Winter/leave trailer up or down/battery

[Janice Gealey]

Ok, i need help. Winterized all the inside and popped her down but what about the battery??? I covered her yesterday and then it hit me, what about the battery. If i take it out how do i get the hi lo to go down or do you leave it in the up position during the wnter. If i leave the battery in and keep her popped down what if the battery dies how do i get her up in the spring. Need help here. I left the brush in the toilet issue untl next spring when i will probably have to get somene to open the tank and get it out. I still love this trailer.

 

[JackandJanet]

You CAN lower and raise the top without the battery, but it's possibly more of a chore than you'd like.

If your battery is in good shape, and you haven't had problems with it discharging when the trailer is not in use, you are probably fine leaving it in the trailer connected to the electrical system. A charged battery will not freeze.

If you have access to shore power where you are storing the trailer, I'd simply connect it to shore power maybe once a month for a day. This will activate the converter and should keep the battery in a fully charged condition.

- Jack

 

[renoites]

Janice
Lower the trlr and remove the battery.
Put in the garage/house on a float charger. Battery tender is the brand I would recommend, about $25 on Amazon.
The battery tender will keep the battery charged up and NOT overcharged.
Will be ready when you are.
Check the battery fluid level when bringing in from the cold and top off to correct level.

When you winterized did you remove the drain pug at the flush fill valve on the toilet? Most often forgotten item. When it freezes it will crack. 1 cup of rv anti-freeze to each and all drains. After blowing out all of the water in the lines with compressed air.

But that is how I do it anyway!

 

[Jeff H-HILO]

Hi Janice!
The way I deal with this is when the top is up, I remove the battery from the camper. Then I take a set of jumper cables and attach one end (both the positive and negative clamps) to the battery that I just removed then I hook up the other end to the camper cables that I just disconnected from my battery. This process works best with 2 people-one to make sure the jumper cables don't make contact with the camper or each other, and the other person to push the "down" switch. The battery compartment has a small access panel that allows you limited access to the battery compartment, even when the top is down. When the top is down, you can disconnect the jumper cables from the battery and camper, then push the camper battery cables into the battery compartment and close the access panel.
Hope this helps!

Jeff

 

[Luckydog671]

Hi Janice!
The way I deal with this is when the top is up, I remove the battery from the camper. Then I take a set of jumper cables and attach one end (both the positive and negative clamps) to the battery that I just removed then I hook up the other end to the camper cables that I just disconnected from my battery. This process works best with 2 people-one to make sure the jumper cables don't make contact with the camper or each other, and the other person to push the "down" switch. The battery compartment has a small access panel that allows you limited access to the battery compartment, even when the top is down. When the top is down, you can disconnect the jumper cables from the battery and camper, then push the camper battery cables into the battery compartment and close the access panel.
Hope this helps!

Jeff

Now I understand what those holes on each side of the battery box are for. Thanks, Jeff!

 

[RichR]

Janice, You do not want to leave the top up for the winter, especially if you live where you get snow. The weight of snow can overload the lift system and let the top come crashing down aided by the weight of the snow. I have seen a HiLo that had that happen and know what damage it can do.

 

[sam-HILO]

Battery care

Janice check battery water level. If needed just cover the plates with distilled water. DON'T OVER FILL.