Battery

[scott24]

Does anyone remove their battery from the RV during storage for the winter?

[JRTJH]

I remove mine and store them in the garage. If I had power in the pole barn and could charge them there, I would leave them installed in the RV. But, they won't survive the winter without being charged, so I just put them in the corner of the garage with all the other batteries from the boat, ATV's, lawn mower, etc.

[scott24]

Thanks for the info!

[bsmith0404]

Remove mine and put the trickle charger on them.

[austinp]

Remove mine and put the trickle charger on them.
X2. I remove em and place on battery tender.

[Desert185]

Does anyone remove their battery from the RV during storage for the winter?

As long as batteries stay charged they won't freeze. If you have electrical access, get a Battery Tender, or equivalent brand, and keep it connected to the battery. Doesn't matter if the battery is still in the trailer or not.

[vampress_me]

Dumb question, but - do you leave the battery hooked up to the trickle charger all winter? Or just plug it in every couple of weeks?

[Scttw]

Leave it hooked up to a "Tender" full time. It knows to come on when it see's it drop - that why they are the best. DO NOT leave it hooked up full time to 10amps .... only a 2amp tender. PS - only dumb question is the one not asked ;)

[dankent]

I also remove mine and top up charge it once a month on a trickle charger.

[scott24]

Thanks to all for the input!!

[Desert185]

Dumb question, but - do you leave the battery hooked up to the trickle charger all winter? Or just plug it in every couple of weeks?

If it is a Battery Tender or equivalent brand, yes, leave it plugged in.

[Albert]

I store my RV and pickup in a pole barn. Since I have power, I keep the RV plugged in all winter long. Keep a small heater in the RV set on 40 degrees and a dehumidifier on a timer that runs two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening.

Been doing this for a couple of years, and so far no battery issues. I do make sure to check the fluid level once a month.

John

[Bluewater]

I just switched to dual Group 27 AGM batteries so I no longer have to worry about any of that...what a relief.

[Randy_K]

I remove my two 6 volt batteries then wire them together in my shop and put them on a 12V Battery tender.

[scott24]

Bought the Battery Tender yesterday.

[Tbos]

Just bought my TT this year. Glad you asked the question. I asked a friend at work. They remove it and put it in the garage on a trickle charger.

[sagebel]

I remove my two 6 volt batteries then wire them together in my shop and put them on a 12V Battery tender.

I just switched to 6v batteries this summer. How big of a battery tender do I need if I wire the batteries together? Obviously a 12v but how many amps?

[chuckster57]

Tenders are meant to maintain charge, I would think 2 amps would be enough. But hard as it is to believe, I've been wrong once or twice LOL!!

[Desert185]

I just switched to 6v batteries this summer. How big of a battery tender do I need if I wire the batteries together? Obviously a 12v but how many amps?

The way I understand a tender works is to evaluate the battery type and the level of charge in order to charge it and maintain that charge over a period of time without overcharging or damaging the battery in any way. Because of that, the two batteries need to be separated and charged/maintained individually...at least that is what was told to me by Deltran who makes the Battery Tender brand. My Dodge Cummins has two batteries.

[chuckster57]

I've never used a tender so thanks for the clarification. FWIW all light/ medium duty diesel trucks have two 12V batteries.

[Festus2]

If you have your two 6volts wired in series (producing 12v) then simply hook your Battery Tender to the appropriate pos and neg terminal and let the tender maintain a charge on both at the same time. I do not believe there is any need to separate them but perhaps there is some information in the Battery Minder/Tender that recommends that you do charge them separately.

If you were using a 12V regular battery charger to charge 2 6volts, you would not charge them separately. Some chargers have provision for a 6volt charge and a separate 12v charge. Not sure what the Battery Tender charging functions are: 12v only or both 6 and 12.

[Desert185]

This describes charging two batteries in series or parallel. The problem that limits the efficiency of charging both at the same time (as described to me) is if one battery is noticably discharged more that the other.

http://batterytender.com/resources/frequently-asked-questions/

[Barbell]

I have to completely disconnect (not with the disconnect switch) the battery any time the rig sits unhooked, even for 24 hours. Battery will stay up for a month or more in the rig if unhooked. Any longer, its on the trickle charger in the barn.

[sourdough]

I've just let mine sit with shore power connected. Will that not keep the batteries charged over winter? It seemed to work when we bought it in Feb during the cold weather then but this will be its first full winter.

[Javi]

I've just let mine sit with shore power connected. Will that not keep the batteries charged over winter? It seemed to work when we bought it in Feb during the cold weather then but this will be its first full winter.

It works just fine, you do need to check the water level and refill with distilled water if needed at least once a month.