Picking up RV from storage with dead battery

[FirstAscent]

Hey everyone,

Looking for a little advice with any of you with first hand knowledge here. This is on my 2021 381M.

I had been using my RV full-time but put it in storage for a few months while I was out for work. I'm going to go pick it up this weekend and I am 100% positive the batteries will be completely dead because I forgot to disconnect them.
I do have the factory Onan generator but of course I won't be able to start that either with dead batteries and I'll need at least a little power enough to raise the hydraulic/electric leveling to get all hooked up.

I'm thinking I "should" be OK to essentially use some jumper cables from the truck battery to the generator to get that started. then once I get to my site and on shore power I can deal with the batteries etc since I'm not sure how "revivable" they will be.

Let me know any other ideas you may have. I just want to be prepared with options when I arrive to pick it up so I can get her all hooked up and on my way

Thanks all!

[FT4NOW]

Jumper cables should be good to get the generator started. The only real question is how much power the jacks will draw when hooking up to the truck, if you only have to lower, shouldn't be much of an issue. Don't forget to turn on converter after starting generator. Might even want to leave the generator running while you're driving to keep the battery charging. I ran the generator all the time on my 399 while driving, no issues.

Don't forget a screwdriver, most likely a #2 Robertson bit (square tip) to open the battery box.

[FirstAscent]

Thanks, that's what I'm thinking too.

if I get the genny started then I think the converter will handle the load. I will need to raise the leveling slightly to hook up but good point, I'll have to look up the max load of the converter, I know they aren't that great from the factory.

I'll definitely leave the generator running while driving, I've done that a few times when it was crazy hot in the summer.

Luckily I've got plenty of tools waiting in the garage for me so that won't be an issue.

[jkwilson]

If the batteries may have frozen, be careful. Damaged batteries can explode after power is applied to them.

[FirstAscent]

Very good point, it's in Oregon where it maybe saw a night or two barely below freezing

[redfernclan]

Howdy from Sweethome!

[FirstAscent]

Hello hello! I have a friend in Sweethome, also I believe it’s one of the few towns in Oregon where SXS’s are actually street legal

[redfernclan]

We live just out of town and they go by all the time. Kind of neet seeing them parked at the local A&W drive in [yes, we still have one] Kind of like the old meeting the new.

[Riverbug]

Jump packs come in real handy for dead batteries, and they're cheap. They are a great investment and very useful especially when it's not convenient to get a vehicle near enough such as a boat, lawn mower, etc. Now how would I know this??

[FirstAscent]

We live just out of town and they go by all the time. Kind of neet seeing them parked at the local A&W drive in [yes, we still have one] Kind of like the old meeting the new.

That’s awesome! When I was in Utah and Arizona I really missed being able to take my SXS everywhere haha, even if it was just to drive to the gas station, it was so convenient… and fun

Jump packs come in real handy for dead batteries, and they're cheap. They are a great investment and very useful especially when it's not convenient to get a vehicle near enough such as a boat, lawn mower, etc. Now how would I know this??

LOL, yeah it’s been on my to-do list for awhile, I agree they are nice to have! Now I just need to get one