Best Batteries for RV.

[cowboywildbill]

What are the best Batteries for a camper? We need something that will run everything for an extended time. I've heard that two big 6 volt batteries wired in series does a better job than two deep cycle 12 volts in paralell.
Any ides or experience with this? Thanks

[chipper]

2 Trojan 6 volt golf cart battries are the best for dry camping.

[JeepSJ]

A lot of the people on the motorhome forums seem to be going the 6v route these days. The guys that have run Optimas then switched to the golf cart 6v have been happy with the switch.

[hug]

I put in 8d truck battery in mine. Mine is a fifth wheel I had the room. If not the 6volt works very well too. optima also makes 6 volt batteries if you wont dry cell batteries. Also you could use a 4d battery also.

[DmaxMaverick]

I do a lot of dry camping with my 5'er and use Optima Blue Tops (no HEAVY generator). I didn't have the 6V option at the time I needed to replace batteries, so I went with the Blue Top marine deep cycle batt's, purchased at Costco. They've worked very well. The are not "dry cell" batteries (none of Optima's batt's are). They are a lead/acid battery, but are completely sealed and can be installed upside-down if you had to. Never had any problem with cycling or corrosion, which is a big bonus. They recharge twice as fast as any other battery I've used, even 6V's. The 6V golf cart batteries are real performers, but can be messy and prone to terminal corrosion. They require frequent maintenance to keep them healthy, are more costly than the Optimas, and don't last near as long. Also, the 6V's require a charge conditioner (peak detection) to get them fully charged, or you end up with "short charging" if they aren't pulled down to 4.5 volts about every 5 cycles.

Optimas are a "set it and forget it" install. They are also very effective for starting. I was in the middle of nowhere and had both OEM batteries on my '01 take a dump (wouldn't crank, no matter what I did). One Blue Top was able to glow/heat and start the Duramax easily at 30

[dstoops]

I've been runnin an Interstate 8D in my Newell. Don't need to mount it upside down or anything :-) but you do need to check the acid level occaisionally. I'm not a battery expert but my theory is that one big battery has more "guts" than 2 small batts. I have a small invertor that runs the TV and Satellite reciever. We can usually run about a week before recharging. (the fridge runs on gas)

[cowboywildbill]

Thanks for all of the input.
We just bought a new 40' long gooseneck LQ horse trailer with a 12' slide out. It came with two small 12 volt batteries. It doesn't seem to take long to pull them down with all of the stuff on board. I need to upgrade the batteries and you have given me some good idea's. This rig has a 100 gallon fresh water tank under it. When we filled it up to go on our maiden voyage we made it one mile from our ranch and stopped at a stop sign. Then the whole tank support frame and water tank fell out onto the road. It is a good thing we were stopped and weren't going 60 mph at that time. It didn't break any thing except for the wires and fill and vent hoses and a couple of nipples. They had secured the tank support frame to the trailer frame underneath with 16 self tapping sheet metal screws. And if that wasn't enough they missed the frame on about half of them. Only nicking the edge of the frame rail not really drilling a hole through it. They have since made a change in thier production line, they all get bolted up with lock washers and #8 grade bolts. Can't understand why they did it that way with sheet metal screws on something that wieghs 834 lbs when full of water.
I will have to put the tank back in myself if we want to use the trailer any time soon.
I can't find any RV dealer that can do it for at least three weeks. They are all busy with winterizing units and also with the snowbirds that are getting prepped to go south for the season.
The Manufacturer will pay me big $$$ if I do the work myself.
I used to work part time for an RV dealer, and have done these repairs before but I really don't feel like laying under this thing. Ain't camping fun?

[rustyk]

6V golf cart batteries generally have more capacity than 12V deep cycle, and are more resistant to abuse. I replaced the pair of 12V deep cycle in my RV with 2 6V golf cart batts in series. The capacity is noticeably greater, plus the golf cart batteries can be recharged at a greater rate (according to my converter/charger).

[murphyslaw]

just redid the 12v on my 40' bounder. changed from one g31 starting bat(for a 6bt) to two redtop altimas, starts much better now. also upgraded my coach batterys as well from two g24 deepcycles to 4 6v trojan batts. man what a difference that made. it went from poweing my 36" flatscreen and suroundsound(off inverter) and in dash dvd player(tied into the three tv;s in the coach) from 3hrs to about 7hrs. before with out the tv's i could run the standers evening lights for about two full evenings or one full night with the 6volts that has gone to 3 full nights and a week of evenings.

just cant say enought how much the 6volt batts made my trips better. I hate listening to that noisy onan.

[jporvaz]

Just my .02...... I use 2- 12v Lifecycle batteries that I purchased from batteries plus when I bought the trailer 3 years ago. Have had no problems. They are sealed, dry-cell. The longest dry-camping I've done in the last couple years is 4-5 days.

[letsgo]

Remember

If you use the 6v golf cart batteries in series for 12vdc YOU MUST have a battery charge that drops down to 13.2 vdc for a trickle charge or you will destroy your batteries ( see camping world chargers 60 amp).

good luck

[steak2k1]

2 Trojan 6 volt golf cart battries are the best for dry camping.

...agreed.

2 X 12 V will typically give you 100-120 Amp Hours per battery
2 X 6V will pretty much double that amount of available power. 2 Trojans in Series is, if memory serves me right, about 420 AHrs.:D

Yes they are more expensive..but well worth it. Add a 50W solar panel & a good charge controller and your good to go. Rain or shine, the panel will always add a nice trickle charge and keep your batts in good shape when not camping. When you [are camping, it will defintely extend your "dry" days running on the batts.;)

rgds,

stk

[ickyray]

Best thing to do is use the best 6 volt batteries you can afford and back it up with a solar panel which will push 100 watts minimum to keep them charged. Add a DC to AC inverter, and you will never stay at home again!

[axisrobotics]

Because of built-in charger etc in camper I am going to stay with 12V. Any Suggestions.

[DmaxMaverick]

Because of built-in charger etc in camper I am going to stay with 12V. Any Suggestions.

The 6V battery solution is 12V. 2 of them in series = 12V. Many RV's come OEM with 6V batteries, but the system is 12V, with the same converter on either system. A battery conditioner (an addition to the converter/charger) is recommended for either system, but not required.

[Screefer]

I run 2 Trojan T145's, giving me a total of 1060 minutes at 25 amps. and 2x 80 watt solar panels that charge at about 15 amps with a charge controller to keep from overcharging things. I never run low on power. Even on cold nights when the furnace runs alot. We also run a blender, coffee maker and stereo etc. off of an inverter. Its nice too know you have the power you need when you need it and best of all its quiet.:D
Just watch the battery levels and add distilled water.