|
12-15-2012, 06:13 AM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 15
|
Disconnect battery?
Should I disconnect the battery on the vehicle left sitting in the garage while we are out RVing? We will be gone about 6-8 weeks. (First trip in our new to us 2012 Four Winds 28a.)
__________________
2006 Fleetwood Excursion 39S
350 C7 Cat, 6 SPD Allison
2008 Honda CRV
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
12-15-2012, 06:21 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,309
|
Hello, you would be better to put a battery tender on it. It will pay for itself over the life of your auto battery.
__________________
2012 Essex 4544 2011 Jeep JK, M&G Braking, 2014 MTI 27' Hog Hauler, Wireless brake control, 2006 Ultra & 1989 Springer, 2003 Harley-Davidson
FLHR Road King Anniversary
|
|
|
12-15-2012, 06:32 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: May 2009
Location: kingston tn.
Posts: 974
|
longest we have been out is about 6 weeks did nothing for the vehicle left behind'it started fine the fist trip it made after arriving home was to the lincoln dlr for an oil change
the diagnostics said battery preformance was low i said thanks i will bring it back if any problems there were none and the in truck diagnostics said all systems OK after a few day of driving. the truck was an 06 mkt w57000 miles original battery
so i would not worry
brianj
__________________
just liven life in east tn or where ever our
2011 georgetown ,2016 explorer and 2015 "hemi" ram take us
|
|
|
12-15-2012, 06:36 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
|
Hi Littlelake95,
Welcome to iRV2. For me, I do not do this. However, it may depend on the brand of car. The car we leave, for several months at a time, auto disconnects most of the parasite voltage draws, over time, if the car is not used. If you will sleep better at night knowing the battery is disconnected, then do it. You can hurt nothing. My neighbor disconnects his battery when he is gone for several months at a time.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
|
|
|
12-15-2012, 08:13 AM
|
#5
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 15
|
Thanks for the responses. We just bought our first MH. We have "tested" it on two different two nite trips here in MI. We are planning a much longer trip to AZ shortly. I am glad I found this forum so I don't have to depend on "trial & ERROR" to figure all this new stuff out!!
__________________
2006 Fleetwood Excursion 39S
350 C7 Cat, 6 SPD Allison
2008 Honda CRV
|
|
|
12-15-2012, 10:29 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,753
|
The longest I have left a battery "unattended" was 9 months. I disconnected the negative post and left it in the vehicle. Came back, hooked it up and the truck started right away. If your battery is fairly new, you can leave it but if it more than a couple of years old, then I would put a tender on it.
|
|
|
12-15-2012, 10:55 AM
|
#7
|
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 98
|
If your radio has a security code make sure you know it when you disconnect the battery.
__________________
Retired USN Master Chief
1982-2005
|
|
|
12-15-2012, 10:56 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,103
|
I'd disconnect it.
Every car, and battery, is different and the small amount of time to disconnect it is better than the hassle of having to charge it.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
|
|
|
12-15-2012, 11:10 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,311
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland
I'd disconnect it.
Every car, and battery, is different and the small amount of time to disconnect it is better than the hassle of having to charge it.
|
X2, on the lot at the dealership where I worked , no starts,due to dead battery, would occour in as little as 3 weeks.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
|
|
|
12-15-2012, 12:19 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,816
|
I finally started using a battery tender. No more resetting the clock or stereo presets.
__________________
2011 MVP Tahoe 230 QB on Ford E350 Chassis
|
|
|
12-15-2012, 02:51 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Benson, AZ
Posts: 212
|
You have to be a little careful with disconnecting the battery on today's modern cars; they have computers in them that "learn" your driving style and make modifications to everything from shift points to engine control of timing and fuel delivery. If you disconnect the battery, the automobile's computer has to "re-learn" all of that information and fuel efficiency usually suffers and the "learning curve" can be 500 miles or more to get back to what you originally had.
Best bet is to install a Battery Minder or Battery Tender; they have quick attach components that make hook up a breeze and they will keep the battery charged and desulfated. No "re-learning" for the computer, no lost radio stations or other "customizations" (a lot of the new "radios" are highly customizable, even more so with built-in GPS units, etc.). All of my equipment is outfitted with one, from my lawnmower to my antique cars and my daily drivers, even my emergency generator with electric start; if they aren't going to be used in a week, they get hooked up. The battery in my JD tractor is 13 years old and starts the tractor like it is new.
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Don & Bronwyn + 1 Cat; J-Lo
2014 Thor Tuscany 40RX (AKA, "The Cat House")
2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Towed
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|