6-Week Vacation; what to do with Batteries

[PolarisCobra]

From this forum, you are right.

From Facebook, not so much, because people use their real name, and general location.

 

[turkeybird56]

From this forum, you are right.

From Facebook, not so much, because people use their real name, and general location.

Yup on phone they could track cell stuff if they had the technology. On my PC I run all through a VPN.

 

[Hagar1]

If we go out for the day, our little home guardian generally stay home to look after the place. I'd pay money to see someone break in and try negotiating with my 100 lb German Shepherd.
i think they would lose the arguement.

 

[Jim Bowker]

I would not worry about leaving it as is for 6 weeks.

I would. A disconnected battery would be fine, but modern vehicles can give you an unwelcome surprise when everything loses its memory. That's why I would discard all three options you mentioned. Disconnecting and leaving in place, or disconnecting and taking inside both result in loss of memory for the vehicle. Leaving it alone gives the electronics 6 weeks to slowly drain the batteries, which might result in memory loss as well as reducing the life of the batteries.
I prefer a regulated solar charger/maintainer.

 

[FAAQ2]

In addition to shutting off the water - shut off the water heater also. I would remove them from the truck and chair them in the garage .

 

[Greg Groome]

Can't run an extension cord to a trickle charger?

 

[3CUMMINS]

I have a 2019 Ram 3500 dually that has never been winter driven.
I use a Battery Minder 128 from November (whenever the first snow arrives) until usually April. or when the snow seems to have quit. It is not my only vehicle, so there is no pressure to get it back on the road.
My husband had adapted it to maintain and desulfate both batteries. They may have one now that will accommodate the dual batteries.
Other than ensuring vermin are not dining on the interior, wires or whatever else their little hearts desire, that's is it.
If you do not disconnect the battery, then all you have to do is remove the vermin repellent (peppermint oil on cotton balls in the interior and engine compartment), open the window or hold your breath until the peppermint subsides, start it and drive. No electronic diddling at the dealership.
Worked for 5, soon to be 6 years.

 

[Leo_J]

I'd opt for getting the solar panel. I'd be looking for at least 12 watts from a 12 panel. Watts divided by volts = amps. The panel like the one recommended in post #5 would be a good one, except I'd go with the 12 watt panel with the onboard solar panel controller. And when you are done with your vacation, you have a nice tool to keep something charged like a dump trailer battery.

 

[SOLER]

6 weeks won't be that big of a deal. I would give them a full charge on a charger before I left, and upon return from va-cay, charge them up before you try to start the truck. They will slowly discharge while you're gone, and if they get really low, and you try to start it, that might too much strain on them and definitely weaken them, if not down right kill them.

 

[coconutjoe]

Looking for advice on what to do with the batteries from my 2019 3500 Cummins while we're on an extended vacation of more than 6 weeks.

Ideally, I'd connect them to a battery tender as I do with all my other vehicles. However, the 3500 Mega Cab 4WD will not fit into my garage (too tall for the door), nor will it fit in my driveway (16' driveway, 20' truck!), so it needs to be left on the street. The batteries are about 9 months old, so not NEW, but not old, either. I'm thinking I have 3 options:

1. Leave them as they are, and hope they don't discharge so much in 6 weeks as to not be able to start. This is what I've done in the past for up to 4 weeks without any problem. But from what I know of lead-acid batteries, discharging below 50% can be detrimental to their long-term health. No idea how much they will discharge in 6 weeks.

2. Leave them in the truck, but disconnect them. Not sure what programming this will lose beyond the presets for the mirrors, seat and radio, but those can all be easily re-programmed on our return. Although they will discharge somewhat while sitting, without being connected, 6 weeks shouldn't be detrimental to battery health.

3. Disconnect and remove them from the truck, and put them on a tender in the garage. Lowest risk, but seems like a bit of unnecessary work.

 

[coconutjoe]

Last year, I planned to not operate my truck for two months. I called the local dealership to ask how to disconnect the batteries (I have two batteries) properly. There is a procedure for disconnection/reconnection because of all the computers in the truck.
When I reconnected the batteries, I had no issues at all!