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

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Fleet | Keystone RV Models > Lite Weight Trailers
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-05-2019, 04:18 PM   #1
Glenda Clark
Senior Member
 
Glenda Clark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Tonasket
Posts: 127
Battery Question for Storage

I am putting my trailer in storage for a few months
It will be disconnected from shore power.
How do I save my 2 batteries to keep them from draining
Power ?
All advice appreciated.
__________________
2018 Keystone Bullet Premire ultra lite. 19FBPR.

2016 Chevy Silverado , 1500.
5.3 liter V8
Glenda Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 04:42 PM   #2
Canonman
Senior Member
 
Canonman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,221
I'd remove them to my garage at home and keep them on a "Battery Tender" trickle charger.
Some will advise other methods but if your plans are several moths of storage removing the batteries is in MYHO the best option.
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
Canonman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 04:46 PM   #3
Glenda Clark
Senior Member
 
Glenda Clark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Tonasket
Posts: 127
That was my first thought , but they are too heavy for me to pick up.
Any other suggestions ?
Disconnect everything ? Just negatives ?
__________________
2018 Keystone Bullet Premire ultra lite. 19FBPR.

2016 Chevy Silverado , 1500.
5.3 liter V8
Glenda Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 04:52 PM   #4
Canonman
Senior Member
 
Canonman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,221
A disconnected battery (yes, the positive side) will still discharge over months of storage.
Perhaps the caretaker at the storage site could help? If storing at home a solar trickle charger might be an option.
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
Canonman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 05:36 PM   #5
Tbos
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
If the weather is reasonable you can just disconnect the battery. It should hold most of its charge.
__________________
Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
Tbos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 06:11 PM   #6
Glenda Clark
Senior Member
 
Glenda Clark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Tonasket
Posts: 127
I have the 2 batteries , so it's OK to disconnect all 4 connections.
Or just both sets of the Negative side ?
That is where I am a bit confused. I am doing this by myself , no help with this.
Or just remove them and put them in my garage .
I just don't want to lose charge.
__________________
2018 Keystone Bullet Premire ultra lite. 19FBPR.

2016 Chevy Silverado , 1500.
5.3 liter V8
Glenda Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 06:25 PM   #7
cookinwitdiesel
Senior Member
 
cookinwitdiesel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Fairfax
Posts: 507
You have 2 batteries, are they in series or parallel? Is there a view of the sky from your RV? Is there reason to expect any snow during the storage period?
__________________
2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali Diesel DRW (Crew Cab | 8 Ft bed | OEM Puck System | Curt Gooseneck Ball for OEM Puck)
(OLD) 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Diesel (Crew Cab | 6.6 Ft bed)
2019 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 3740BH-R Fifth Wheel (Onan 5500W LP Generator | MORryde SRE4000 Suspension | 3x Cross Members | Sailun S637 ST | Reese GooseBox 20k 2nd Gen)
(OLD) 2018 Keystone Hideout 28RKS Travel Trailer
cookinwitdiesel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 06:31 PM   #8
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,601
A "few" months or "several months"? The difference could leave your batteries in good shape or "dead". If unable to remove the batteries, remove the positive and negative feeds. Not knowing the timeline it would be prudent to do so. You could just disconnect one lead or the other but I used to just disconnect both. If you then want to use a battery tender I would disconnect the "straps" that combine the batteries and connect a tender to each battery. I'm curious; if you don't have access to shore power I'm assuming a tender is out of the question. If you can't remove them, and can't put any kind of a charger on them I would just do what I mentioned and hope for the best.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 06:42 PM   #9
Glenda Clark
Senior Member
 
Glenda Clark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Tonasket
Posts: 127
My trailer will be stored at a friends house , I can't use shore power to keep the 2 batteries charged.
No chance of snow in Okanogan valley anymore this early spring.
That's why I just wanted to disconnect the batteries to keep them from loosing their charge. Leave them on then trailer if possible. As they are heavy.
__________________
2018 Keystone Bullet Premire ultra lite. 19FBPR.

2016 Chevy Silverado , 1500.
5.3 liter V8
Glenda Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 06:51 PM   #10
cookinwitdiesel
Senior Member
 
cookinwitdiesel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Fairfax
Posts: 507
Does this friends house have the ability to run a regular extension cord out to your trailer? Even a regular 15A plug should give more than enough juice to keep the batteries charged.
__________________
2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali Diesel DRW (Crew Cab | 8 Ft bed | OEM Puck System | Curt Gooseneck Ball for OEM Puck)
(OLD) 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Diesel (Crew Cab | 6.6 Ft bed)
2019 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 3740BH-R Fifth Wheel (Onan 5500W LP Generator | MORryde SRE4000 Suspension | 3x Cross Members | Sailun S637 ST | Reese GooseBox 20k 2nd Gen)
(OLD) 2018 Keystone Hideout 28RKS Travel Trailer
cookinwitdiesel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 06:58 PM   #11
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,237
If you have a pair of 12V batteries, disconnect the positive lead to the trailer. And then the positive jumper. When you return, connect the wires, start your truck and plug in. 10 minutes should give you enough to do what you need to do to hook up.

