Maintenance while in storage

[Grasshopper21]

What systems, if any, should be left on active, etc, while the RV is in covered storage?

[Bob Denman]

If you leave all the batteries in it: plug it in, leave the switch in the "use" position, and keep a close eye on the battery water levels.
Everything else can be left cold, dark, and silent.

[EA37TS]

If no shore power is available turn everything off and disconnect house and Coach batteries.

Remember to exercise the generator for 2 hours under a 50 percent load monthly.

[Jimbo56]

My genny won’t start if batteries are disconnected and the switch is in store. I’d leave it plugged in even if you have to use a 15 a receptacle and extension cord. Like Bob said, make sure battery water is full.

[Campnjoe]

We just hit the store switch and turn off the inverter, but we use ours at least once every three weeks if not more. For the long winter storage, around 2 and a half months for us, I go out there and exercise the generator with a 1500watt heater. I do this every 3 to 4 weeks.

[Miramar Owner]

I just hit the store switch while in storage. In Iowa that's from early November to late March. I start the generator monthly and run 2 space heaters to put a load on it. I kick back and watch TV for about an hour. I also turn off the inverter and make sure the AGS is off.

That's it... I don't remove/disconnect any batteries. I've done it this way for many years and never have had an issue.

[DavidEM]

My Axis has a small but measurable load on the house batteries even when the battery disconnect switch is off- a bit less than a tenth of an amp. But over winter that will result in dead batteries. I use the 100 watt panel on the roof to keep everything charged up, but in storage you don't have that option.

So if you don't have shorepower (and you probably wouldn't be asking the question if you did) then what you do depends on the batteries.

FLA (flooded lead acid with filler caps) batteries self discharge at a good rate, up to 10% a month and some say more. If it is only going to be in storage for a few months then just turn off the use/store or battery disconnect switch. If in storage for 6 months, then remove the coach batteries and the chassis batteries if they are also FLAs and take them home and put them on a trickle charger. One reason for doing this in addition to the fact that leaving batteries discharged for a long time will kill them, is that if it gets down well below freezing, discharged batteries can freeze and crack the case.

Another way, depending on the storage facility is to start up the generator every few months and let it charge everything up. I think 2 hours at 50% load is a bit much. Run it at partial load with the converter load and a 110V space heater for at least a half an hour. That is enough to bring the generator up to temp and flush out all of the water contaminated ethanol fuel.

OK, the other common battery types are AGMs and less common Lithium. Both self discharge at low rates and can be just turned off with the use/store or battery disconnect switch off and left alone. But that works only if you don't have significant on going parasitic loads as my new Axis does. So disconnect the house batteries at their terminal to eliminate any parasitic load discharge.

You should also run the generator as above which if done at least every month would keep up with the parasitic loads on my Axis.

David

[TheGoodLife]

Regarding our soon to be delivered Thor Quantum, while it is in a covered storage space with shore power connected will the chassis battery be receiving a trickle charge or does an external trickle charger need to be used?

[Bob Denman]

If your battery switch is set to "On": you're good to go!

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

If you leave all the batteries in it: plug it in, leave the switch in the "use" position, and keep a close eye on the battery water levels.
Everything else can be left cold, dark, and silent.

With mine I turn the switch off and let the solar panel keep everything charged throughout the winter. If I leave the switch on everything 12 volts is capable of running, the USB chargers are lit up when not in use and no telling what else has a parasitic draw. I checked my batteries again after a year and they were down 1/4 inch so I finally put water in took about 10 minutes. Some batteries must use a lot of water to need auto watering devices

[Bob Denman]

They don't have a solar charging system...

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

They don't have a solar charging system...

I think my 120 from the home keeps it charging but I would need to check when the sun go's down and the switch is off

[Bob Denman]

I'm sure that it does.

[TheGoodLife]

We will have a solar charging system on the RV but since our storage space is covered it will essentially take the panel out of contributing toward the battery charging maintenance while being stored.

[sportcoupe]

If plugged in, put a small dehumidifier in the sink so it can drain. Drill a hole in the water container so it can run constantly.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08T9FN459

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by sportcoupe

If plugged in, put a small dehumidifier in the sink so it can drain. Drill a hole in the water container so it can run constantly.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08T9FN459

Either that: or some large bags of desiccants; that you can change out during the "Dark Spell"...

[chunker21]

There's more to life than batteries for storage. I'd block open the refrigerator to prevent mold, drain the water heater if it's going to be a while (turn 120v switch OFF on the unit outside, set some mouse traps, remove anything related to garbage and food stuffs not canned or in sealed containers. That would include any food even sealed that's temperature sensitive such as cooking oils etc. Clean and dry any leveling blocks especially wood ones. Wash and wax.