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10-09-2014, 08:01 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 11
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Where do you store your trailer battery?
I'm a bit torn over where to store my trailer battery over the winter. Do I store it in the garage where it will be very cold for several months or do I keep it warm by storing it in my basement?
What do you suggest?
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2015 F-189FDS
2014 Nissan Frontier
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10-09-2014, 08:11 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,287
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Personally I would store it in the garage which is better ventilated than a basement. That way no fumes build up near ignition sources like water heaters or furnaces.
I'm assuming you have it on trickle charger to keep it charged.
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2011 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 4X4
2009 210 WBS
Prodigy P3
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10-09-2014, 07:07 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,142
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Keep them charged
No matter where you keep them, be sure to keep them on a battery tender -- I use the batteryminder plus and it really works. If you let them discharge, they won't last nearly as long. Please don't ask how I discovered this fact -- an expensive lesson.
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10-10-2014, 07:52 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3
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If you are going to store it in the garage just ensure it is not on the floor and the cold from the cement or concrete will definitely be the demise of the battery.
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2012 Fun Finder Xtra XT276
2010 Toyota Tundra 5.7L 4x4 W/Tow pkg
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10-10-2014, 11:45 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,106
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I store my Interstate camper battery in an unheated garage on a wooden bench with a Harley Davidson battery tender connected to it part of the time. Maybe on for a week and then off for two weeks as I don't believe it needs to be on all the time.
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2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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10-13-2014, 07:25 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: The Mitten State
Posts: 106
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Unlikely to discharge over the winter just sitting there with no load. maybe trickle charge once over the winter is all you need.
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2014 Fun Finder 214 WSD
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10-20-2014, 04:56 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 12
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Storing on concrete doesn't do anything to modern batteries, that's a tail from when batteries where made of wood and leather. People tend to store batteries on concrete for months on end and then comeback and find them dead from normal self-discharge and confirm a myth. Ignoring batteries is the real killer.
A battery will lose charge slower if it's kept colder, however in the case of lead-acid, if allowed to discharge the electrolyte can freeze and destroy the battery. Charge the battery up really well, and it will keep nicely for three months. Charge it periodically. I've had problems with those trickle chargers coming unplugged or dying and then actually being a load on the battery, which destroys it. Keep the battery in a cool, non-freezing location. If you're not charging the battery it will not produce any gases.
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09-23-2016, 04:20 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1
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Why store it? Take your RV some place warm and enjoy
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09-24-2016, 07:30 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 126
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Quote:
Originally Posted by axv129
Storing on concrete doesn't do anything to modern batteries, that's a tail from when batteries where made of wood and leather. People tend to store batteries on concrete for months on end and then comeback and find them dead from normal self-discharge and confirm a myth. Ignoring batteries is the real killer.
A battery will lose charge slower if it's kept colder, however in the case of lead-acid, if allowed to discharge the electrolyte can freeze and destroy the battery. Charge the battery up really well, and it will keep nicely for three months. Charge it periodically. I've had problems with those trickle chargers coming unplugged or dying and then actually being a load on the battery, which destroys it. Keep the battery in a cool, non-freezing location. If you're not charging the battery it will not produce any gases.
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^^This. Well Written.
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2011 FunFinder XT276
2012 Ford F250 King Ranch 6.7
Native Slayer Propel Fishing kayak
Hobie i9s kayak
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09-24-2016, 12:54 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 487
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diverlady
I'm a bit torn over where to store my trailer battery over the winter. Do I store it in the garage where it will be very cold for several months or do I keep it warm by storing it in my basement?
What do you suggest?
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Hi Diverlady,
I live in North-Central Minnesota and can tell (from experience), if a battery is allowed to discharge and is stored where temps drop below freezing, it will freeze; then, the only thing it is good for is a core for a new battery...
I run two, Grp 31 Batteries and at around $150+ ea., I store them in a "Heated to about mid-40 degree" garage. I plug them into a Battery tender and let them run all winter... as long as I'm not taking the trailer camping...
Probably more a carry-over from the old batteries, but I never store my batteries on a concrete floor... 1st because of old habits, and 2nd because my garage floor gets cold enough to freeze the water that drips off the cars. I made a low shelf and store them up off the floor against the house wall...
According to the folks that make the Battery Tender, if left connected, it will not harm the battery, but will extend the battery's life... I have another battery for a trailer I rarely use that is in great shape and been on a Tender for more than a year...
