buying a new battery. need guidance please

PonyExpress · 02-08-2023, 03:42 PM

So after only 16 months my RV dealer tells me that my battery is no good and there is no warranty. (Jayco 2 year everything covered does not cover the 12V battery. Lovely!)

So I want to buy a battery and am overwhelmed with the vast products and options avaliable.

So what I need is a battery that will run the frige on propane, run out the slide and power the lights for 24 hours without draining lower that the 50% charge.

Ive looked at 100ah AGM on amazon, but want to avoid the junk.

Anybody knowledgeable that can steer me in the right direction?

Thanks

Jimmy

Jagiven · 02-08-2023, 04:21 PM

I call that light boondocking.

I suspect you have a 2021 model, so I suspect you have all LED lighting.

I upgraded to all LED lighting. I can go all weekend on a single charge as long as we do not use the furnace, I also have a CPAP that I run on 12v, with no humidification or heated hose. As for the slide, we extend it while connected to TV power. It probably still uses more battery power than TV power, but it cannot hurt to try to save a little battery power. We also only turn on the one or two lights we need and not every light. If you just want to leave every light on from dusk to bed time you might want a little more battery.

I use a Sam's Club 105 ah AMG Battery. So far (2 years) I have been very happy with it. This is a maintenance free battery.

The OEM battery was a wet cell battery that does require maintenance (adding distilled water periodically). If the maintenance is not done, it will die in a short order.

PonyExpress · 02-08-2023, 04:36 PM

yes it ia LED lights.

Not actually boon docking but we set up at a bbq cookoff on a thursday night and have to have the frige running till we return Friday after noonish.

Also, the battery meter in the RV shows full, 2/3 and 1/3. So is that all showing the 50% bottom when it shows no lights? or have you reached the 50% level somewhere between 2/3 and 1/3?

CAG · 02-08-2023, 06:20 PM

I am not sure what you are doing but if you have hookup/shore power most all of the time you have no need for more that what Jagiven mentions.

Murff · 02-08-2023, 08:03 PM

If you do boondock, two 6-volt golfcart batteries wll have more capacity than even a pair of 12 volt. I am a cheap SOB and found out many battery warehouses have "blemished" battteries that may have a crease in the case or even a brand they don't carry and cannot sell. Usually 1/4 to 1/2 the cost of the same unblemished battery and full warranty.

I used to know the Interstate Battery delivery driver in my area but have also gotten them from their warehouse by calling and asking.

Murff

TaftCoach · 02-08-2023, 08:09 PM

If you are going without being hooked up to shore power you are boondocking. Buy as big as you can afford. I've been happy with the Duracell line I picked up at Battery Plus.

RPR · 02-08-2023, 08:45 PM

Worked in the battery business for over 40 years. There are a certain number of manufacturers but a ton of labels. You would be surprised how many different manufacturers made the “Die Hard” battery for Sears over the years. As far as they were made to Sears specs, yeah right.

Brownie · 02-09-2023, 10:33 AM

I don't know a lot about batteries, but I've read in other posts on The Forum that (because the plates are thicker), a true deep cell marine battery will give you a longer run time and a longer lifespan than a starter/deep cell hybrid - like what most RV dealers install. I've also read here that Walmart sells a pretty good marine battery. That's where I bought mine a couple years ago, and I've been very happy with it.

Route 66 Traveler · 02-09-2023, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagiven

I use a Sam's Club 105 ah AMG Battery. So far (2 years) I have been very happy with it. This is a maintenance free battery.

Is that the Duracell? Is it considered a Deep Cycle Battery. Was it similar to this one?

https://www.samsclub.com/p/auto-grou...plp_product_11

TCNashville · 02-09-2023, 05:33 PM

Could be this one. This will probably be the next battery for my camper.
https://www.samsclub.com/p/duracell-...=plp_product_3

Route 66 Traveler · 02-09-2023, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCNashville

Could be this one. This will probably be the next battery for my camper.
https://www.samsclub.com/p/duracell-...=plp_product_3

The reviews are kind of concerning, lots of negative comments about batteries failing just out of warranty.

gypsmjim · 02-09-2023, 06:31 PM

I've been RVing for 35 years and Boating for 54 years. A marine deep cycle battery is adequate. Don't go for less. Don't buy a wally battery or a diehard, since they ain't what they used to be.

