Community Forums

Dfreiberger · 11-10-2012, 07:29 AM

I am getting ready to winterize and store my motorhome for the winter and have a question about the coach batteries. My plan is to remove the batteries so I can keep them charged for the winter. My question is, if I remove the batteries, can I still start and drive the motorhome to it's storage home If I leave the aux power (battery) switch off. I am trying to avoid driving it to storage and then removing the batteries to haul back to the house. No big deal to haul them if I have to do it that way.

Conquest102 · 11-10-2012, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dfreiberger

I am getting ready to winterize and store my motorhome for the winter and have a question about the coach batteries. My plan is to remove the batteries so I can keep them charged for the winter. My question is, if I remove the batteries, can I still start and drive the motorhome to it's storage home If I leave the aux power (battery) switch off. I am trying to avoid driving it to storage and then removing the batteries to haul back to the house. No big deal to haul them if I have to do it that way.

Find the breaker for your charger and turn it off and make sure wires won't touch ANYTHING and you should be FINE.

Dfreiberger · 11-11-2012, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conquest102

Find the breaker for your charger and turn it off and make sure wires won't touch ANYTHING and you should be FINE.

Winter temps in Maryland drop to sustained 30s-40s and can drop to teens now and then. I was debating removing the batteries at all since we plan to run the motorhome at least once a month. Not sure if I even want to pull them out.

TomHinMd · 11-14-2012, 02:11 PM

I have lived in Western Howard county and have owned a motorhome since 1984. I hav never removed a battery. Go to any RV dealer in Maryland during the winter and ask them if they remove batteries. You do not remove your car battery ad don't have any problems. You will be ok leaving your batteries connected in the motorhome. Just drive it 10 to 20 miles once a month and run the generator for half an hour under a load, like a/c heat strip.

CbtEngr · 11-14-2012, 06:46 PM

For generator maintanence I would say read your owners manual. On the 10th of every month I run mine for 2 hours under atleast 1/2 load...well 12 amps versus 15

per the owners manual and I have a trik-l-start to keep the batteries charged. Didn't take but a couple of weeks and my chassis battery was dead..check the water level regular and you should be fine.

genesimmons · 11-14-2012, 06:56 PM

leave them in it

Dfreiberger · 11-15-2012, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CbtEngr

For generator maintanence I would say read your owners manual. On the 10th of every month I run mine for 2 hours under atleast 1/2 load...well 12 amps versus 15

per the owners manual and I have a trik-l-start to keep the batteries charged. Didn't take but a couple of weeks and my chassis battery was dead..check the water level regular and you should be fine.

Don't have access to trickle charging since it is stored in a storage lot. I plan on a monthly run of the motor and the generator.

CampDaven · 11-15-2012, 06:12 AM

Over 20 years with motorhomes. In PA. Cold. Just run em and keep the batts full of water. No troubles mate

LANKY · 11-22-2012, 07:39 AM

I recently purchaseed a 2006 Tioga 31' class c. Decided to check out the coach batteries. Noticed corrosion aroung battery posts. Removed battery cables along with a single 12ga. Wire. Got distractged, left the job unfinished. Returned to complete the job and could not remember whether the 12 ga. Wire was attached to positive or negative post. The wire goes into the adjacent fuse/ relay area. Need to get this completed today. All dealers closed. Help!!!!!!

wa8yxm · 11-22-2012, 06:31 PM

Answer and two comments

YES

Comment one: Photograph the aux battery install before you remove

Comment 2: Take a can of RED paint (Spray or brish on) or RED nail polish and paint the POSITIVE wires on the battery (The ones running off into the coach) before you disconnect, Then zip tie or otherwise bundle them all together so you can hook 'em all back up.. OPTIONAL also blacken the negative wires (likewsie if more thanone tie them together)

Many threads "I replaced batteries and _____ does now does not work, all ending with "I found a loose wire and...

Dfreiberger · 11-23-2012, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LANKY

I recently purchaseed a 2006 Tioga 31' class c. Decided to check out the coach batteries. Noticed corrosion aroung battery posts. Removed battery cables along with a single 12ga. Wire. Got distractged, left the job unfinished. Returned to complete the job and could not remember whether the 12 ga. Wire was attached to positive or negative post. The wire goes into the adjacent fuse/ relay area. Need to get this completed today. All dealers closed. Help!!!!!!

I have a Fleetwood 2012 and I have a picture of my battery box. My 12 gauge wire goes to the negative terminal. I uploaded my photo for your reference. Hope it helps.

Dutch

tacomaker · 11-25-2012, 09:27 AM

I plan on leaving my batteries in. I put a trickle charger on the chassis battery and my house batteries have a full charge so I shut the switch off. Will go to my warehouse the first of each month and check water level and plug coach in for 24 hours and run the gen for a 1/2 hour then unplug and repeat that process the first of each month until next spring. Sounds like a lot of people go to a lot of work of pulling out batteries etc. This seems pretty simple to me so I'm taking the simple route lol.

ksg5000 · 11-28-2012, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dfreiberger

Don't have access to trickle charging since it is stored in a storage lot. I plan on a monthly run of the motor and the generator.

If it were me I would top off the gas tank and use some seafoam - run your generator to insure that the seafoam gets into the carb - put the rig in storage and disconnect the chassis battery negative terminal. No need to run the chassis engine while in storage (more negative than positive) and your generator will survive fine for a few months without exorcize.

The gas top off will mitigate condensation issues in the gas tank - the Seafoam will help insure the generator fires up fine when you put the rig back in service. You should also consider leaving the coach batteries in place - so long as they are fully charged when put in storage and you use the battery disconnect (or detach the negative cable) they will do just fine.