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pbbrgr's avatar
pbbrgr
Explorer
May 14, 2014

keeping motorcycle batteries in toy hauler charged

I have a fun runner 16 foot toy hauler. Just purchased. It has two deep cycle batteries mounted on the tongue. I will keep two sport quads, and one dirt bike in the toy hauler in storage. There will be no electric avaliable at the storage facility. I dont want to take the batteries out of the quads and dirt bike and bring them home and put them on trickle chargers. What I want to do is plug the trickle chargers into the outlets inside the toy hauler (3 of them) and trickle charge the batteries. I want to put solar trickle chargers on the two deep cycle batteries on the tounge. Finally my question: will all the batteries stay charged? Or will I end up with 5 dead batteries? 2 on the tounge, 3 in the toy hauler, and a large bill to replace them all. They will be on their own for up to a month some times.

I apologize for the long winded question but I wanted to make it clear as to what I have in mind.

thanks,

paul
Toy Haulers

19 Replies

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  • pbbrgr's avatar
    pbbrgr
    Explorer
    May 14, 2014
    Also, since im new to this I thought the outlets in the toyhauler would have power from the batteries. Got a lot to learn.

    thanks for all the responses.

    paul
  • jandjbaums's avatar
    jandjbaums
    Explorer
    May 14, 2014
    Sounds like something is drawing the batteries down. Mine dont get started all that much and rode and going on 5 yrs. with the stock batteries.
  • pbbrgr's avatar
    pbbrgr
    Explorer
    May 14, 2014
    Sounds like the mistake I am making is not disconnecting them. So when connected there must still must be some electrical drain occuring even if the ignition switch is in the off position?
  • AH64ID's avatar
    AH64ID
    Explorer
    May 14, 2014
    My Honda 4wheeler battery sits for 4-5 months in the winter and fires right up. It's the cheap walmart version, and doesn't get unhooked.

    If you don't have hookups the power outlets in the camper won't work, they are 110V and require shore power.

    Disconnect them all and don't worry about it.
  • dougford's avatar
    dougford
    Explorer
    May 14, 2014
    You do realize that unless you're hooked to shore power or running the generator, the outlets in the toyhauler have no power? The batteries on the tongue only run the 12-volt items in the camper, and not the 120-volt outlets/items. Two separate circuits.

    I'm surprised you have issues after only a month. I never even unhook the batteris, and go for more than a month at times on some of the bikes/ATVs. I try to start them at least once a month, but sometimes it goes longer.

    Finally, the solar charger on the tongue bateries will keep them charged up. But, I just unhook (actually I installed a three-way switch) those. The camper, even with everything off, will still draw some 12-volt power, and drain those in a month.
  • Kafn8td's avatar
    Kafn8td
    Explorer
    May 14, 2014
    Interesting. My KTM,Triumph and Honda were unhooked all winter in MN and started right up this spring. They shouldn't die in a month unhooked.
  • msgross's avatar
    msgross
    Explorer
    May 14, 2014
    I'm no electrician but it sounds like you need a solar trickle charger for each device.

    http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-50022-Battery-Trickle-Charger/dp/B0006JO0TC
  • pbbrgr's avatar
    pbbrgr
    Explorer
    May 14, 2014
    Thanks for the reply but I have had terrible luck with motorcycle batteries. In my experience the only way to maintain them is with a constant trickle charge when not in use. Otherwise they are dead in a month.

    paul
  • Kafn8td's avatar
    Kafn8td
    Explorer
    May 14, 2014
    If it's only a month, just disconnect the batteries. This is what I do during winter when I know the bikes are not going to be ridden and the charge lasts for several months.

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