reach 90% plus. What are the temps and humidity in those mines? Do you have frame/steel component rust issues?
They say the temp stays around 55 degrees and the humidity up to 65 percent.
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Old 10-23-2016, 02:59 PM   #20
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In our world, that's not so bad.
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