Save Your RV's Batteries CHEAP & EASY!! 

*You can find a LOOOOT of battery maintainers like the one shown in the video and a LOT more at **amzn.to/3hTtf5f* Appreciate the Tip? *CLICK SUBSCRIBE NOW!* to see more of these videos & Support our Family Owned & Operated Business! Like us on Facebook Now at facebook.com/haylettrv/ to catch more content or Join Us Now on Instagram at instagram.com/haylett_rv/ if that's your preference! We are Haylett Auto & RV of Coldwater Michigan! Family Owned & Operated Since 1989 and Going Strong! | 800-256-5196 | www.haylettautoandrv.com/

A RV dealer suggesting ways to save money that’s a first you have my respect

One forgotten thing to do is check the water level in your battery annually . Top off with distilled water 👍

I have a truck I only use 2 or 3 times a month and the battery would always be low or dead. I bought a 20w solar panel I mounted on the hood and a solar controller for less than $50 total. Even though I was told the battery was shot, It starts up every time with no problem and it's been 3 years now.

I leave it in the rv and plug a 1.5 amp solar charger on it, never had an issue. Great video. Thanks.

Good to see you Josh! Always appreciate the videos and the tips!

What a beautiful, simple tip on reconnecting the battery. Thank you Josh.

As always great information! Thanks Josh for all your company does for the industry.

I had this issue. I switched to a big gel battery and added my own inline kill switch. Been flawless. 👍

Josh, honestly this is one of your best videos. Please make more like this.

Josh you are the best. You’ve provided us with so much great info over the last two years. Your videos helped us choose the camper we wanted and we are now part of this great rv community. Just felt moved to say thank you so much for what you do and for cracking your quirky jokes too.

Thank you so much for this video! We bought a float charger for our camper battery as we store it for the summer. Your video showed me how to use it properly in an easy to understand way. Thanks!

Awesome info in this vid. I've owned a boat for YEARS and never replaced the batteries. I use a Marine grade AGM smart trickle charger. Checks each cell, checks health, and only charges when it gets below 80%. Charges to 100% (or as close to it as possible) then stops charging. I've got one set of AGM batteries that have lasted 3 years so far with this charger. I LOVE IT. I expect it would do the same for an RV. Which is what I am hoping anyway.

I took pictures of every label on the camper and put it in a file I shared with myself and my wife. I included the wiring on my battery, hitch setup, and any repairs I make. It is a good reference and I can put it all on a thumb drive to give to the next owner if we sell it. Thank you for posting these tips!

Right on target Josh! Full timing or seasonal, experienced or novice, this is always an important subject.

I want to thank you so much. Watching your videos helped me out in my choice of a travel trailer. I bought a 2021 Jayco 224bh. We freakin love it. Thanks

Thanks Uncle Josh for some positive information on the negatives of RV battery life.

Love it. Thank you. Please MORE winterizing tips and tricks! I want this to be the first and last camper i buy. With your buying tips i have narrowed the large selection down to 4-5. And will be buying something in the spring. Now teach me to maintain it for a lifetime.

Wow Uncle Josh you must have been reading my mind I did that exact same thing when I winterized my trailer A couple months ago

Thank you for that straight forward and very helpful video! We’re about to start storing our travel trailer and this was extremely helpful! Much appreciated Sir!

We just love your videos. This one is great. . . My husband is working on the batteries today. Thanks for fantastic info!💕

Excellent video on battery maintenance! One thing to add. If you live in a very hot environment, the heat will kill your battery quicker than anything else. Good luck storing in in your garage though since it is often warmer than the outside temps. 120F+. The cheaper batteries will only last a year or two. Buy a higher quality agm battery or a lithium.

Great video!! Love the idea of taking a picture and using colored tape for proper connection!! Once we did a wrong connection...it was a $1,000 mistake!!

Ounce of prevention to prevent a pound of cure…. You will be the wise man that once told me. Love your videos!

Shared this with my sister that is new to RVing. She had a dead battery today when getting ready to go camping. No matter how many times I have told her to buy a tender. You explained it so well. Hope she buys a tender now.

The only RV dealer that helps the RV'er with helpful videos. Thanks Josh. 😊

I installed a male/female twist lock plug on my battery. So simple to just unplug when not in use and plug back up when in use. Works perfectly

Excellent advice from ‘Uncle Josh”. Thanks for sharing. I am so pleased to be a member of the RV Nerd Herd.

Great easy to follow tip for those not in the know. Thanks Uncle Josh.

Basically what I have done for years my AGM battery is 10 years old and still going strong.

