Jayco battery warranty

[ensign]

Hello all,

I have a Jayco 32bhds. Less than 2 years old with two house batteries.

The batteries are not maintaining a charge. I have yet to contact the dealer as its winter and my unit is in storage. I have removed the batteries though, and can't get them to hold a charge.

Is this something covered by warranty? At least prorated, or should I contact the battery company.

Any advice, assistance would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Ensign

[Jagiven]

The dealer provides the batteries and not Jayco. The batteries also will be covered under the manufactures warranty.

Question, what maintenance have you preformed on the batteries? Have you checked the fluid levels? If you have to add any water make sure only to use Distilled Water.

[Crabman]

Regrettably many marine and deep cycle batteries only have a 1 year warranty, unlike automotive batteries which have prorated multi year warranties. Check with dealer to be sure. It could also be a converter issue if both batteries will not charge.

[ensign]

One year warranty, darn, these things are expensive.

I will check with the dealer, hopefully they will help me out.

[Seann45]

Replace them with a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries. These are the only true deep cycle batteries out there.

[msturtz]

I think Sam's Club sells deep cycle batteries with 2 or 3 year warranties. I started purchasing all of the batteries for my TT from them.

[Redhorse 823]

1 Year? Really? :/

[Crabman]

Originally Posted by Redhorse 823

1 Year? Really? :/

Here is an example, Interstate batteries are 12 and 18 months:
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/c...epCycle%7C3%7C

Autozone 1 year on marine batteries:
(I`ve experienced the one year deal both at Autozone and Wal-mart)
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=107676_0_0_

Many RV`s do not come equipped with true deep cycle batteries, but rather marine/starting batteries.
True deep cycle batteries may carry a longer warranty.

[RoyBraddy]

I was thinking the COSTCO/SAMS CLUB GC2 Batteries warranties were longer as well... Found these two photos on google search just showing a 12 month warranty.. Don't know how many years back these photos represent...





Roy Ken

[Crabman]

I think they have the short warranties because they are used for so many different purposes and in many cases they sit around long periods between uses, unlike car batteries.

[msturtz]

Deep cycle batteries are subject to a lot of abuse.

[etex211]

Marine batteries don't really work for the way I use my camper. I've got a red top Optima on mine.

[carey965]

a red top would also be a bad idea for an RV, are the red tops designed for normal capacity

i would say a yellow top or a dual purpose blue top would be better for a trailer

[RDUBYA448]

I had the Interstate battery go bad on our Whitehawk. We purchased the trailer 8/12. I pulled battery for winter, kept in the garage over winter. Then charged it up in the spring & all was well until about June/July when battery wouldn't hold a charge. DW took it back to RV dealer (General RV) & kid at the parts counter said she had to buy a new one as it's not covered under warranty! I told them not so fast...Battery came with unit when we took possession & we bought extended coverage so that the entire trailer was covered in full from bumper to bumper. They still said sorry, I was out of luck & they wouldn't even prorate it because according to the purchase info on the battery, it was purchased 3/12. Well, I called my sales rep & he blew a gasket! He told me that I will get a new battery & won't have to pay a thing. He made a phone call to parts & then called me back within an hour & it was all set. I went into the dealer & they took the charge off my card & got the battery for free. I've since learned that at the big dealerships, the parts department isn't always in sync with sales & doesn't always put the customer first! Sometimes you really have to keep at them & don't be afraid to go back to your sales rep or get the service & parts managers involved. Buyer beware & be prepared to have to fight for what's owed you. Keep a written diary from start to finish including dates, times & names of everyone you talk to as these transactions may take several calls & visits to get resolved & the details of what's happened so far can become skewed, to say the least!

[NewBlackDak]

Originally Posted by RDUBYA448

I had the Interstate battery go bad on our Whitehawk. We purchased the trailer 8/12. I pulled battery for winter, kept in the garage over winter. Then charged it up in the spring & all was well until about June/July when battery wouldn't hold a charge. DW took it back to RV dealer (General RV) & kid at the parts counter said she had to buy a new one as it's not covered under warranty! I told them not so fast...Battery came with unit when we took possession & we bought extended coverage so that the entire trailer was covered in full from bumper to bumper. They still said sorry, I was out of luck & they wouldn't even prorate it because according to the purchase info on the battery, it was purchased 3/12. Well, I called my sales rep & he blew a gasket! He told me that I will get a new battery & won't have to pay a thing. He made a phone call to parts & then called me back within an hour & it was all set. I went into the dealer & they took the charge off my card & got the battery for free. I've since learned that at the big dealerships, the parts department isn't always in sync with sales & doesn't always put the customer first! Sometimes you really have to keep at them & don't be afraid to go back to your sales rep or get the service & parts managers involved. Buyer beware & be prepared to have to fight for what's owed you. Keep a written diary from start to finish including dates, times & names of everyone you talk to as these transactions may take several calls & visits to get resolved & the details of what's happened so far can become skewed, to say the least!

