Keeping battery alive while parked in the garage

[Fast Lane]

During the summer months I head out nearly every weekend. I have a fridge in my truck that I would like to keep on as I keep it stocked and ready to head out. The problem is the solar panels that would normally be getting charge to keep my battery all happy, don't get solar. So after a couple days my battery is low and cuts out.

Whats the best way to keep my truck parked in the garage, at the same time keep my battery charged, fridge on and everything all happy?

 

[GrubWorm]

Trickle charger?

 

[smritte]

I use the NOCO chargers at home and at work. The NOCO is a very good smart charger designed to be left on 24/7. There's another out there that is just as good but I cant remember the name.

The biggest issue you have is the type of charger you need. Everything changed when you added the fridge. For that you need a smart charger with "power supply" mode.
Modern smart chargers have an issue with high amp, constant drain items (fridge). They detect the battery but get confused about the draw on the battery. This was a life lesson with my trailer.
Modern smart chargers detect the battery type and change the charge voltage accordingly. The better few will also charge the battery based on its need's (bulk, absorption, float). That leaves some feature's found only on a couple and that's sulfation (repair) mode, power supply mode and the ability to charge a battery from zero. Even though their still being sold, you do not want an old style charger. Be careful how you choose. Because the one I purchased for my trailer didn't have power supply mode, I have a 110 power feed running to the fridge as well as the charger when its parked in the garage.

The power supply mode is only found on a couple of chargers and only a couple of the NOCO's.
This is the one I use at work. Don't necessarily choose this but scroll down the page to where it shows the diffrent modes it does. Considering your running the fridge, you need one large enough with power supply mode.

 

[Pado]

Why not just put a 50W solar panel on your garage roof, wire it down to your truck and plug in when parked? Free power.

 

[Nelson]

I was just reading on this earlier this week, it doesn't take much to keep a battery topped off, 30W would even do the job. Place a 30W solar charger plugged in and that will keep it charged at no cost to you.