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


View Poll Results: In the snow belt area, what do you do with your battery over the winter?
Remove to house or garage hooked/not hooked to charger 17 56.67%
Keep battery conected to Rv that's hooked to shore power 7 23.33%
Disconnect battery from Rv and use a trickle charger 5 16.67%
Nothing and hope for the best. 1 3.33%
Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 11-03-2019, 02:02 PM   #1
Site Team
 
mark5w's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 5,713
Winter storage of Battery

In the snow belt area, what do you do with your battery for the winter months
__________________
Mark & Susan
Lehighton, Pennsylvania

EAGLE HT FIFTH WHEEL | 30.5CKTS - '13 Ford F150 SCREW - PullRite Superslide - Roadmaster Active Suspension
Member - "Northeast Adventures RV Rally Group" & "Mason-Dixon Bunch"
mark5w is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2019, 02:13 PM   #2
Family Vacation Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SK
Posts: 179
Remove store inside garage and charge at least once per winter. Some say never put battery directly on concrete.
Biggest thing is to charge over winter.

I keep mine in garage and it’s kept right above the freeze point.
__________________
2014 29MK
Victron Energy inverter/charger, 1240w solar
550ah LifePo4, Microair Easy Start,RVLocks (keyless)
Airborne Elite Sidewinder pin, Maxx air 7500 Fan
2015 GMC LTZ,6.2 Gas, Short Box, Firestone F3 air ride.
Bilstein Shocks
Miniozzy3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2019, 02:18 PM   #3
Site Team
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,151
I have two deep cycle 6V. I disconnect them and leave them in the camper. Done this for many years now.

Hooked to this.


Lloyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2019, 02:51 PM   #4
Weekend Camper
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Illinois
Posts: 66
Between 2 motorcycles, 2 lawn tractors, 1 golf cart, 1 camper.....I have six 12volt batteries that I pull and lay on my workbench. I have a battery maintainer (float) charger that I start with battery #1 let it on the charger for a week, then go to battery 2 for a week....etc....etc...seems to work well. So every six weeks the battery gets a full charge for a week, then sits for awhile until it gets its turn again.
__________________
Jim
16 - 211RD
2021 RAM 2500
4X4, 3.73 gears, 6.4 gas engine
xltjim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2019, 03:12 PM   #5
Seasonal Camper
 
Aceallenk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 417
Trailer, boat, lawn tractor, 2 quads. Check them with the multi meter and write that number/date on masking tape stuck to each battery. Check them every so often and write it on the battery, then when I do charge the battery I'll charge it with 3 amp for a few hours and then the next day check with the multi meter and write date/number again on the battery. I might spend a week charging a battery that way, a few hours at a time. The boat and trailer battery sit on the one quad rear storage box of the one quad that has no blade and never moved all winter. I agree with a previous comment, never never ever sit your battery on the concrete.
__________________
2011 ST25RB SunSet Trail - RESERVE
Silverado LT Z71
Aceallenk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2019, 05:13 PM   #6
Family Vacation Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: NY
Posts: 181
Agree with removal, don't store on concrete floor - maybe old wives tale but, I learned from my Pop, fully charge upon removal, check voltage monthly. Float charger if battery cannot be removed. If it's a wet cell lead acid, make sure to check water level in all cells monthly during heavy use when battery is being charged frequently. Only use distilled water and top off as needed.
__________________
Joe Munson
2024 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.6 Gas
2013 Zinger ZT23FB
Reese Weight Dist. w/friction sway control
jmnsn57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2019, 08:01 PM   #7
Full Time Camper
 
Papa-T's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: N.C. Mountains
Posts: 2,406
I have two 12 volt batteries. I have a disconnect switch also installed. I turn off the disconnect switch and periodically through the winter I will turn it on and hook up to shore power for a day to give them a charge. Done this for 22 years with no problems.
Attached Images
File Type: png FBF82ADD-A4D5-4437-9729-56B23FC3BE19.png (936.8 KB, 7 views)
__________________
*2016 CAF25SE Cruiser Aire 5er. *2020 Chevrolet 2500 HD Custom
*Ted & Tricia (Mimi - Teacup Poodle/ Sailor - Maltipoo)

*I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends would respect me. The others can do whatever the Hell they please!” —John Wayne
Papa-T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2019, 08:57 PM   #8
Seasonal Camper
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Mb
Posts: 474
I take mine out and it’s on the shelf in heated garage until I need it for my winter camper. Yeah I know it’s not a Crossroads but it’s still a camper with a furnace.