I'm currently using a Trojan deep cycle and its the best battery I have ever used. Of course, its not cheep, but you get what you pay for.

CAG · 02-09-2023, 06:50 PM

Most batteries used in Arizona fail prior to warranty. Between the heat, batteries running in vehicles that are running a full throttle, with the A/C running at full bore all of the time and they do not make it to what-ever the warranty might be. General life of a battery in a vehicle in Arizona is 18 months with 24 months being a bonus.

This country is the true test of a battery. I have found that those in RVs might make it 24 months but if it is running full duty in a vehicle, 36 is about max. We generally see them fail with the first 100 degree days or the first 30 degree nights. You get up, start the vehicle, get a paused start and the next attempt will be a fail and dead battery.

I have had the best luck with AGM and Sam's Club is fine. Most AGMs have a 12 month warranty so forget getting a new battery here. Just resign yourself to the fact that you will replace batteries every 18-24 months and if you get more out of them great but if they fail while you are boon-docking someplace 5 miles from civilization, well XXXX happens.[/QUOTE]

Route 66 Traveler · 02-09-2023, 07:04 PM

Guess I’ve been super lucky. My 2 RV batteries are going on 6 years old, my Jeep Wrangler has a 5 year old battery, and all are still going strong. The Jeep is in the garage, but the RV is out in the weather, recently in the mid-20’s. Summer temps here run in the low to mid 100’s. The RV is always plugged in so maybe that helps. During the summer I add distilled water once a month. All are Interstate batteries.

gypsmjim · 02-10-2023, 08:56 AM

If a year is the usual max, then an AGM is wasted money. Might just as well get the wally battery.

rkymntsno · 02-10-2023, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66 Traveler

Guess I’ve been super lucky. My 2 RV batteries are going on 6 years old, my Jeep Wrangler has a 5 year old battery, and all are still going strong. The Jeep is in the garage, but the RV is out in the weather, recently in the mid-20’s. Summer temps here run in the low to mid 100’s. The RV is always plugged in so maybe that helps. During the summer I add distilled water once a month. All are Interstate batteries.

X2. Four years now on our dealer installed Interstate batteries. Solar trickle charger while in the storage lot. Looking at replacing them either with Interstate $149 each or Walmart $94, both with a one year warranty, same as the ones that came with the RV new.

craigav · 02-10-2023, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCNashville

Could be this one. This will probably be the next battery for my camper.
https://www.samsclub.com/p/duracell-...=plp_product_3

Just FYI, which you may have already seen, that battery is a 55ah battery which isn't very much. I suspect some of the reviews are negative because the buyers didn't realize the limited capacity and over discharged them repeatedly in their usage. I would suggest a 100ah or better battery (one or more). ~CA

TCNashville · 02-10-2023, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigav

Just FYI, which you may have already seen, that battery is a 55ah battery which isn't very much. I suspect some of the reviews are negative because the buyers didn't realize the limited capacity and over discharged them repeatedly in their usage. I would suggest a 100ah or better battery (one or more). ~CA

Yeah I saw that but I don't boondock and was just looking for something basically maintenance free. My current battery is the original that came with the camper and is now 11 years old. It's an Excide brand deep cycle that still holds 12.7V for about a week but load tests weak so I suspect it has a dead cell or cells plus I have to add distilled water to it twice a month on average. I keep a solar trickle charger on the battery during the summer while in storage but remove the battery during the winter. Certainly got my money's worth out of that one.

billcf7 · 02-10-2023, 12:03 PM

Just spend about $300 on a cheaper lithium battery and you will probably never need to buy a battery again

https://www.amazon.com/ADCBATT-12V-T...98&sr=8-5&th=1

TCNashville · 02-10-2023, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billcf7

Just spend about $300 on a cheaper lithium battery and you will probably never need to buy a battery again

https://www.amazon.com/ADCBATT-12V-T...98&sr=8-5&th=1

I'd love to have that battery but my 12 year old Progressive converter only supports lead acid or AGM.

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