Greetings gents, just wanted to pose a question. Do you folks remove your battery from yout trailer when you winterize and store it for the winter ? I finished the winterization of my rig on Saturday, but have been debating on removing the battery and keeping it at home on a tricle charger for the winter. That way the battery is charged and ready to go when I pick up the rig... Your thoughts ?

 

I would take it out if it were me, but be careful with your charger. If is not a "maintaner" it will overcharge your battery and you might still have a dead battery next season. A trickle charger, if it is not a maintainer, which means it shuts on and off automatically, will eventually overcharge your battery.

I own a Batteries Plus store and I have a lot of customers come in with a overcharged, dead battery left on a trickle charger all off- season.

 

I use solar panels with charge controller , in multiple applications .
The trickiest part is getting the right stuff , for a reasonable price .
Then its weather your willing to pay the up front costs , for long term savings?
You can get something to work in house for maybe $50 , but if your send more & install it in trailer , you'd get a lot of extra use of 12v & longer lasting batteries , min. maybe $100 , could spend $500 , Not more than that because your limited by how much in battery weight & volume .

http://www.backwoodssolar.com/

 

I agree, I use a battery tender that can maintain up to 4 batteries. I currently use it on my generator, and my motorcycle, and is works flawlessly. I don't see any problem with removing the battery, as it is dead as a door nail in the spring anyway... Actually the battery goes dead in a couple of weeks anyway.....

 

I leave mine in and plug in the trailer for 1 week every month. Keeps it charged. Seems like I end up replacing it every 2-3 years if I take it out or leave it in.

 

I have no access to AC power where I store the trailer, otherwise I would just leave it in and tricle charge it...

 

I always remove mine, I store it in a heated garage on a piece of wood on the floor and use it as a boosting battery in the winter. I give it a charge about once every 2 months. If you leave it in it powers the Propane detector and kills the battery, once dead it freezes.

 

I think I am taking it our, and keep her warm all winter... Thanks for all the replies...

 

Personally I just plug in my trailer for a day every month or two to keep the batteries up (fuse for LP removed), but if I didn't have access to power I think I would also pull the batteries and put them on a Battery Tender.

I have to pull the batteries periodically, anyway, because there isn't access to check the electrolite level when they are installed.