If it’s a pair of 6V batteries, disconnect the positive lead from the trailer. Then when you return do the same thing.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 11:13 PM   #12
Glenda Clark
Senior Member
 
Glenda Clark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Tonasket
Posts: 127
I have two 12 volt batteries. No , I can not use Any shore power where my trailer will be stored at a friends house. It'll just be there out of kindness.
I will unplug both + positive cables.
So it's OK then to leave the negatives - attached.
I just didn't want my batteries to die off fast.

It was at same place last spring , and no shore power , I was there every other day recharging batteries off my truck for a few hours.
So now , I'll just unplug both positive + cables and hope for the best.

Thank you , wish me luck.
__________________
2018 Keystone Bullet Premire ultra lite. 19FBPR.

2016 Chevy Silverado , 1500.
5.3 liter V8
Glenda Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2019, 02:56 AM   #13
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,237
Make sure you take the positive jumper completely off both batteries.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2019, 04:50 AM   #14
whcarr
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hermon
Posts: 80
I store my camper for 3 to 4 months out of state. I open the main power disconnect. Hook up a 50 watt solar panel that will just keep up with power drain if I have enough sun light. Been doing this for 2 years, this year I plan to disconnect my batteries. my camper draws almost one amp with the main disconnect open.
whcarr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2019, 06:19 AM   #15
Glenda Clark
Senior Member
 
Glenda Clark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Tonasket
Posts: 127
Thank you for all the information and advice.
I will only disconnect the + positive cables for my 2 batteries.

Be doing this within the next 2 weeks.
__________________
2018 Keystone Bullet Premire ultra lite. 19FBPR.

2016 Chevy Silverado , 1500.
5.3 liter V8
Glenda Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 07:52 AM   #16
bbells
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 196
Get a 200 watt solar panel off Amazon with a $5 charge controller off eBay. Hook it up and your battery will stay healthy. Plus you can use it when camping without hookups. Total cost about the same as a battery, $150. It will last 25 to 50 years.
bbells is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 11:01 AM   #17
larryflew
Senior Member
 
larryflew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Young America MN
Posts: 372
My solar is only 20 watts but keeps the charge as long as I totally disconnect and isolate my batteries and this is through a Minnesota winter. Luckily most winters the 5th wheel is in Arizona for the winter but due to major surgery have had some at home including this worst one of all.
__________________
39 foot Forest River Vengeance dragged by GMC 3500.
larryflew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 07:04 PM   #18
jack65
Senior Member
 
jack65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Puyallup
Posts: 244
I learned the hard way... I disconnected the two batteries and left them in where the trailer was being stored during the winter and when I went back last month, they both were dead and I mean dead... no good! So I bought two new ones and next time they go home in garage and put on trickle charge.
__________________
2015 Starcraft AR-ONE 14RB
2014 Ram 1500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4
5.7L V8 Hemi 395 HP, 410 TQ 8-speed auto, w/3.92 rear ratio
K&N 71-1561 Air Intake w/FlowMaster Exhaust system.
jack65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2019, 11:09 AM   #19
Scran
Junior Member
 
Scran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: San Tan Valley, AZ
Posts: 18
Small solar charger from Harbor Freight

We live in AZ and are pretty much on the road all summer. However, in the winter, while we do camp several times, the trailer sits more than anything. I've got two 6 volt batteries, in a series, and have always had good luck with a simple cheap, I think 1 watt, solar charger I purchased from Harbor Freight - probably because we have so much sun and no unreasonable temperatures or conditions to deal with.
However, I have never even disconnected my batteries. I simply make sure my disconnect switch is OFF, and hook up the solar charger to the batteries. It's cord is long enough to reach my 5th wheel hitch and I bungee it to the front of that, and even facing east (mostly morning sun), it keeps my batteries topped off without the need for a regulator of any kind. I don't think 1 watt could hurt those batteries much, even if the batteries were fully charged to begin with!
Hey........works for me!
__________________
2010 3150RL Montana 5er
Husky 16k hitch - EZZTire TPMS
2013 Chevy Silverado LTZ 2500 HD Duramax (SRW)
Edge CS2 Programer/Monitor
Scran is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2019, 05:52 AM   #20
Bamabox
Senior Member
 
Bamabox's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: CT frontier
Posts: 154
Our trailer will sit from end of October until around tax day, give or take. It is hooked up to shore power the entire time........20A circuit and extension cord from my barn. When I had the original single 12V that came with the trailer, just left it on the trailer. Seemed to survive just fine. Was still in good shape when I replaced it with 2 Costco 6V’s. We get fairly common down to zero nights here, -10 once in a while. Anything different with the golf cart battery that I should consider “bringing them in” over the winter? Or the fact they will stay fully charged with shore power means they will be just fine in the spring?
__________________
2017 Cougar XLite 21 RBS

2015 Ram 3500 SLT 5.7 Hemi
Bamabox is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
battery, storage

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
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:04 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.