Long term storage and battery tender

[Bulldog9]

Gonna be taking another all expense paid fun filled year long trip to the sandbox across the Atlantic this.
summer.

Due to all the computer crap in the Bullitt, my normal routine of stabilized fuel, fresh oil, overpressured tires, and disconnected batteries I normally do in all my cars and motorcycles is likely inadvisable, so I am planning on leaving it connected to a battery tender, and will buy a new one for some extra piece of mind.

Any thoughts on this?

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[ORRadtech]

I think either way would work fine with advantages and disadvantages to each. If you go with a maintainer I've always had good results with the Battery Tender brand.

 

[GT450]

I leave mine connected except when I use it and it can be a while between drinks , so go ahead and do it and don't worry.

 

[K4fxd]

I got mine from tractor supply. It is red and in a clear bubble pack. I liked it so much I bought several. The newest one is 3 years old. None of the 4 I have has failed. About 12 dollars each.

 

[Cory S]

Pull the battery out of the car, then put it on a tender for long term storage.

 

[Madtel4]

Pull the battery out of the car, then put it on a tender for long term storage.

Why remove the battery?
Lee

 

[Cory S]

Why remove the battery?
Lee

Safety, and redundancy

 

[K4fxd]

Why remove the battery?

In case your tender malfunctions it won't spill acid in your car

 

[Madtel4]

In case your tender malfunctions it won't spill acid in your car

OK
Lee

 

[ORRadtech]

In case your tender malfunctions it won't spill acid in your car

Safety, and redundancy

Then don't leave the battery anywhere near the car. When one explodes battery acid goes an amazingly long way. Not a good experience...
Battery tenders, the modern smart ones, have a lot of safety features built in unlike the old basic trickle chargers. I've left them on batteries in motorcycles for very extended periods with zero issues.

 

[K4fxd]

I've left them on batteries in motorcycles for very extended periods with zero issues.

I've had them boil the acid out and ruin chrome pipes.
It only needs to happen once for it to be a bad day.

 

[Bulldog9]

I normally pull the batteries out or just disconnect when I leave them like this. Then when I come back use a trickle charger to get back up to full voltage, but with all the computers and crap in this car, I don't want to let it sit dead for a year and end up with problems. My AGM's sit fine and usually don't even need a top off.

I bought a new Battery Tender (Deltran Jr) and will just leave it plugged in. It will be fine.

 

[ORRadtech]

The only "problem" you might have by pulling out the battery is having to redo all the presets and having the car relearn your driving habits. No power to the computers/car will not cause either any damage.
But neither will leaving it connected to a battery maintainer.

 

[NoVaGT]

...my normal routine of........disconnected batteries I normally do in all my cars and motorcycles is likely inadvisable....

It's your best bet. Safest for your car.

 

[NoVaGT]

....I don't want to let it sit dead for a year and end up with problems.....

You wouldn't have any problems. But it's weird that you think there would be.

Your real concern should be leaving your car plugged into a trickle charger for a year. If something goes wrong with that set-up, there could be serious issues. Hell, you could start a friggin' fire under the wrong circumstances.

Just take the battery out of the car, and charge it when you get back.

I've be faaar more concerned about mice, rodents, and people fucking with the car. I'd take the battery out, hide the keys, probably pull a fuse or two disabling the car. Then lots of rodent repellant all around the car.

Where are you storing it?

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