I decided to avoid storage costs of $120/mo this winter for the three Crossfires, especially with my son away at college and his car off the road. So I carefully measured the two-car portion (24 x 22.5) of my three-car garage and on Saturday we pulled his car in and, after parallel parking about six times, including once jacking it up by the rear pumpkin to angle it better, we slid it in next to the wall. Then I carefully pulled in the two 2005s with a couple feet to spare front and rear (more than I thought). Success!

So this winter I pull them in a little tighter, hook them all up to float chargers, cover them, and put them into hibernation. And I still have room at the door for my snowblower. And if the weather is nice, the two gray ghosts can still be backed out for a quick ride around the neighborhood.

 

Nice! Glad I don't have to worry about that any more.

 

Sounds like a good setup!

 

You had to remind me about the "snowblower".
Pat

 

first time ive heard a differential called the "rear pumpkin"

 

What is a float charger? I wonder if I should use it!

 

Ole mechanics term I guess.....I've always heard it called the "pumpkin" !

 

Float charger is kind of like a low-end trickle charger, built to maintain the charge on a battery. I've seen them at stores for $20+, but that famous Chinese distributor, Harbor Freight, sells them for $5.99/ea. I bought a couple last year and used one on my motorcycle battery (Goldwing, naturally) since last summer and it still turned over last weekend. I'm going to buy two more and keep all batteries in the vehicles, but charged.

 

Would it be easier to just unplug the battery? Are these trickle chargers safe to use? Is there some kind of benefit to keeping the battery fully charged at all times?

Sorry for all the questions. Just curious what I should do now that I don't drive my Crossfire as often.

 

come on... why did you have to say that god aweful word ... snowblower!!! amazing how much you can actually fit in the garage when you put your mind (and muscles) to it. i manage to fit my 19 ft boat and a few atvs quads in my single car garage every winter (with room left over for the shovel).

 

Even disconnected the battery will discharge.

Keeping the battery charged keeps it from sulferizing which ultimately shortens the life of the battery severely, and over a winter can result in a permanently dead battery, or one that will not hold a charge for more than a few hours.

I use my Jeep only on weekends and sometimes not even that. The trickle charger I bought from Wal*Mart for about $30 has been brilliant - it's always ready to go, the battery life is preserved, and no worries about over charging. The only thing I did was extend the wires to reach the Jeep out in the driveway.