Community Forums

bradvoorhees · 07-08-2017, 07:48 AM

Hey folks, were close to purchasing a fairly large motorhome. My storage concern is the coach itself. I have a parcel on some property we are about to buy that has room to store the motorhome, but it does not have power for hookups. Can I shut down all systems and leave the coach for 3 to 4 weeks at a time without causing issue. I can start genny once or twice a month to give batteries a boost when needed. The coach is a 2005 40ft Beaver Monterey laguna iv. I would like to have power but for now that will not be available, the current owner said he would not recommend storing without power for fear the batteries would suffer. I would like to have power at the lot by mid winter but that's a ways off, I'll have questions for the power run as time goes on. I did read where these coaches do not like a 20amp hook up so that will have to be addressed when the time comes. Thanks for your thoughts on this. Basically I want to know if you guys would do it.

Sorry if posted in wrong section

sbleiweiss · 07-08-2017, 07:56 AM

Not ideal but many do it. If you are starting and running the genny every week or two you should be fine. You could disconnect battery cables to be doubly sure. On some older coaches the genny doesn't charge the chassis battery (I think), but worse come to worse you should be able to start by the emergency boost switch.

OLYLEN · 07-08-2017, 08:25 AM

A month at a time is what I did with the DP for 8 years and for 4-5 months with monthly Gen time keeping batteries up. Turn batteries off between visits at the batteries. As far as 15-20 amp service will work and keep up batteries and one other light use item like refer if batteries are full. Do not start coach unless you are going somewhere to get all up to operating temps, 30 minutes driving, as shorter time does not get the motor and transmission up to operating temperature.

LEN

Winemaker2 · 07-08-2017, 08:39 AM

Does it have any solar?
If not you might want to consider adding some...even a temp unit w aligator clips for time in storage.
Best to either disconnect cables as there is usually some parasitic load that will deplete batteries.

mricet1005 · 07-08-2017, 08:56 AM

I store my DP from Nov to April with no power. Go once a month to exercise generator and recharge batteries (takes about 3 hours to get them to float charge). My coach has mastery battery disconnect switches for both house and chassis batteries, however, I learned the hard way that the inverter/charger is connected directly to batteries bypassing switch. If I leave inverter on, even with all AC devices off via breakers, the inverter itself has enough draw to pull batteries below 50% in days. If I turn off inverter coach can go at least a month. On mine inverter easy to turn off with button at power control panel above drives seat. Just need to not forget! If I needed to store longer without attention I would disconnect battery cables.

RV Vagabond · 07-08-2017, 09:40 AM

From what I hear, you should not only run the generator monthly, but also drive the motorhome around for at least an hour to give the engine some exercise too. Another concern is rats and mice getting up in it and chewing up the wiring.

Mike and Cha · 07-08-2017, 04:02 PM

We store ours at home and keep it plugged into 20 amps all the time. It does not hurt anything to be plugged into 20 amps, and it will keep the batteries at float charge just fine. I just wouldn't try and run the AC's on the 20 amp service as that may damage them. Even though it is plugged in, if we don't get out in it, once a month I run the generator and exercise the AC's, or heat pumps depending on the season.

There was a short time that I could not keep it plugged in so I ran the generator for a couple hours every two weeks and that seemed to keep the batteries just fine. Good luck and have fun with it.

smlranger · 07-08-2017, 04:23 PM

In short, yes you can store it for some time without connecting it to shore power. My coach sits in a covered storage unit with no shore power for up to 60 days between trips. However, you do need to use (if the coach already has them) battery disconnects for both chassis and house batteries. Not the switch inside the coach but a real mechanical disconnect switch that is usually mounted near the batteries. Most of these coaches have parasitic loads that will deplete the batteries over time. If you have good disconnect switches on the positive leads from the battery banks, you should be fine.

Even though I have the disconnect switches, I got a 100 watt solar panel from Home Depot and a solar controller. I mounted the controller near the batteries and I hang the panel on the rear ladder of the coach when it sits in storage. 100 watts is not enough to recharge them if they are low but it works very well to keep them fully charged (the batteries are charged from running the coach when I park it in storage).

Even so, I do get the coach out of storage once a month and drive it for about a 20 mile round trip and I do exercise the generator during the drive (run the roof AC's, heat pumps).

Finally, do yourself a favor when you get around to installing electric at your property and install a pedestal that has 50 amp, 30 amp and a 20 amp outlet. You will thank yourself many times for doing that and you won't spend that much more doing it over just installing a 20 amp outlet.