Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-08-2012, 07:43 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 20
Basic Info on Winter Battery Care

Looking for some general information on proper steps to prepare battery/electrical system for winter. My HW 296 will be stored in a garage during the winter. I need help with the steps I need to take to prepare battery for 5 months of storage. Thanks in advance for the advice!
__________________
DW, DS, DD, DD + Bailey the Goldendoodle
2011 Rockwood HW296
2004 Yukon Denali
RobNKY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2012, 03:30 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 520
If they are wet batteries.........keep water in them and keep a trickle charge on it until Spring........about all there is.
Trevor43 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2012, 03:53 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 14,428
Disconnect battery from system first. Charge fully,then check ,or charge in the spring, no need to have a charger on it full time. Youroo!!
youroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2012, 09:30 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
lswartz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Maryland
Posts: 713
My last golf cart batteries lasted 10 years so I think this process works OK. I check the water & charge them up before lugging them to my unheated basement for the winter. The week before our 1st camping trip the next Spring, I check the water again & charge them again. Then I lug them back up the basement stairs & park them in the garage until I pickup the TT.

I have noticed that every Spring while lugging them up the steps that they seem to have gained some weight .
__________________
2021 Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S
2010 Toyota Tundra 4WD
lswartz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2012, 04:20 PM   #5
Steve Jackson
 
sideout1961's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Holyoke, Ma
Posts: 382
Is there any reason why the battery can't be left on camper and just remain plugged into shore power for the winter? Will the cold damage the power cable?
__________________
2011 Dodge Ram 5.7 HEMI
2011 Flagstaff Classic 29bhss
sideout1961 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2012, 05:05 PM   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
acadianbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,365
Even a trickle charger will ultimately over-charge your batteries. IMO, the best for your batteries is to unhook them from the trailer and put a "smart charger" on it (them). A smart charger is just that; smart enough not to over-charger your battery yet keep it at optimum charge. They typically also have anti-sulfation technology. If you "google" it, you will see all kinds of alternatives. I use the Battery Minder but also have a larger capacity Ship 'n Shore smart charger by Schumacher. I just leave my batteries on the Battery Minder all winter. My motorcycle battery lasted 10 years using the Battery Minder.

Lots of people leave their trailer plugged in all winter. But even the 3-stage chargers are still trickle chargers on the lowest setting. It can work but you have to watch the water level in your battery.

Storage in a state of discharge is bad for a battery. You could be OK just letting it sit (unhooked) but I don't think that that is the best strategy.

Well, others obviously have other opinions but this is how I see it. Good luck!
__________________
https://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp297/acadianbob/IMG_2757.jpg
2021 F350 Lariat 7.3 4X4 w 4.30s, 2018 Wildcat 29RLX
2012 BMW G650GS, Demco Premiere Slider
1969 John Deere 1020, 1940 Ford 9N, 1948 Ford 8N
Jonsered 535, Can of WD-40, Duct Tape
Red Green coffee mugs
acadianbob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2012, 05:50 PM   #7
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 20
Thanks to everyone for taking time to respond. I don't have a convenient outlet to use to keep it plugged in to shore power all winter. I'm going to try the battery minder idea and see how that goes.

On a related note, my carbon monoxide detector went off when the battery drained. Do I need to do anything else to the trailer when I unhook the battery and connect the battery minder to avoid this in the future? Any other steps to prepare electrical system, alarms, appliances, etc for winter storage once I unhook battery?

Thanks for helping me with these questions. This is our first experience with a trailer and I'm still trying to get up to speed on taking care of it properly.

Rob
__________________
DW, DS, DD, DD + Bailey the Goldendoodle
2011 Rockwood HW296
2004 Yukon Denali
RobNKY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2012, 05:57 PM   #8
Moderator Emeritus
 
acadianbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,365
Nothing electrical that I know of. Make sure to leave your refrigerator door ajar to prevent mold and mildew. I assume that you have winterized your trailer water lines with RV antifreeze (or blown them out with compressed air) if you live in a cold climate.
__________________
https://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp297/acadianbob/IMG_2757.jpg
2021 F350 Lariat 7.3 4X4 w 4.30s, 2018 Wildcat 29RLX
2012 BMW G650GS, Demco Premiere Slider
1969 John Deere 1020, 1940 Ford 9N, 1948 Ford 8N
Jonsered 535, Can of WD-40, Duct Tape
Red Green coffee mugs
acadianbob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2012, 07:39 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Malco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Central Nova Scotia
Posts: 519
Quote:
Originally Posted by lswartz View Post
My last golf cart batteries lasted 10 years so I think this process works OK. I check the water & charge them up before lugging them to my unheated basement for the winter. The week before our 1st camping trip the next Spring, I check the water again & charge them again. Then I lug them back up the basement stairs & park them in the garage until I pickup the TT.

