Winter storage, battery too week to start. How to charge?

Greetings all! Hope this is the right place to post this.
I have a 2009 Itasca (Winny) Navion, with MB diesel. I'm up in Anchorage Alaska and had to place the RV in storage back in Oct 2013. It was winterized and then left for about 6-7 weeks. I returned, started it and ran it for about an hour, checking all systems, enjoying lunch, etc.

I had to leave the state and returned a few weeks ago to find that my Navie wouldn't start. I know, go figure right.

So now, what's the best plan of action for me, any positive, move forward advise would be welcomed.

These are my thoughts and some added info:

1. It's 16 degs. out now, but temps have gotten down to -15. The RV is covered, burried in snow with ice all around. It's extremely cold in the unit with no heat. I can't spend too much time working indoors or outdoors on the unit trying to get her started.

2. I will not be able to get the RV out of storage on a more day-to-day use until towards the end of May, when we finally start to thaw out up here.

3. I know there are two other house batteries tied to the system that I think I can just toggle a switch and use them to start the chassis, but I've never done this before and really not sure it this will work.

4. There is no electricity (or water/sewar) to plug the RV into at this storage site. I do have a diesel genny, but haven't used it since I stored the unit.

5. I have been thinking about installing a solar trickle charger and let it slowly bring up the charge before trying to start it again. The sun is out for about 4 hrs per day now, but sometimes its very cloudy so not sure how much actual charging benefit I can get from doing this.

6. I have a battery booster pack that I've never used before, but I guess I could uncover the RV, pop the hood and try hooking this up to start the RV. I also have jumper cables, but again, never used them before either.

I know I'm a sad case, but honestly I have never been in or allowed myself to get in a situation where I have ever had the need to use a booster pack. I have used jumper cables a few times in my life, years ago, many years ago; I'm guessing I can do this again. Ha!

Lastly, I'm wondering what other people do in similar winter storage conditions. I see hundreds of stored RV's around me, with no activity. People seem to just store their units and leave them sit through the winter. I'm also wondering if I should even bother at this point. Maybe I should just leave the RV till the end of May and deal with it then; what's done is done, the batteries could be kaput. IDK? I'm hoping I won't end having to replace the batteries, again, as I just installed them last summer, all three of them!

I feel like I should do something, but what?

Moved to Tech Issues forum from DIY.

12 Replies

pcmentor29
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
I have had a Deltran Battery Tender Plus on my house battery since Aug 2013 the water level has not dropped and the battery is fully charged. Same for the starting battery on a Battery Tender Jr. I am hoping my batteries will last a few years rather than just 12 mos like before, on cheap trickle cargers. I live in the hidesert so I leave the batteries in place but you should put them in a warmer area, just use a cart or dolly and save your back. Pete
NinerBikes
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
You need to drive that vehicle to charge the batteries, not let it sit idling for an hour. Is there winterized diesel fuel in your fuel tanks, or summer grade diesel fuel? It does make a difference.
MNtundraRet
Navigator
Feb 19, 2014
The booster button is not a toggle switch. It must be held down to help charge the starter-battery. Keep it held down while using the starter.

Since you have a diesel it would be better to wait for a day when temperatures are near 32F. The engine will turn over easier and batteries will perform better. You could also use that booster-starter you have,jumped to the starter-battery, at the same time. The more voltage and current to reach the starter, the better.

Trying to start it without access to shore-power would be folly in below freezing temperatures since it did not work at 16F. Forget about rushing things as some have suggested. No use getting all batteries discharged if your attempt fails.
BFL13
Explorer II
Feb 19, 2014
For sure don't charge them at all till they are completely thawed out. Could be nasty if you charge (even a trickle) a frozen battery! Even then, as posted above it may do no good, but I would give it a try anyway--hate to give up early!
AllegroD
Nomad
Feb 18, 2014
Before you disconnect a multi bat system, take a few pics of how they are connected. Then you will know how to reconnect. Don't waste time trying to recharge until you take them to a bat shop for testing. I bet you find out you need all new bats. Next year, pull them early and put them on trickle in the garage.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Feb 18, 2014
wa8yxm wrote:
If it is 16 out charge soonest.

On many motor homes the house batteries are easy to access, The chassis, not so much, If this is the case put a smart charger, say 30 amps, on the HOUSE batteries for at least a few hours, then use the buton on the dash, it may say AUX-START, EMER-START or BOOST, and hold it for like 30 seconds,, Then release it for 30 seconds, hold it again and start that sucker up

Sadly I think it is too late.

It was run LAST in Oct 2013 and that was for an hr.. That would not have been long enough to even put back in the energy removed in starting it.

I would be prepared to REPLACE at least the starting batteries.

At the temps typical of Alaska I would say that the chances are that the batteries have froze and most likely has destroyed them.

I would be VERY careful about handling them physically and if you decide to attempt to charge them since very bad things can happen in the current state they are in (IE charge them OUTSIDE away from ANYTHING of value).

