Storing Camper Conversion For a Few Months

[Tress]

Hey A-Body,
Im down here in Central America and im planning to leave my 4x4 Ford E-350 camper conversion in Costa Rica for a few months so i can home and make enough money to retrun with enough money to continue south and i have a few questions im hoping you all might be able to help me with. I know its kind of an RVer question but there forums have not helped me at all.

First of all batteries? What will happen to the batteries during the time im gone if they are not used? I know many people use solar trickle chargers to keep the batts topped off so i assume you cant just leave them disconnected and expect them to work after a few months. I have solar panels for my aux batteries but they dont charge the starting batt, so the aux bank should be fine but i just dont want to return in 3 or 4 months to find my starting batt dead.

The other question is regarding water, i have a 30 gal tank which runs to a sink, shower and water filter. I dont treat the water with anything because the filter takes care of my drinking water and i am not too worried about showering or cleaning with untreated water. I assume if i just leave the water tank as is without being used it will start growing something while i am gone. So is there something i can put in the tank that will keep it from growing while im gone?

If there is anything i am overlooking im open to any other suggestions but those are my few specific questions, thanks so much for any help, enjoy the ride....

[Rhode Trip]

1. run a charge wire between battery banks.
2. Drain the tanks. Rinse with a bleach solution upon your return.

[Joaquin Suave]

1. run a charge wire between battery banks.

My $.02...DON'T DO THAT!!!!

Disconnect the positive lead to your motor bank. Then reconnect when you get back down there & if you can't get it to turn over...jump the home bank over to the motor bank for just as long as need the cranking power, or even better jump from another vehicle.

[dzzz]

AGM batteries in good shape will likely have a decent charge after a few months. The discharge rate can be as low as 1% a week. I believe conventional lead acid are the worst. Over 10% a week. You may need a very good charger to bring those back.
And you know how a few months can turn into six months away.
I would leave mouse bait if I was gone that long.

[JK-Mg1212]

Regarding the water issue, in my boats I used water tank sanitizer I would buy from West Marine. I think Thetford was one brand. I would drain the tanks and then run something though it. Chlorine (bleach) can work but the sanitizer stuff is fairly cheap and seemed to take smell and taste out better. YMMV but that is what I did in 4 boats over the years. There is also stuff you can put into the water in the tank to help with reducing growth but since you are not going to need the water I would drain the tanks and blow out the lines if possible - not for freezing but to reduce areas for stuff to grow.