Do you remove your RV batteries

[Do you remove your RV batteries during the colder winter months?]

Do you remove your RV batteries during the colder winter months?

yes

 5 (62.5%)

no

 3 (37.5%)

Total Members Voted: 8

Voting closed: January 15, 2010, 12:33:45 PM

[Thats Camping!]

Besides winterizing, it's important to take care of your RV batteries too

http://blog.rv.net/2009/10/winter-battery-storage-maintenance/

[Lucas874]

I remove my battery and keep it on a trickle charger in the basement because I don't want to run the risk/have the hastle of leaving it plugged in and running over the extension cord with the snowblower. I guess if I ever need to use the trailer, it would only take 5 min to put it back in.

[mdcamping]

I'll pull my battery and store it in my basement. After installing in the spring I'll pug the TT into the house for one day before a trip to let the converter charge the battery...I've had good luck with this.

Mike

[Thats Camping!]

I let Mike take care of these things, and I think he might do it that way too, Mike....but from the article, it says to charge it BEFORE you put it back in the RV. I wonder if there is a difference.

[mdcamping]

I let Mike take care of these things, and I think he might do it that way too, Mike....but from the article, it says to charge it BEFORE you put it back in the RV. I wonder if there is a difference.

I use to charge the battery before I put it back in the TT, but for the last four or so years I've just put it in the trailer in the spring and let the converter charge it for a day or so.  I guess I'm getting lazy in my old age...LOL

One other thing is I'm allways using shore power while camping so I'm really not taxing the battery as much as other Campers/Rv'ers   

Mike

[NewEnglandCamper]

In the past I never removed it however this year it was highly recommended from the person that winterized my camper.  I couldn't believe HOW EASY it was to remove! Its currently sitting in my basement.

I noticed there was some corrosion on the connections so this is probably a good idea. I guess you need the battery to help put your slide-outs in/out as well?

[NewEnglandCamper]

How do you all keep your batteries charged over the winter? Is there special equipment that you purchase?

[Thats Camping!]

we use a battery charger. I assume it's the same as any other car battery charger.

[mdcamping]

I use to throw it on the battery charger for a couple of hrs before I put it back in the camper. If your RV has a converter, it should at least put a trickle charge back into the battery.

Mike

[racinguy]

Never have. My rig stays in an un-heated pole barn and I just keep it plugged in to power. Keeps the batteries up and allows me to run an electric heater to prevent freezing and mold.

[mdcamping]

racinguy, Welcome to the forum!

Your fortunate you get to keep your RV undercover from the weather...have you found that it helps with the maintenance on your rig?

Mike

[racinguy]

We feel it was worth every penny we spent to put up the building we keep our toys in. We bought a new Northland camper in 2003 for $12,750 including taxes and license. When we sold it in 2008 after we bought our new Arctic Fox we got $12,000. The buyer couldn't believe it had ever been outside the shop but we had actually used it almost every month since we bought it. Maintenance is just about zero.

We did have one battery die on that camper because the converter overcharged and boiled out the water. Our new camper has an IntelliPower converter with the Charge Wizard and so far the batteries are like new.

[mdcamping]

We did have one battery die on that camper because the converter overcharged and boiled out the water. Our new camper has an IntelliPower converter with the Charge Wizard and so far the batteries are like new.

yup...I've got to be careful with my straight charge converter, other than family vacations/weekend trips I don't like to leave my TT plugged in for extended times.

Mike