Battery in Winter
 

Ok- I'm getting a little pro-active here.

I will be storing the hi-lo outside for winter. It has two group 24 batteries wired parallel - neither of which i can access terminals with the trailer in down position.
In Wisconsin, despite global warming, it gets sort of cold here and I hate to leave batteries outside all winter without a trickle charge of some type hooked up. My storeage area DOES NOT have an AC outlet available within 300 yards.

I would like to pull batteries and keep them on a battery-minder in my garage but, then, in spring, or FEBRUARY if i decide to head south---how would I get the trailer up to re-install batteries? I could wire-in terminals that would give me access to jump dead batteries-and leave them in- but that does not solve the problem of me not wanting to discharge my good deep cycle batteries and having them freeze. I could leave the trailer up-but I gather that is not a great choice especially with snsow and ice a possibility.

The other thought I had is to put a semi-not-so good battery in there for the winter and get a small solar trickle charger- which may keep enough in there or at least me allow me a battery I can jump to get the top up. The area is not an enclosed locked area so I would rather not have an expensive solar panel as an offering for somebody short on cash and looking for something they can pawn.

Any other ideas?? Thanks

rick

Rick - don't you have the manual lift feature? I've used this on mine to raise the top enough to completely open the battery compartment. And, as I've posted in other threads, it was not much effort at all, just a lot of "back and forths" with the rod.

Failing that, could you clamp a set of jumper cables to the battery cables in the trailer? If so, you could probably just let the other end dangle outside through the front part of the cover. Then, when you want to raise the trailer, just connect that end to a working battery (one of the ones you removed). Just use some care that the connections inside the box don't touch each other or some other component that might short things out.

- Jack

I just take my batteries out for the winter and leave the battery cables hanging out the front of the box thru the slot in the box for manually raising the camper. They hang out about 8 inches but do not touch the ground.

Then I just set a battery on the ground and push the cable ends on the battery posts to raise and lower as needed.

FYI, I have a 2305C.

Well- you see? Thats why I post this stuff.....So other people reading can say, " JEEZ! Why don't you just.........."

Great ideas. And, yes, I DO have the manual lift, though I've never tried using it. However, leaving the cables "available" is a very non-technical and,I might add, OBVIOUS solution and, quite do-able. I'm glad you all are so observant.

Thanks :)

Rick

It's a hoot, isn't it? ;) However, why don't you give the manual lift approach a try, so you'll know what to expect if you ever REALLY need it when you're out in the boonies. I keep saying it's not all that hard, and I'd like someone to back me up. :)

I wasn't sure your trailer cables would be long enough, so I suggested the jumper "extension cord" approach.

- Jack

Can you back charge through the TV (television that is) Cigarette Lighter 12 volt connection with a low dollar solar charger, maybe propped up inside in a window? I wouldn't think you would have much draw on the batteries, and if might supply enough juice to keep them fresh, from the inside. Just thinking out loud, sometimes simple is better :)