Community Forums

C.Martin · 10-01-2017, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WDW

What does equalize your battery mean? I’ve never heard of it.

It is a process to redisolve the sulfate that build up on the plates. It generally involves a charge to a higher voltage for a period of time. You can generally download recommendations from your batteries manufacurer.

One of the Interstate tech pages I downloaded recommended every 30 days...but I am going to apply a little judgement in the future. If I boondock, and actually cycle the batteries to a lower state of charge...I'll do it on a 30 day interval. If I'm mostly 98% state of charge or better from driving or going from power pole to power pole...I'll start spreading it out to 90-120 days... no sense overdoing anything.

BUB1988 · 10-01-2017, 01:20 PM

Over the last 9 years we have had a gasser an a DP. On both of them we took them out at least once a month for a trip of around 200-300 miles round trip. We also ran the generator under full load on the trips. Never had any carb troubles either the gasser or DP using that method. We are now full timing while waiting on retirement, 480 days but whose counting

., but still unhook and take it down the road at least once a month. Getting used to our permanent vacation

WillandJane · 10-01-2017, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Martin

It is a process to redisolve the sulfate that build up on the plates. It generally involves a charge to a higher voltage for a period of time. You can generally download recommendations from your batteries manufacurer.

One of the Interstate tech pages I downloaded recommended every 30 days...but I am going to apply a little judgement in the future. If I boondock, and actually cycle the batteries to a lower state of charge...I'll do it on a 30 day interval. If I'm mostly 98% state of charge or better from driving or going from power pole to power pole...I'll start spreading it out to 90-120 days... no sense overdoing anything.

I am not sure what kind of system you have but an intelicharger is programmed to do that for you as needed.

WDK

Crasher · 10-01-2017, 03:19 PM

Even though we use our MH on a regular basis, I am reminded of when we were farming. The diesel and gas combines we had would get hard use from Sept through most of Nov and then get parked in a shed for nine months never starting the engine in that time. They always fired up and ran through the next harvest season. Year after year they performed without issues related to long periods of non use. The same was true of our potato trucks. Two months of use and 10 months of storage, sometimes outside. Some were 15 years old and still running great. So, really, how important is it to start these motorhomes up unless we intend to get on the road use them regardless of how often it might be?? After all, they are just inanimate objects made of rubber, metal, wood, plastic, some man made fabric and a bunch of wire.

C.Martin · 10-01-2017, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillandJane

I am not sure what kind of system you have but an intelicharger is programmed to do that for you as needed.

WDK

I prefer to initiate it.

dave&ginny · 10-01-2017, 09:07 PM

If you have a diesel, put the right additive in it to prevent mold from growing and keep the tank full. Manufacturers will tell you to put your slides in and out at least once a mince to keep them working correctly.

As for the coach, I never let mine sit more than a few weeks before I take it for a ride. Today's MHs are too complex and fragile to let them sit and not be used. It's better on the fuel system, tires and bearings, to keep them moving as they're intended.

Monacoach · 10-01-2017, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave&ginny

If you have a diesel, put the right additive in it to prevent mold from growing and keep the tank full. Manufacturers will tell you to put your slides in and out at least once a mince to keep them working correctly.

As for the coach, I never let mine sit more than a few weeks before I take it for a ride. Today's MHs are too complex and fragile to let them sit and not be used. It's better on the fuel system, tires and bearings, to keep them moving as they're intended.

This is one of two reasons I hate owning a motorhome the other being that they need to be fixed daily new or old.