IMG_0422.jpg
660catman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 08:42 AM   #9
Full Time Camper
 
harley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Belle River , Ontario
Posts: 1,753
Same...sit them on a piece of foam board, I had a piece of 1 1/2" solid foam board, and maintainer on one of the batteries on weekends , , alternate every other weekend.
__________________


It was a rainy few days at Algonquin Prov park...tarps kept us dry.
Wayne --Belle River (Windsor), Ontario
2013 Sunset Trail Reserve 25RB..(just sold it)
2015 White Chev Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (6.0 l gasser)
2003 Mountain Star 890SBRX Truck Camper
harley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 09:50 AM   #10
Gone Traveling
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,392
We winter in Arizona in a modular home so while RV is in storage I disconnected the main negative cable, used a 2 amp solar charger hooked to the batteries which kept the batteries topped off enough to use the slides a few times for periodic inspection throughout the winter. Worked great if lots of sun, which we had.
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 09:56 AM   #11
Site Team
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: mo
Posts: 2,093
Used to remove but now just leave in. Disconnect both battery cables and clean them - check water level and put it on a automatic charger about every other month.
__________________
2009 Seville VF32KS
2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Crew Cab Denali.
6.6 Diesel standard box.
dagst1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 10:49 AM   #12
Family Vacation Member
 
st.rodder2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: CT
Posts: 226
Send a message via AIM to st.rodder2 Send a message via MSN to st.rodder2 Send a message via Yahoo to st.rodder2
I leave my battery connected in the trailer with a battery tender connected to shore power. So if I need to open the trailer or use it during a power outage. Done this for the last 5 years without any issues.
__________________
John and Cindy
Wolcott, CT


2015 Sunset Trail SF32RL
2012 Ford F250SD CC 4X4 - 6.7 Powerstroke

st.rodder2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 11:25 AM   #13
Site Team
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: mo
Posts: 2,093
I used to leave the battery connected that way the wife could open the slides if needed but discovered that with the battery disconnected all i had to do was plug in the cord and the converter will run the slides without the battery connected. I used to take the battery out and put it in the shop to charge over the winter but i think over the years either batteries have became heaver or i got older so now it stays in the camper and i bring the charger to it.
__________________
2009 Seville VF32KS
2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Crew Cab Denali.
6.6 Diesel standard box.
dagst1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2019, 03:01 PM   #14
Seasonal Camper
 
Rrizz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: PA
Posts: 272
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmnsn57 View Post
Agree with removal, don't store on concrete floor - maybe old wives tale
It is exactly that, an old wives tale. It is Perfectly safe to store your battery on the concrete since the invention of plastic cases.
__________________
2010 sunset trail ST26RK, 2012 Nissan Titan SV crew cab, equalizer hitch / Pine Grove, Pa
Rrizz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2019, 03:14 PM   #15
New Camper
 
alsals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Bc
Posts: 2
Battery storage

Take battery indoors and trickle charge with battery minder
alsals is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2019, 05:18 PM   #16
Weekend Camper
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 30
Putting them on a concrete floor is no longer valid. Doesn't apply to the modern battery with a plastic case. I disconnect mine after they are fully charged, that's all. There is no power in my storage lot. It would be best to put a battery tender on them but I can't I have 4 six volt batteries, they are heavy as xxx and very hard for an old man to move around. Haven't had any problems leaving the for 2-3 months.
__________________
Don and Kathy from MN.
B.O. Plenty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2019, 08:38 PM   #17
RC3
Weekend Camper
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Alberta
Posts: 41
When I wasn’t wintering in Florida. I would leave them on trailer connected to roof mounted solar panels. They would receive a trickle charge all winter and stay fully charged without ever freezing.
RC3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2019, 09:05 AM   #18
Gone Traveling
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,392
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rrizz View Post
It is exactly that, an old wives tale. It is Perfectly safe to store your battery on the concrete since the invention of plastic cases.
Wives tale of not, I still set them on a piece of wood or plastic so if a bit of acid leaks out or a cell is overfilled it won't mess up the concrete, the stain it leaves is permanent.
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2019, 10:12 AM   #19
Weekend Camper
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Illinois
Posts: 66
This thread jinxed me a little. Noticed this year that battery wasn't performing as well. Put on a trickle charger and it bubbled out acid from one cell. Will test it but last time I had this happen it was a bad cell. Guess I am in the market for a new one next year. Going to price 6 volt golf cart batteries this time around as I do a fair amount off the grid.
__________________
Jim
16 - 211RD
2021 RAM 2500
4X4, 3.73 gears, 6.4 gas engine
xltjim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2019, 02:35 PM   #20
Family Vacation Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: NY
Posts: 181
Case construction and materials do not matter. Cold cranking amps is a rating that's important here in the NE. Cold will sufficiently reduce a battery's power to the point where one that is serviceable in the summer is reduced to useless in the winter. Any insulator that reduces heat loss through absorption will extend a battery's life and useable power. As the stored energy of a battery is lowered the likelihood of freezing increases. That's why I pull mine out.
__________________
Joe Munson
2024 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.6 Gas
2013 Zinger ZT23FB
Reese Weight Dist. w/friction sway control
jmnsn57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
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

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Crossroads RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×