Good luck to you and hope to meet up with you some time...
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Happy Camping,
John (JC)
2013 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 4X4 MAX Tow Package
2018 Dutchman, Coleman Lite 1805RB
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09-24-2016, 12:55 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,106
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Also most of the newer made batteries are sealed ~ ie no way to add water or fumes to 'escape' the battery case.
AGM batteries like the Optima and the gel cell batteries are sealed and tend to outlast and outperform the old lead-acid type from my experience.
__________________
2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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09-24-2016, 12:58 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,106
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cajunrider
Why store it? Take your RV some place warm and enjoy
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IF NOT for the wife working yet and having group health insurance for her health issues ~ we would be camping 24/7 - almost 365.
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2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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09-25-2016, 09:04 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by axv129
Storing on concrete doesn't do anything to modern batteries, that's a tail from when batteries where made of wood and leather. People tend to store batteries on concrete for months on end and then comeback and find them dead from normal self-discharge and confirm a myth. Ignoring batteries is the real killer.
A battery will lose charge slower if it's kept colder, however in the case of lead-acid, if allowed to discharge the electrolyte can freeze and destroy the battery. Charge the battery up really well, and it will keep nicely for three months. Charge it periodically. I've had problems with those trickle chargers coming unplugged or dying and then actually being a load on the battery, which destroys it. Keep the battery in a cool, non-freezing location. If you're not charging the battery it will not produce any gases.
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Very interesting post. We never used to use a trickle charger when storing our motorcycles in our unheated garage. Two years ago we did. In the spring I had a dead battery. Your explanation about a defective charger just might explain what happened. Now we're back to just charging them up in the Spring. No trickle charger. We do start the bikes up a few times over the winter. My battery is really hard to get to because of my custom bags.
__________________
2008 Fun Finder 189 FBR, (replaced by) 1996 Shasta 265DBFW April 2017.
2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 (replaced by.....)
2006 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, crew cab
It's a big world...explore it!!!
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09-25-2016, 09:08 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cajunrider
Why store it? Take your RV some place warm and enjoy
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Too many people (Florida), or too brown, dusty and dry (southwest). We like snow!!
__________________
2008 Fun Finder 189 FBR, (replaced by) 1996 Shasta 265DBFW April 2017.
2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 (replaced by.....)
2006 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, crew cab
It's a big world...explore it!!!
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09-25-2016, 09:36 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,106
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michigantraveler
Too many people (Florida), or too brown, dusty and dry (southwest). We like snow!!
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Yes, I also enjoy the changing seasons, fall to winter to spring to summer.
You can always put more on but can only take so much off!
__________________
2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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09-27-2016, 10:57 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Hickory Flat, Ga.
Posts: 734
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michigantraveler
Too many people (Florida), or too brown, dusty and dry (southwest). We like snow!!
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Shhhhh....(((((South Georgia (and southern Alabama) are well guarded secrets, not crowded and it's inexpensive.))))
BTW...Snow...that's the white stuff on the TV when you need to go out and turn the antenna right?
__________________
Alan
2005 T139FK
1995 Chevy G20 aka "Big Blue",
1994 GMC Camper Van,
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09-27-2016, 12:52 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,106
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Turn the antenna? Do you still do that in South Georgia and southern Alabama?
Up here in the north country, when folks had antennas they were electric motorized so could be turned from inside the house. However, seldom see tv antennas anymore ~ everyone has cable TV or Satellite TV now!
and just got my notice, the camper goes in the fairgrounds October 12/13 for winter storage.
__________________
2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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09-27-2016, 07:05 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,330
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A lot of people are telling the cable tv companies to shove it and just subscribe to internet. Depending on where you are you can get signals fine with just a tv antennae. We don't have cable tv. Dont need to pay for a hundred channels we don't want to watch. We use Apple TV and Roku boxes with our internet and tv.
__________________
2008 Fun Finder 189 FBR, (replaced by) 1996 Shasta 265DBFW April 2017.
2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 (replaced by.....)
2006 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, crew cab
It's a big world...explore it!!!
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09-27-2016, 07:07 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,330
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I wondered about other states. Interesting.
__________________
__________________
2008 Fun Finder 189 FBR, (replaced by) 1996 Shasta 265DBFW April 2017.
2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 (replaced by.....)
2006 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, crew cab
It's a big world...explore it!!!
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