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Keep batteries on charge over winter?

flyboy4533
Explorer
Explorer
We have a 1997 Winnie Brave 31RQ. What is the best thing to do with the batteries over the winter? I have a Battery Tender installed and always connected to the vehicle's battery over the winter which seems to work out fine. In the past I've always kept the house batteries installed and on charge with the house's built-in battery charger/converter. I'm in northern NJ where the temp gets down to 15 - 20 degrees during the winter months. Just wondering what other RV owners are doing. Thanks
9 REPLIES 9

liborko
Explorer
Explorer
Duplicate

ocean_bound
Explorer II
Explorer II
I pull mine out and put in basement and charge once a month have house batt for 8 years and still going
Allen&carrie 2006 georgetown XL359 37ft

hershey
Explorer
Explorer
smkettner wrote:
Lead/acid batteries prefer to be at 100% charge for longest life.
Fully charged battery will not freeze.
Solar keeps mine charged all year.

I guess I could argue that statement...not that it matters 🙂
I had a '57 Ford in storage that didn't get started and run but twice a year for the last 8 years. I never had a trickle charge or solar on it, and it always started for me. Finally a couple years ago it failed...took it to the AutoZone where I bought it and they couldn't believe it....it was 13 years old. They thought that it was a local record.
hershey - albuquerque, nm
Someday Finally Got Here
My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel.
Face Book Group: All About RVing and We Fly RC's
Expedition - Chevy Equinox

crasster
Explorer II
Explorer II
If battery tender has desulphation and a float function, it's perfect. We use a battery minder.
4 whopping cylinders on Toyota RV's. Talk about great getting good MPG. Also I have a very light foot on the pedal. I followed some MPG advice on Livingpress.com and I now get 22 MPG! Not bad for a home on wheels.

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
Stay plugged in in storage?
Stay plugged in roast batteries?
disconnect? Oct 2013
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

1492
Moderator
Moderator
Moved from Forum Technical Support

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
Lead/acid batteries prefer to be at 100% charge for longest life.
Fully charged battery will not freeze.
Solar keeps mine charged all year.

pugslyyy
Explorer
Explorer
You need to determine whether your battery tender is intended for use in long term storage. Some are, some aren't.

I leave mine plugged in, but I have a temperature compensating 4 stage charger that I know won't overcharge my house batteries.

I have my starting batteries out of the truck right now on a float charger, but will put them back in soon (cleaning up the battery box) and just start it every so often during the winter.

donn0128
Explorer II
Explorer II
Welcome, but you posted this question in the wrong forum. I have asked the moderator to move it for you.
Please search using the function at the top of the page. This is a very common question that has been answered several times.