Good information as always. This goes for almost anything with a battery. In reading through my F-150 owners manual (yes, I actually read owners manuals) I found a statement that said the engine must be started (or hooked to a battery charger) and run if the truck has been sitting for more than 3 weeks to prevent the battery from draining and damaging the battery.

Awesome bit of common sense mixed in with the proper sass!! I Love it! 👍🏻

So good I had to like and subscribe to all. I’m hoping my batteries will last longer. New Rv owners need to watch this and take notes. As we say in Maine, “You’re wicked smart”

Uncle Josh, your suggestion about taking a pic of the batt connection, THEN, suggesting color coding the pos and neg cables are GENIUS!!! So simple, yet, so NOT commonly done. Thanks, Unk@ Y'all Be Safe!

Videos like this are exactly why our next RV will come from Haylett RV......I only wish I had discovered your channel before we bought our 1st travel trailer from one of the "national chains". We are only a few hours away in the Metro Detroit area, 100% worth the drive. Great advice as always 'Uncle Josh' 😊

I have a 2018 29rks had a battery problem just like that I disconnected the battery and it's good now thanks for your updates Phillip from Ludlow Falls Ohio

Always great advise ! Thanks !

I added the Duravolt Marine Solar Panel Battery Charger 8.3watt. Works great with new batteries keeping them topped off and it comes with an onboard regulator so it doesn’t overcharge. It’s not meant to charge a discharged battery but it is made to keep a charged battery up to snuff. They also make a larger watt unit (13 watts) if you have dual batteries. For those who take them home to charge “Battery Tender “ makes a lot of different size chargers and Maintainers for your needs!

Pro Tip. Lock Washers. A loose connection can melt a terminal, void the warranty, even start a fire. Also, the bolt is only there to hold the lug onto the lead, not to make the connection. The lead at the bottom of the threads is where the connection happens, so make sure that the lead is clean using a wire brush.

Thank you for the tips uncle Josh! 👍

Your voice and animation is very good, friendly and fun. Thanks for you and how you helped me.

Hey josh love your videos! Got a helpful tip for you. When disconnecting a battery always take off the negative first. Then when hooking it back up start with the positive. That way it doesn’t arc on the positive terminal.

Great information Josh! Thanks again from Ontario Canada!

Haha! I love it! First time we went camping I swapped my battery lines and fried a conductor at my panel. Hard lesson learned. Great tips Unc. See you in your nightmares. -Freddy

I’m impressed. Usually dealers and salesmen are trying to create a sale and give bad advice. I’ve been a mechanic for over 35 years, 20 of them professional diesel and fleet mechanic, and everything you said was absolutely eleventy billion percent true. Only thing I would have touched on is the difference between a float charger and a trickle charger. Otherwise, well done.

Thanks for the information. We have a new trailer and I was wondering why the battery is constantly draining sitting in the driveway.

Yes take a picture!!!! Omg talk about some high end cheese information there. That has helped me out so much. Now when I walk around in my pants I feel fancy so now I am technically a fancy pants, who new. Tyvm

During the camping season, I use a knife switch on the battery itself to disconnect them while I’m not using them. It fits under the lid of the battery box and takes only a second to “disconnect” the batteries when it’s in storage during the camping season.

I’m currently starting to renovate my RV an noticed nothing in the RV is working (I don’t have it plugged up as it is sitting in my backyard). I didn’t know what to do with my battery nor how to charge it (I know terrible lol) anyway this video was super helpful and the comments are too thank you so much!!

An additional visual aid is to also mark your colored tapes with "+" and "-" as appropriate. This can be easier to see in poor light (assuming you have good contrast between your marks and the background color) when colors can be harder to determine.

Great info. Excellent job, using Green Bay Packer's colors for your example.... #GoPackGo

Thank you for your informative videos. You've taught me quite a lot that will extend the life of my camper, and increase the enjoyment my wife and I get from my camper.

Excellent information! Thanks Josh!!

AGM batteries are different from flooded lead-acid. AGM batteries cost quite a bit more, and they prefer a different charging type, good chargers generally have a setting for AGM and one for FLA. AGM batteries can also sit on their sides. AGM does not off-gas as FLA batteries do. They can be placed in the cab of a truck, like in some of the Western Star dump trucks I work on. The batteries are mounted under the passenger seat. AGM's are better in extreme weather.

Also a good time to check the water levels (fill with distilled water only) clean the terminals and put a light layer of vaseline on them. Also if you have other batteries, it helps to mark it as to what it goes to; RV, zero turn, tractor etc.

Robert here. We live way down south but really like your info. You are a good man. You have a lot of solutions. We'll look forward to see your next video.🙂

Bravo! Perfectly done! Thank you!