I'm glad you ended up with exceptional service!

However....
Did your battery sit in your garage over winter without a smart charger, or at least periodic charging? If so you abused it, and you didn't really deserve a free replacement.

[msturtz]

Originally Posted by carey965

a red top would also be a bad idea for an RV, are the red tops designed for normal capacity

i would say a yellow top or a dual purpose blue top would be better for a trailer

Optima Red top batteries are STARTING only high current draw for a few seconds. They are not designed for deep cycle use. Even more important the converter in your RV is designed to charge only deep cycle batteries not starting batteries. They charge differently. If they figure out that you are abusing the battery it will void the warranty on the battery and possibly on the converter. You can use a blue top dual purpose, Exide Orbital dual purpose, a GC2 golf cart battery, Group 24, 27, 29 deep cycle however not any starting battery. The Optima batteries are more tolerant of abuse but will fail if abused.

[etex211]

Originally Posted by carey965

a red top would also be a bad idea for an RV, are the red tops designed for normal capacity

i would say a yellow top or a dual purpose blue top would be better for a trailer

If I am not using my camper, it is plugged into an outlet in my shop. If I am using my camper, it will either plugged into an electrical hookup, or plugged into generator. I never use the camper powered by only the battery. I need for my battery to keep the 12 volt systems running when I'm on the road and the truck isn't running.

Marine batteries won't last six months with this arrangement. I've used red top Optimas in the past for a wide range of applications, and I am confident this one will last years in this arrangement.

[msturtz]

Originally Posted by etex211

If I am not using my camper, it is plugged into an outlet in my shop. If I am using my camper, it will either plugged into an electrical hookup, or plugged into generator. I never use the camper powered by only the battery. I need for my battery to keep the 12 volt systems running when I'm on the road and the truck isn't running.

Marine batteries won't last six months with this arrangement. I've used red top Optimas in the past for a wide range of applications, and I am confident this one will last years in this arrangement.

The specific use case you list is exactly the use for a true deep cycle battery or a dual purpose battery. In fact, that is how I had my trailer set up for 9 years and the prior trailers I have owned. In fact, the house batteries I have in my Greyhawk are deep cycle batteries. From Johnson Controls website "An OPTIMA® REDTOP® is perfect for starting applications where your vehicle's engine requires high amperage output in short bursts. The discharge cycle is shallow and the alternator takes over after the battery starts your car." "Typically, failures are often caused when a starting battery is used in a cycling application, for which a deep-cycle battery is the better choice." Optima specifically disclaims al warranties for Red Top batteries used in the configuration you list above as it is still considered a "deep cycle" application "Abusive service / Deep Cycle Applications / Car Audio - Not Covered" http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us...fter-2-1-2009/. Contrast that with the Optima Yellow top Dual purpose or Blue Top dual purpose which carry a 24 month warranty when used in RV applications.

[etex211]

Once again, I am not concerned with a warranty. I am concerned with not having to replace my battery every year. My first marine battery didn't make it a year. This red top Optima is nearly two years old, and I have no doubt it will last me at least five years. If you will read again what I wrote above, you will see that my battery will never be discharged.

Having said that, discharges don't hurt these batteries. A friend of mine had the red top Optima on his tractor and the alternator on that tractor was no good. He would use his tractor until the battery went completely dead, and then put it on a battery charger. That battery lasted nine years.

I had the same red top Optima on my last two race cars. Neither car had an alternator. That battery was discharged and recharged weekly. That battery was six years old when I sold my last car. In my 28 years of racing, I never had any other battery last more than two seasons.

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by NewBlackDak

I'm glad you ended up with exceptional service!

However....
Did your battery sit in your garage over winter without a smart charger, or at least periodic charging? If so you abused it, and you didn't really deserve a free replacement.

I agree with having the battery on a smart charger over the winter even in the garage. My garage thermometer read 20 farenheight last night and its and insulated attached garage.