3500 Sprinter battery maintenance

Spitfirepete

Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2023
Messages
17
New to me 2016 Forester Sprinter.
If plugged into 30 amp at home, is that all that is needed to keep chassis battery charged for a few months?

Also rig has original Chassis Battery after 7 years. Time to replace I assume?

Pete
2016 Forester 2401R Sprinter 3500
 
I have a 2018 3500 Sprinter chassis so they're probably pretty close. From my experience, and as I've heard form others, no. Sorry. :)

Not a showstopper though!

Couple of options. The official answer is to disconnect the Chassis Battery Connector (near the gas pedal, sometimes hiding behind a panel) and also remove fuse #32.

Another option is to grab a battery tender of some sort. You can hook it up under the hood easily enough and plug in to 110 somewhere.

Or, if you're plugged in to shore power all the time and you want to get a little fancy, you can also do it inside. Use one of the RV 110 outlets to power the battery tender. Then connect up to the chassis battery (under the floor in front of the drivers' seat.)

I went with the inside option and used a tender with ring terminals on one end and a quick connect on the other.

At 7 years I'd lean towards a chassis battery replacement too. Perfect time to add a tender pigtail in to the mix. :)
 
If you have Progressive Dynamics 4000 Series RV Converter w/ Charge Wizard and AC/DC Distribution Panel - 60 Amp in your RV as mine. Shore power will charge both chassis and house batteries until full, then will drop to tender mode.
 
New to me 2016 Forester Sprinter.

If plugged into 30 amp at home, is that all that is needed to keep chassis battery charged for a few months?



Also rig has original Chassis Battery after 7 years. Time to replace I assume?



Pete

2016 Forester 2401R Sprinter 3500
If you are plugged into shore power, all the RV batteries are being charged as they need it.
 
When plugged into shore power, your house batteries will be kept charged if converter is on.
The chassis battery can be charged with a battery tender plugged into the lower full time cigarette socket on the center console. Make sure that you check polarity of the plug and socket before the first charge. You may have the reverse polarity on the plug.
If your chassis battery is 7 years old. It needs replacing.
Happy trails!
 
if it works why replace it

Do you replace your car battery if it is getting old?
Many RV's have ability to connect house battery to chassis if chassis goes flat
connect it for a few minutes and then try and start the motor.


If you are traveling to some remote area with no way to buy a new battery.. I would replace the battery if the cranking was a bit slow.
 
If your chassis battery is 7 years old. It needs replacing.

I don’t how you can say that with such certainty, unless you personally have tested and know the history of the OP’s battery. I’ve had many batteries last beyond 7 years. I generally change them when they don’t work anymore.
 
Then you do not mind being stranded in the middle of nowhere. The OP was asking for advice, which I gave freely.
I own a Sprinter based 2016 motorhome. My chassis battery died at 7 years and left me stranded, which was a PITA. I just wish the OP the very best. There is always one in the crowd than rather than help just critizices.
 
2016 Forest River Sunseeker MBS 2400 RSD - Storage best practices

Hello All -

I am looking for advice on the best way to maintain my chassis battery charge while storing my 2016 Forest River Sunseeker MBS 2400 RSD at a location with no shore power.
 
if you have access to sunlight solar will work. I used to keep my chassis PLUS my 2 coach batteries up to 100% with just 100W solar. My 2018 had a built in solar charger that would charge the coach batteries first, then top off the chassis.



I put one of these on our boat that will charge 2 battery banks. I have it set to charge the trolling battery first, than charge the starting battery. I have a 50W panel supplying the power to the solar controller. Our boat sites on the water 100% of the time and its always fully charged when we go to use it.
 
How long are you going to be storing it and will it be below freezing?

The simplest, no cost way would be to disconnect the negative cable if solar isn't installed. It will still discharge, but at a very slow rate.
 
remember charger batteries don't freeze, but dead batteries do
 

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