Use RED tape on your + terminal and cable. Use BLACK tape on the - terminal and cable. Keep it simple!

Thanks for the video! I have a 2023 Jayco Flight with a solar panel. Is it OK to leave battery hooked up while in storage for the winter (Montana) Thanks!

Very good, straight forward information. Thank you

The Battery Tender brand of charger works perfectly for this application!

Keeping your batteries off the concrete floor can not be understate. I do not know how or why the cement seems to kill them, but as Josh said setting them in a block of wood makes a big difference.

Minor point with possible major consequence. Always disconnect the negative (black) terminal first. If you disconnect the positive (red) and let it contact metal, you might short the battery through the frame. Lots of sparks and excitement ensue. Edit: the danger lies during disconnection. If you take off the positive first, and your wrench hits metal during, standby for fireworks and maybe worse.

Right on Josh, however - - remember though, some digital items may need to be reset unless they have their own small internal battery..

That was funny about your wife!!!! That's awesome sence of humor! Thanks!!!!!!

Never set battery's on concrete without wood as barrier. Excellent advice. Most people don't know that.

Constantly stressing your wife usually lowers YOUR lifespan. You still need to check fluid levels in the battery while stored.

So glad you made a video on this, you’re my favorite RV channel

Appreciate your maintenance tips.

New to rv'ing, thanks for the heads up, and good info.

Youer right for years I work at a trucking company 200 trucks at are barn put a cut off switch on up at the battery never have a problem agen

CTEK makes phenomenal battery maintainers/chargers, little pricey but like you stated, cheaper than a battery. I use mine for our camper in the off season and our towing truck when not in use, 2016 truck still running the OE ford battery

Great info Josh! Keep the DIY maintance tips coming.

Great Info! Simple but often overlooked!!!

Always helpful info. Thanks for video!

Thanks for the simple things to help with an RV. 😎👍🏼

DEEPLY appreciate yur info on how to better care for batteries. This type of information seems to only come from your RV company! THANKS!!!!!! Hey - maybe a future video on “how to” on maintenance for gas/diesel class A, B, C’s, 🤔. Keep up the GR8 work!!!!

Hey Uncle Josh, I like these old videos of tips that you had produced prior to Bish’s. Keep reshowing or reproduce them with updated information. Happy camping.

Clear, precise and very very helpful. I subscribed.

Garage not freezing... That's a good one!

Deltran Battery Tender Jr. are the BEST IMO. I use them on everything I own that has a 12v battery. They have literally eliminated battery early replacements in my world!

fall/winter season i take battery out put in basement on shelf where it is cool /warm place my battery is 5 years still strong

Thanks Josh.

Fantastic advice. I’m taking my battery out when I get home from work.

I have to agree with everyone here that this is a great video on batteries. I passed it on to my neighbor who just returned home with a nice Rockwood popup. She was/is grateful for the information. I did find it amusing that elementary school children are taught that there are "eight primary colors". It has been more than fifty years since I was in ART school but back then there were only three...

Your good Josh. Thanks

Great tips!!! Thanks Josh!!

Thank you very clear and simple instructions

Great job Sir and the info 👍

Good advice. I bet If you were on a Date, it would be a drag for something to go wrong with your battery. Good job. Thanks.

My early 2022 Rockwood 2205s was built with a red crimps on the negative frame ground cable. What’s worse, is in spite of a (easily lost) sticky white label around the red crimped ground end at the frame, they used the red crimp on the ground to battery connection as well! AND, they used extra long cable for this ground and looped it into and back out of the cable access pathway toward the pass-through storage area. A tug on each cable suggested they are each connected inside the pass through to other terminations. But THE apparently ‘TWO’ cables are the same, looped in and back out of the circular cable port as you can see only from the underside of the trailer! In this case, it’s easy to be misled and reconnect a frame ground on the positive terminal. 😨 Taking a picture of the factory connection before removing wires off terminals is the best suggestion. Apparently someone did this, cuz the ground cable is too long to leave dangling freely. Neither end of this grounding cable should have been crimped with red, and the routing loop into and out of the trailer makes it difficult to know that the free end of the red factory cable termination crimp should go on the negative battery post!

Love it. Very informative and entertaining. Lol.

My AGM batteries lasted 8 years. I always brought them in the garage and applied a battery maintainer during the off season.

Thank you so much, you’ve answered all my questions

Well done, Josh!

Subscribed! First time RV owner this year!

Great informative video & ideas buddy! Thanks for making!

The tape explanation was 😂. Great video. Save your $$$. Campers and camping is already expensive. Same your money for camping.

This is fantastic information! BTW, I like your sense of humor... :)

Appreciate the tips you provided.