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Gotta_Travel · 12-02-2021, 02:44 PM

Hi,

RV newb here. The manual says pull the batteries when winterizing? Because they’ll freeze? Why will they freeze more easily than the AGM in my truck? I was planning on keeping them on a tender.
Do y’all really pull the batteries?

Also, thoughts on jacking up the rear to ease weight in the tires? Mine is a 23FC (double axle).

Thanks in advance!
Phil

urnmor · 12-02-2021, 02:46 PM

I do not pull my batteries and I do not keep the stabilizers down or jack up the rear when storing for winter
.

brick1 · 12-02-2021, 02:56 PM

I leave the batteries in place. They will not freeze unless the get discharged.

**richard5933** · 12-02-2021, 03:04 PM

If they are charged they won't freeze. Be sure your battery tender is not charging at too-high a voltage though.

ROBERT CROSS · 12-02-2021, 04:38 PM

I also leave the batt's in the trailer...fully charged and isolated with a disconnect switch. No tickle charger.

AS on jack stands, with the wheels inside and stabilizers up.

Bob
🇺🇸

Dennis C · 12-02-2021, 04:59 PM

I leave my AGMs in place all winter, with the trailer plugged into a 120V outlet to keep them topped off with my Zamp battery controller.

Gotta_Travel · 12-02-2021, 07:01 PM

Great information. Thanks everyone!

-Phil

**jcanavera** · 12-02-2021, 08:02 PM

Since I keep my trailer in someone else's garage, I don't want things plugged into their power. So I pull my batteries each year and either place them on a trickle charger in my attached garage at home, or I put each of them on a smart multi staged charger one day each month. This year I decided to put them on the smart charger once each month.

While I don't lower the stabilization jacks I will make sure that each wheel is sitting on a mat laid over the concrete floor of the garage.

Jack

Fungus · 12-02-2021, 08:12 PM

Batteries are heavy. We can go camping during what passes as winter here (excepting Snow-mageddon 2021). Batteries stay in the AS.

Gotta_Travel · 12-04-2021, 07:32 PM

Thanks again everyone. For those that don't jack their rig for the winter, do you worry about or end up with flat spots? Do you move it a few feet forward or backward every 2-4 weeks to avoid flat spots?

Cheers,
Phil

**jcanavera** · 12-04-2021, 08:02 PM

I do not move my trailer once i am parked for the winter. I've never experienced any kind of flat spotting on my tires due to extended storage.

Jack

**richard5933** · 12-05-2021, 06:12 AM

I was told by a tire dealer than one thing which can help protect against flat spots is to make sure your tires are fully inflated before parking for the winter and to check the tire pressure occasionally. Low pressure in the tires can make flat spotting more likely.

Gotta_Travel · 12-05-2021, 07:12 AM

Thanks!

Silvr_Bullet · 12-05-2021, 07:27 AM

I think the composition of tires have changed over the years, I remember years ago on cold morning runs in my cars I would feel and hear thumping and a vibration for a bit before the tires warm up, no more. Maybe years ago I bought cheaper tires. I keep my trailer in a local county fairgrounds indoors unheated, it’s there from November to April, I did inflate tires to max published pressure, several years no problems with any visible deterioration of tires.