I have noticed that every Spring while lugging them up the steps that they seem to have gained some weight .
Could be.I know I usually gain weight over the winter.
__________________
2011 Salem 30kqbss
2013 Ram 2500
2005 Ram 2500
1968 Pontiac Le Mans
Malco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2012, 09:37 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
HONDAMAN174's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Big brown desert
Posts: 3,003
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobNKY
Thanks to everyone for taking time to respond. I don't have a convenient outlet to use to keep it plugged in to shore power all winter. I'm going to try the battery minder idea and see how that goes.

On a related note, my carbon monoxide detector went off when the battery drained. Do I need to do anything else to the trailer when I unhook the battery and connect the battery minder to avoid this in the future? Any other steps to prepare electrical system, alarms, appliances, etc for winter storage once I unhook battery?

Thanks for helping me with these questions. This is our first experience with a trailer and I'm still trying to get up to speed on taking care of it properly.

Rob
We have a similar problem everytime we reconnect the batteries. The CO2 goes off for about a minute. We figure gremlins- and we try not to feed them after midnight!
__________________
2014 Stealth Evo 2850- "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7- "Clifford"
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 w/Track Pack- "Julia"

Just glad to get away
HONDAMAN174 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2012, 10:40 AM   #11
rce
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 120
Quote:
Originally Posted by HONDAMAN174 View Post
We have a similar problem everytime we reconnect the batteries. The CO2 goes off for about a minute. We figure gremlins- and we try not to feed them after midnight!
I think its some sort of safety reminder thing. Mine does the same, especially when the battery cables got so corroded the red one fell off. (Bought used, saved a ton of money & now sorting out the "gremlins")

Seriously I think it is a design feature.
rce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2012, 10:46 AM   #12
rce
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 120
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobNKY View Post
Thanks to everyone for taking time to respond. I don't have a convenient outlet to use to keep it plugged in to shore power all winter. I'm going to try the battery minder idea and see how that goes.

On a related note, my carbon monoxide detector went off when the battery drained. Do I need to do anything else to the trailer when I unhook the battery and connect the battery minder to avoid this in the future? Any other steps to prepare electrical system, alarms, appliances, etc for winter storage once I unhook battery?

Thanks for helping me with these questions. This is our first experience with a trailer and I'm still trying to get up to speed on taking care of it properly.

Rob
My first winter too with TT. I brought in the smoke & other alarms which have the 9v battery. They don't take well to freezing and I think can leak?

Absolutely no food items, crumbs left for the mice in our neighbourhood
rce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2012, 04:30 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 520
This is what I have also......this is what I meant by trickle charger.


Quote:
Originally Posted by acadianbob View Post
Even a trickle charger will ultimately over-charge your batteries. IMO, the best for your batteries is to unhook them from the trailer and put a "smart charger" on it (them). A smart charger is just that; smart enough not to over-charger your battery yet keep it at optimum charge. They typically also have anti-sulfation technology. If you "google" it, you will see all kinds of alternatives. I use the Battery Minder but also have a larger capacity Ship 'n Shore smart charger by Schumacher. I just leave my batteries on the Battery Minder all winter. My motorcycle battery lasted 10 years using the Battery Minder.

Lots of people leave their trailer plugged in all winter. But even the 3-stage chargers are still trickle chargers on the lowest setting. It can work but you have to watch the water level in your battery.

Storage in a state of discharge is bad for a battery. You could be OK just letting it sit (unhooked) but I don't think that that is the best strategy.

Well, others obviously have other opinions but this is how I see it. Good luck!
Trevor43 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
battery

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:02 AM.