Leaving the truck sitting for a long period ???

[Tremor32]

Just looking to see what Ideas we come up with. I will be leaving the truck sit for about 06 weeks. I am considering running a trickle charger out to the truck and leaving it plugged in under the hood. The truck has dual batteries. I don't want to return to dead batteries. Do I need to run 02 trickle chargers? Or are there any other ideas?

 

[Optimus🤖]

No, you generally do not need two separate trickle chargers for a dual battery system, provided the batteries are connected in parallel (standard for most 12V RVs, boats, and trucks). A single, smart trickle charger connected to one battery will usually maintain both, as they act as one large battery bank.

https://a.co/d/87fk3u2

Fits nice and snug in that spot:

 

[Knecoli22]

I second the Noco products, they are great.

 

[Tremor32]

Awesome thank you sir. I have an extra battery tender maintainer I used for my on duty motorcycle I was planning on using.

 

[JTredway]

Will second the Noco charger. I got the 10amp one that does SLA, AGMs and lithiums. The higher amperage was recommended for the Odysseys AGMs and it supports the larger AH Capacity rating of the two combined batters.

 

[KR3]

I use a 5amp Noco set for AGM, but I think the 10amp would have been a better choice for a dual battery setup. I only use my truck on the weekends, so I plug it in during the week.

 

[Velvet Elvis]

I second the Noco products, they are great.

Yes they are!

I'm convinced this little thing will Jumpstart a factory. Lol.

Now i need a couple of their trickle chargers.

 

[Optimus🤖]

I use a 5amp Noco set for AGM, but I think the 10amp would have been a better choice for a dual battery setup. I only use my truck on the weekends, so I plug it in during the week.

Correct! The 5 amp is doable it's just that the 10 amp is ideal for our trucks.

 

[Blackhawk878]

How about recommendations for longer periods, like six months (maybe longer)?

 

[Canyon Trekker]

How about recommendations for longer periods, like six months (maybe longer)?

Same deal. If you have a 10A maintainer (not a trickle charger, there is a difference) on it, it will be fine. Even a 5A is better than nothing but the 10A is ideal and will handle a surge better. (Where the house current turns off and back on due to a storm, etc.) I like the Noco products, they've been good to me. I keep my truck plugged in at all times; I do have multiple systems with these maintainers attached.

 

[JTredway]

Yes they are!

I'm convinced this little thing will Jumpstart a factory. Lol.

Now i need a couple of their trickle chargers.
View attachment 243985

I bought the badder bitch variant on BF/CM sale about two years ago and we've used it to start a few tractors and other large demand 12v systems around work and the farm and that guy just does not give a shit lol.

Same deal. If you have a 10A maintainer (not a trickle charger, there is a difference) on it, it will be fine. Even a 5A is better than nothing but the 10A is ideal and will handle a surge better. (Where the house current turns off and back on due to a storm, etc.) I like the Noco products, they've been good to me. I keep my truck plugged in at all times; I do have multiple systems with these maintainers attached.

same sames, this is the one I have. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W3QT226?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

 

[DwnSth]

I bought the badder bitch variant on BF/CM sale about two years ago and we've used it to start a few tractors and other large demand 12v systems around work and the farm and that guy just does not give a shit lol.

same sames, this is the one I have. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W3QT226?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

The on thing I have bought my pops he can’t be without!

 

[Velvet Elvis]

They're excellent units.

Auto zone had a big sale on them before Christmas. Even my little one will jump multiple cold vehicles on a single charge.

I bought my brother in law the one with the built in compressor. I have a Milwaukee compressor, so i just got the plain Jane jump box for us.

NOCO makes good shit

 

[Cux211]

How about recommendations for longer periods, like six months (maybe longer)?

No difference, it’s what I used when I stored my built trucks over the winter from November to April

 

[Blackhawk878]

No difference, it’s what I used when I stored my built trucks over the winter from November to April

Do anything else to the truck to prep it in terms of fluids, tires, etc?

 

[JTredway]

Do anything else to the truck to prep it in terms of fluids, tires, etc?

• you should try to have someone start it occasionally to move the fluids around
• I would put it on jackstands as you may get flat spots on the tires that should work out after some heat cycles.
• I would run a good fuel additive (I prefer Opt-Lube XPD), the reason is that has algaecide in it to prevent the stagnant diesel fuel from getting nasty. It also has properties to handle water vapor, and cetane. I would park it with a full tank, if the area you are parking the truck is subjected to wild temperature swings and humidity, a lower level of fuel allows more air in the tank which will add to water vapor deposits.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Awesome thank you sir. I have an extra battery tender maintainer I used for my on duty motorcycle I was planning on using.

Yep. That will be fine. I’ve used the Battery Tender Jr on 2 trucks, camper, wife’s car…. Oh yeah. Motorcycles too. I think I have 6 of them. Left the old truck plugged in last winter for 2 months.

 

[Cux211]

Do anything else to the truck to prep it in terms of fluids, tires, etc?

No, when I brought the truck back out in the spring I’d do fresh oil and filter and fresh fuel filters

 

[Canyon Trekker]

Do anything else to the truck to prep it in terms of fluids, tires, etc?

If it's going to sit in the open for 6 months, consider a lightweight cover to keep the sun from damaging the paint and interior. Also consider rat and mouse abatement, especially under the hood.

 

[McE]

Rodent abatement is always a good idea when parking a rig long-term. Cotton balls soaked with peppermint oil under the hood, strategic steel wool placement, traps, whatever works in your area. Don't leave the parking brake engaged. Full tank of fuel with stabilizer in it. I usually fog the motor if it'll be sitting for more than a month or two, depending on the time of year (use EFI safe stuff). I'll also do an oil change before parking it and sometimes change it again before running it if it sat for more than 6mos or so. I also like to put it on jackstands if it'll be sitting a long time to avoid flat-spotting the tires. Can also just set the tires to max cold psi for shorter storage periods. On first crank after storage, I'll hold the gas pedal to the floor so it doesn't fire (don’t do this with a diesel and if you do it on something other than a newer Ford, make sure your vehicle has this feature lol). Lets oil circulate and build pressure. Then start it normally.

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head.