Another storage issue.
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Another storage issue.
We are going to spend summers in southern Colorado and winters in Arizona. I'm planning on leaving our new 2014 F-150 garaged in AZ during the summer, the 2011 Murano in CO for the winter and commuting in the 2014 Mustang.
The battery in the Murano cannot be removed for more than 2 minutes or it has to be taken to a dealer to restore factory computer pre-sets.
I'm thinking of putting a 1 amp trickle charger on it controled by a timer to come on for 8 hours one day a week and doing the same for the F-150.
I'm leary about leaving a trickle charger on, unatended, for 6 months in the event it will malfunction, fail to shut down when the battery is fully charged. If the battery overcharges I assume it could explode and create a fire hazard.
Any thoughts?
The battery in the Murano cannot be removed for more than 2 minutes or it has to be taken to a dealer to restore factory computer pre-sets.
I'm thinking of putting a 1 amp trickle charger on it controled by a timer to come on for 8 hours one day a week and doing the same for the F-150.
I'm leary about leaving a trickle charger on, unatended, for 6 months in the event it will malfunction, fail to shut down when the battery is fully charged. If the battery overcharges I assume it could explode and create a fire hazard.
Any thoughts?
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From: Southern California
We are going to spend summers in southern Colorado and winters in Arizona. I'm planning on leaving our new 2014 F-150 garaged in AZ during the summer, the 2011 Murano in CO for the winter and commuting in the 2014 Mustang.
The battery in the Murano cannot be removed for more than 2 minutes or it has to be taken to a dealer to restore factory computer pre-sets.
I'm thinking of putting a 1 amp trickle charger on it controled by a timer to come on for 8 hours one day a week and doing the same for the F-150.
I'm leary about leaving a trickle charger on, unatended, for 6 months in the event it will malfunction, fail to shut down when the battery is fully charged. If the battery overcharges I assume it could explode and create a fire hazard.
Any thoughts?
The battery in the Murano cannot be removed for more than 2 minutes or it has to be taken to a dealer to restore factory computer pre-sets.
I'm thinking of putting a 1 amp trickle charger on it controled by a timer to come on for 8 hours one day a week and doing the same for the F-150.
I'm leary about leaving a trickle charger on, unatended, for 6 months in the event it will malfunction, fail to shut down when the battery is fully charged. If the battery overcharges I assume it could explode and create a fire hazard.
Any thoughts?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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Personally, I think you'll have greater issues then just keeping the
batteries charged. Not driving a vehicle for 6 months can
cause a number of problems. You're doing that on two or your three vehicles.
I'd put the Mustang on a trailer, tow it back and forth with the F150,
and sell the Murano. But that's probably not the opinion you wanted to hear.
batteries charged. Not driving a vehicle for 6 months can
cause a number of problems. You're doing that on two or your three vehicles.
I'd put the Mustang on a trailer, tow it back and forth with the F150,
and sell the Murano. But that's probably not the opinion you wanted to hear.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Do you have a neighbor that you trust and can move the cars? All they need to do is make a lap around the neighborhood once a week or ever two weeks but you have to keep the cars moving, too many seals will start to dry out from sitting, the tires also need to be stimulated for two reasons, chemical reasons and flat spotting.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
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From: SE Wyoming
The small battery tenders do just fine, I use a battery tender JR on several pieces of equipment easily 7-8 months out of the year. I'd be more worried about some kind of timer not working properly than a battery tender that is designed to do exactly what you want.
I must have miracle vehicles that can sit for years and have no ill effects.
I must have miracle vehicles that can sit for years and have no ill effects.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,475
Likes: 727
From: Calgary Canada
Agree with the above posters, what you want is a Battery Tender, not a battery trickle charger. Most new-ish chargers have the "smart" circuitry that make them suitable for long term storage.
I also agree that the batteries are not your only problem. Leaving vehicles sitting for six months at a time will not be good for their longevity.
Why don't you want the F150 in Colorado? Seems like that's probably a great vehicle for that climate.
I also agree that the batteries are not your only problem. Leaving vehicles sitting for six months at a time will not be good for their longevity.
Why don't you want the F150 in Colorado? Seems like that's probably a great vehicle for that climate.
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Agree with the above posters, what you want is a Battery Tender, not a battery trickle charger. Most new-ish chargers have the "smart" circuitry that make them suitable for long term storage.
I also agree that the batteries are not your only problem. Leaving vehicles sitting for six months at a time will not be good for their longevity.
Why don't you want the F150 in Colorado? Seems like that's probably a great vehicle for that climate.
I also agree that the batteries are not your only problem. Leaving vehicles sitting for six months at a time will not be good for their longevity.
Why don't you want the F150 in Colorado? Seems like that's probably a great vehicle for that climate.
In answer to the question: I have to take the F-150 to AZ (at least initially) to pull a U-Haul trailer down with some furniture and to pick up building supplies there for garage shelving, workbench etc for a new house. I'd like year round availability of the Mustang convertable and would prefer not to make the 900 mile trek with two vehicles each spring and fall (my wife is not capable of driving long distances).
BTW, I ordered two battery tenders to solve part of the issues and plan to use Stabil in the vehicles left behind.
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Rochester,NY
Storage
Hi,
I would put Vehicles up on jack stands(take weight off of tires) you would not believe how fast you can get flat spots in tires or even dry rot cracks,get a couple of cheap sets of jack stands you aren't going under vehicle,Stabil works well when you aren't starting the vehicle also use a higher octane gas when storing a vehicle it lasts longer.Battery tenders are very reliable they use 1/2 amp to charge battery see if you can get american made ones I know Interstate Battery makes one.I store Vehicles every winter in upstate New York,I lived in Colorado for 5 years Really enjoyed it to me its Gods Country!!!
I would put Vehicles up on jack stands(take weight off of tires) you would not believe how fast you can get flat spots in tires or even dry rot cracks,get a couple of cheap sets of jack stands you aren't going under vehicle,Stabil works well when you aren't starting the vehicle also use a higher octane gas when storing a vehicle it lasts longer.Battery tenders are very reliable they use 1/2 amp to charge battery see if you can get american made ones I know Interstate Battery makes one.I store Vehicles every winter in upstate New York,I lived in Colorado for 5 years Really enjoyed it to me its Gods Country!!!
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
I retired from the Coast Guard in 2004 and all through my career I rode large white boats that were on patrol for months at a time.
My wife couldn't drive my old '88 F-150 so it would sit outdoors for four months at a time and it did this repeatedly for years with no ill effects except for faded paint and rust formations.
No leaks, no out of round tires, no suspension issues, no electrical issues, no clogged injectors, nada.
A vehicle will suffer more from lack of maintenance than it will from lack of driving.
My wife couldn't drive my old '88 F-150 so it would sit outdoors for four months at a time and it did this repeatedly for years with no ill effects except for faded paint and rust formations.
No leaks, no out of round tires, no suspension issues, no electrical issues, no clogged injectors, nada.
A vehicle will suffer more from lack of maintenance than it will from lack of driving.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
Im going to concur on a battery tender as well. I have been using the same tender on my Harley for almost 10 years and just had to replace the factory battery this year. A battery tender is just plug it in and forget about it.
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