If the electrolyte is slushy or frozen buy new ones, do not bother charging them..

Handling them, take some heavy plastic totes/tubs (no holes in the bottom) and place the batteries in the totes to haul them home.

You want good acid resistant gloves and perhaps old clothing which you would not miss if acid gets on them.

Take some baking soda with you and sprinkle around the battery area if it looks like there has been a leak.

Until you can assess the physical condition of the batteries whether they have split/leaking or not, take caution side of things and don't assume they are not split or leaking..

You will need to assess the condition of the house batteries as they may have been drawn flat by the fridge board, propane detector, furnace board, house stereo, TV, entertainment center, TV antenna amp...

In the future, disconnect the batteries (including the house). Doing so will stop the vehicle from using up all the charge (things like the stereo, clock, and engine/drive train computer all have a small drain on a battery) and typically you can safely store your batteries for 3, possible 4 months without being overly discharged.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Feb 18, 2014
If it is 16 out charge soonest.

On many motor homes the house batteries are easy to access, The chassis, not so much, If this is the case put a smart charger, say 30 amps, on the HOUSE batteries for at least a few hours, then use the buton on the dash, it may say AUX-START, EMER-START or BOOST, and hold it for like 30 seconds,, Then release it for 30 seconds, hold it again and start that sucker up
GordonThree
Explorer
Feb 18, 2014
Bring a plastic tub, like the big rubbermade kind they sell for holidays decoration storage, to sit those batteries in. If one has gone dead, frozen solid and split its case, you don't want the acid getting on the floor when you warm them up.
synergy_58
Explorer
Feb 18, 2014
RoyB wrote:
If you do take your batteries out I would take a couple of photos with your cell phone or mark each cable that is on the POS terminals with red tape or red fingernail polish...

Or do a good drawing showing showing where all the cables connect to... One of my trailers I had a couple of good drawings slid into one of those document protectors stapled to the wall. I can pull out the drawings real quick to make sure I got them back in the right order.

Don't want to think that you will remember when you bring them back a few months later. You can get in big trouble reversing some leads...

Don't know how much sunlight you have available there but a small wattage solar panel would work wonders for you...

Don't be surprised if your battery doesn't come back to full performance. The worse thing you can do to a deep cycle battery is let it get below 12.0VDC and not RECHARGE right away... Mine will lose performance big time if they drop below 12.0VDC and not get re-charged right away and I end up having to replace them...

My other PLAN B here is I always have my 2KW Honda Generator secured in my tail gate corner of my truck which has a lockable folding hard plastic panels covering the bed. I also have my B&D VEC1093DBD 40 AMP smart mode portable charger with me. This comes in handy for me alot especially for charging batteries in a quick three hour generator run time using my smart mode portable charger unit.

If your batteries are charged up good the trickle charge is great to keep them that way. If one is dead on you you need to get it charged back to 100% as soon as you can. A trickle charge will take many days to do this. I would want to know right away if the dead battery will come back to good life before just throwing it on a trickle charge setup...

just some my thoughts - good luck
Roy Ken

Thanks for the tips...great idea, I'll take pics and make a diagram of the layout before I take them out!
Sunlight is not that good, yet. Only get a few hours mid day, if its not cloudy out.
I guess I'll pull the bats and have them checked, then if they're good, I'll get a plug in trickle charger and keep them going till warmer weather.
RoyB
Explorer II
Feb 18, 2014
If you do take your batteries out I would take a couple of photos with your cell phone or mark each cable that is on the POS terminals with red tape or red fingernail polish...

Or do a good drawing showing showing where all the cables connect to... One of my trailers I had a couple of good drawings slid into one of those document protectors stapled to the wall. I can pull out the drawings real quick to make sure I got them back in the right order.

Don't want to think that you will remember when you bring them back a few months later. You can get in big trouble reversing some leads...

Don't know how much sunlight you have available there but a small wattage solar panel would work wonders for you...

Don't be surprised if your battery doesn't come back to full performance. The worse thing you can do to a deep cycle battery is let it get below 12.0VDC and not RECHARGE right away... Mine will lose performance big time if they drop below 12.0VDC and not get re-charged right away and I end up having to replace them...

My other PLAN B here is I always have my 2KW Honda Generator secured in my tail gate corner of my truck which has a lockable folding hard plastic panels covering the bed. I also have my B&D VEC1093DBD 40 AMP smart mode portable charger with me. This comes in handy for me alot especially for charging batteries in a quick three hour generator run time using my smart mode portable charger unit.

If your batteries are charged up good the trickle charge is great to keep them that way. If one is dead on you you need to get it charged back to 100% as soon as you can. A trickle charge will take many days to do this. I would want to know right away if the dead battery will come back to good life before just throwing it on a trickle charge setup...

just some my thoughts - good luck
Roy Ken