I'll be using a floating charger this winter

[sunnyside360]

I have 6 of the true battery tenders and I love them with the 10 year warranty, see them here
Jim

Ditto....... I have several of the Battery Tenders and they work great -- just as advertised.

 

[shaley]

Isn't the Schumacher the same unit as the Battery Tender except no clips?

 

[Renob]

Anyone use the little Schumacher units from WalMart? They were about $20 bucks.

Builder,

I have an original "battery tender" that I use for my motorcycle and a couple of the WalMart cheapies that I use on a tractor and on a four-wheeler. The cheapies work just as good as the Battery tender.

 

[Farwell]

The other part of the equation when cranking a cold engine is oil temperature.
The engine oil gets thick, like sludge, making it tougher to turn over your engine.
If you use a block heater (magnetic, dipstick, or radiator hose mounted) you will keep your oil from thickening in the cold, and it will start much, much easier.

When there is a prediction of snow, let's say overnight (where I'll need a quick start in the morning) , I put my trickle charger and magnetic block heater on a timer, to come on about 4am. When I get there at 6am, battery is up, and block is warm enough for a quick start.

Here's a magnetic block heater similar to mine, on Amazon, and it's free shipping.
Amazon.com: Kats 1153 200 Watt Magnetic Heater: Automotive

With a block heater, you will find your need for battery charging is a lot less.

The poor-man's version is a 100 watt lightbulb, placed directly under the oil pan with an aluminum foil shroud around it, like a funnel, so the heat goes up.
Many an old timer used hot lightbulbs as oil pan heaters and in their well houses to keep pipes from freezing.

In many areas of Michigan the 100 watt or higher light bulb is still used keep well houses from reaching a freezing temperature. The old timers had the right idea.

 

[SLOBuds]

In many areas of Michigan the 100 watt or higher light bulb is still used keep well houses from reaching a freezing temperature. The old timers had the right idea.

I used to put light bulbs in yacht bilges when I was a kid and worked on them in the marina. Those boats would set there for a long long time and all kinds of bad things would happen to gas or diesel when left alone without proper supervision.

So the light bulbs simply made the problem go away. Nothing fancy. Just a light bulb on the end of an extension cord.

Back then I also had cars that set outside in the rain (dad and mom had use of the garage, of course). The fuel systems of the 60s were a lot more trouble than the fuel systems now. My solution was again a simple light bulb. And I considered myself a VERY smart fellow to do that.

Not sure what they use in bilges these days. Probably something more expensive and more troublesome than a light bulb. And as far as my fuel systems are concerned, I haven't experienced vapor lock or any other fuel system error even once. For more years that I can recall.

We'll give American engineers a pat on the back for that one!