House batteries completely dead .. Whats the best way to charge

[97windsor]

Hi My coach (97 Monaco Windsor) has sat at a dealer for 6 weeks waiting on parts and repairs (blowout, air bag, fenderwell and rear flap) and the house batteries are completely dead. I know running them completely dead is bad for them and want to recharge them the best way. The batteries were new early spring 2010. What is the best way to recharge them?
I am picking the coach up tomorrow and wonder, should I run the generator and rely on the invertor/charger to charge them, or just let the alternator from the engine recharge them on the way home? It will be driven about 1 1/2 hour home then I will plug in to shore power.
If I do let the alternator charge them will it tax the alternator and do any damage to it? I'm sure it would be charging at full output the entire drive home. Thanks in advance. I posted this on the Monaco owners forum also so this may be a double post to some.

[jacmat]

If you don't need power immediately from your house batteries, then drive home and plug the mh, when you'll be home. I presume it will take several hours to fully recharge them.
I would recommend that before leaving the repair facility, to check the fluid level of each battery and add distilled water if needed.

["007"]

The alternator will only put out what it normally does probably not enough to charge your House batteries on way home.
When you get home put a 12v battery charger on house batteries to bring them up to full charge.

[wa8yxm]

Some smart chargers (And I assume some converters) do not like completely dead batteries. *IF* yours refuses to charge them THEN.

Start the charge using an old "DUMB" auto charger.. I like about a 10 amp for this. Leave it on for 1-4 hours (Assuming a pair of golf car batteries, and then try the main charger again .

Once they take charge off the converter.. At least 12 hours plugged in.

IF flooded wet cells (IE: Golf car batteries) Check fluid level before and after.. If plates are covered add DISTILLED WATER after only. )IF top of plates is exposed add LIMITED distilled immed.. (About half way up to the filler neck) do not top off till full charge however