Help with Motorhome laid up for long term

one advantage of getting solar set up to do this is that it opens up the ability to use non-ehu sites, aires, THS temp holiday sites, rallies etc where the 'external source' of a second charger couldnt be used.

Indeed it does. The main reason we had the solar fitted was to maintain the charge in cab and habitation batteries, as our MH is kept in storage. Our caravan never had any means of charging the battery and I had to periodically change it for my reserve, as the tracker and alarm ran it down.

However, when in France last year we made use off it for 3 nights off grid on Aires. Ones we wouldn't have even considered without. We were really looking forward to doing even more of it this year.☹️  Ah well there is always next.😀

I used to jack up the caravan to take the load off the tyres. I'm thinking I may do the same with the MH as it looks we may be in for the long haul.

Toolstation do some cheap sturdy axle stands ,good quality ,use for my landies

You guys had me worried so I just tried my 2.2 litre Land Rover Freelander to see if it would start - it's been standing on the drive untouched for a full month - the battery is six years old and must be near the end of its life and I never charge it in any way. The car started at the first touch on the button. I can retire to my deckchair. 

I can’t say I understand half of the replies and most don’t apply to our outfit, however I appreciate the time you’ve taken to try and help.

I'll take it for a spin soon and if it doesn’t start I'll get help.😂😬

We had a motorhome in the US for 4 years and left it at times for up to 6 months. The only way to keep the vehicle battery charged was to use a battery maintainer all the time running on mains voltage. When we moved storage and this was not available i tried a 5 A solar charger direct to the battery and this did not work in the Nevada sunshine! Vehicle radio (even switch off), alarm systems etc all use power when you are stopped.

The answer was to disconnect the battery and it held the charge being a new battery. You could also use a small solar charger direct.

The easiest way is to run the engine for 10 minutes every couple of weeks as the engine alternator will then charge it.

American RV's also had a cross over switch from the house battery for emergency start, so main solar panels (if not under cover storage) would then charge the hous ebattery an dthen you used the cross over switch

Another thing to consider is removing the windscreen wipers. The UV tends to deteriorate the blades and they collect a lot of crud washing down the windscreen when parked up for prolonged periods.

Following recent posts about keeping the vehicle battery, I sent Bailey Customer Services the following message:

“Reading my owner’s manual the section on the Seattle Control Panel has under Settings an option to “Charge V Battery” and an option for On or Off. When on is selected the manual says that when on the EHU the vehicle battery will be charged as well as the leisure battery. Does this feature work on my 2018 Advance 76-4. I have checked the voltage of my vehicle battery when the van is not on the EHU and it reads around 12.5V and when on the EHU it reads 13.6V. I assumed that this indicates that the vehicle battery is being charged. I ask because posts on the CAMC site  suggests that the Advance and Alliance do not have this feature. Could you clear up my confusion.”

Following consultation with BCA, manufacturer of the control panel, Bailey responded saying:

“Our colleagues have advised, Yes this model does have the vehicle battery charging facility.”.

I have Advance 76-4 purchased in August 2018.  The online manual for the Advance, Alliance & Autograph with the Seattle Control panel all contain a reference to vehicle battery being charged.

Hope this helps

CY, cant you take it for a spin from this morning?

I've SORN'd it now and blocked it to save the tyres. It'll be another couple of months before it will be worth going out to play, I reckon.