[fred jernejec]

I have a 2005 Chevy truck that I will be putting into a five month storage next week. I have no electricity where my truck will be stored. I will be moving back to New Jersey for the five months and the truck will be stored in Ohio. Will disconecting the battery hurt the computer system of the truck? Is there a battery tender that does not require electricity that will work for the five months? Or should I just leave it alone altogether? Thanks Fred

[TAKerry]

I know a guy that uses a solar powered battery charger hooked up to a van. Of course its parked outside.

[ID67goat]

I would disconnect the battery. Worse case is you would lose your radio presets....

[MIAGIMAN]

Fred,
Disconnect the terminals, it will help save the battery with no draw, and also prevent any shorts while being stored. Just a quick reference to rodents, buy some Irish Spring soap and cut it in chunks and scatter it under and around the vehicle (inside too), you can also spray the undercarriage with WD 40 or Krown or T 9 (much better) it prevents rust and helps with rodents. Stick steel wool in the exhaust / tape closed. Hope this helps.

[Fullsize455]

Make sure the battery is fully charged prior to storage, and make sure it is CLEAN. Most people don't know that a bunch of greasy, acidy buildup on the outside of the battery creates a path for electricity to flow. In my experience, totally clean, fully charged and fully wet batteries that are otherwise in good condition, stored inside off the floor last many months without losing significant charge. Do not leave it in the truck with a rusty battery tray, don't leave it on the cold concrete floor. Take it out and put it on a shelf on a piece of wood. Better still, put it somewhere inside the house or somewhere else heated where it will not get too cold.

As others have said, a solar power charger is the only way to maintain its charge without utility power.

[ponchjoe]

Originally Posted by Fullsize455

Make sure the battery is fully charged prior to storage, and make sure it is CLEAN. Most people don't know that a bunch of greasy, acidy buildup on the outside of the battery creates a path for electricity to flow. In my experience, totally clean, fully charged and fully wet batteries that are otherwise in good condition, stored inside off the floor last many months without losing significant charge. Do not leave it in the truck with a rusty battery tray, don't leave it on the cold concrete floor. Take it out and put it on a shelf on a piece of wood. Better still, put it somewhere inside the house or somewhere else heated where it will not get too cold.

As others have said, a solar power charger is the only way to maintain its charge without utility power.

This ^

[fred jernejec]

all very good suggestions! thank you Fred

[Stuart]

If the battery is fully charged and in good condition, just disconnect it and leave it. It will be fine when you come back. It will actually discharge less when sitting out in the cold, as long as it's not used. The old story about leaving a battery on a piece of wood versus on a concrete floor may have applied to the old style batteries from the 1950s or earlier, but it doesn't matter with modern plastic case batteries. As far as myths go, I've seen bars of Irish Spring half eaten by mice...they will make nests out of dryer sheets, too.