Did I get the wrong battery?

[Lorraine]

So I bought a Duracell battery today to replace the Interstate SRM-24 which went bad while trailer was in for service at the dealer. (My mistake. Now I know to disconnect.) My Jayflight manual says when it is time to replace the battery, "replace it with a Group 27 deep cycle battery only". The SRM-24 that came with the trailer when I bought it brand new last year is a Group size 24DC. Following the owner's manual, I got a Group 27 battery. It doesn't fit in the battery box on trailer tongue! Do I take back this Duracell and get a smaller 24DC, or do I get a bigger battery box?

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

So I bought a Duracell battery today to replace the Interstate SRM-24 which went bad while trailer was in for service at the dealer. (My mistake. Now I know to disconnect.) My Jayflight manual says when it is time to replace the battery, "replace it with a Group 27 deep cycle battery only". The SRM-24 that came with the trailer when I bought it brand new last year is a Group size 24DC. Following the owner's manual, I got a Group 27 battery. It doesn't fit in the battery box on trailer tongue! Do I take back this Duracell and get a smaller 24DC, or do I get a bigger battery box?

If It were me, I'd just get a bigger battery box. I'm wondering if your dealer was suppose to include a gr 27 when you bought it, and maybe cheaped out with the gr 24 instead. Either way, you already have the better battery, and just need the right size box to fit it.

When our battery dies, that's what I'm going to do.

[mokurt]

If the manual calls for a 27 then your dealer put the wrong battery in.

I had to pay extra for 2 of the 27's.
I guess they do not come with new trailers.

[RoyBraddy]

The batteries do not come from the factory. They are installed by the dealership and this probably means you get what they have in stock at the time of delivery...

That's the way I understand it at any rate...

Roy Ken

[DocBrown]

The battery box is also installed at time of delivery along with the battery. So yes, they cheaped out on your.

[SkyBound]

How are these trailers towed up from the factories if it's the dealer that installs them? No battery?

[smithmdsmith]

The group 24 battery is just a smaller and lighter 12 volt battery than the group 27...generally by about 20%. It is probably also cheaper. Also the group 24 will not supply power to your trailer as long as a group 27 would (generally about 20% less capacity). If you have no intention of camping without power, sticking with the group 24 may make your life easier and keep your tongue weight lighter without any real detriment to your experience.

Full disclosure: I have two group 27 batteries on the tongue of my trailer, but I spend a night or 2 without power a couple of times a year and that allows me to run the lights, furnace, water pump, and fridge with no concerns. But my gross trailer weight is over 10,000 lbs and my tongue weight is over 1,000 lbs.

[CAG]

If you can still exchange it and are of a mind, I would go with a group 27 AGM. I stopped using flooded batteries several years ago and now only use the AGM. You do not need a box, they do not need water maintenance and you can lay them on their sides if you are inclined to. Sam's Club usually has some good prices on AGM.

Some are now switching to lithium but at $1K a pop I won't be doing that anytime soon. The price will come down and there are some other possibilities on the horizon.

[NVGun40]

Originally Posted by SkyBound

How are these trailers towed up from the factories if it's the dealer that installs them? No battery?

The batteries are "dealer installed" per say. Depending on the delivery method from factory to dealer, it is common to just throw any battery that will fit since it's only needed to power the brakes in the event of a break away.

I know up here in Alaska we get trailers delivered by rail, ship and even driven up from the lower 48. I have seen trailers delivered to the dealership with small motorcycle batteries.

[2edgesword]

If the owner's manual says "replace it with a Group 27 deep cycle battery only" I would bring this to the dealers attention. The statement in the owner's manual doesn't sound like a suggestion.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by 2edgesword

If the owner's manual says "replace it with a Group 27 deep cycle battery only" I would bring this to the dealers attention. The statement in the owner's manual doesn't sound like a suggestion.

That would be kind of like GM saying use only Delco batteries in our vehicles. The brand name of a battery makes no difference nor does a specific group. Does that mean you cannot use 2 6 volt batteries if you have the room and want the amps?

Amsoil sued Harley Davidson some years back and won because they claimed you would void your warranty if you used anything by Harley oil.

[GL243]

My SLX 267BHSW also came with a Group 24 (Deka brand), and a too-small box to put in a larger group size, so I've been considering a Group 31 Duracel that I can get at Sam's Club for $99 and change. Why not just go to that size instead of a 27 and get even a bit more boon-docking time before you have to hook up a gennie or plug in, since I have to replace the box anyway? It's only a few pounds more than the 27?

[Murff]

If you boon-dock a lot, forget the Group 24 & 27 and go for a new battery box that will hold two six-volt golf cart batteries.

Murff

[Parcany]

The Jayfeather we bought September 2018 was ordered with 2 12 volt group 27 Battery's. Really surprized us. Came also with 2 Battery boxes and all the connections.

[Nathan S.]

Originally Posted by Murff

If you boon-dock a lot, forget the Group 24 & 27 and go for a new battery box that will hold two six-volt golf cart batteries.

Murff

X2 and put a 100w solar panel on your roof as a tender.

[GHen]

X3, I have two 6volt golf cart batteries and 200 watts of solar on the roof. Best modification have have made to my RV.

[Atlee]

Almost all dealers cheap out this way. Saves them a few dollars.

Dealer put a new GP 24 in my trailer at delivery. Owner's manual said the electrical system of the trailer was built for a GP 27.

If I had been aware of that before accepting the trailer, I would have definitely brought it to the "attention" of the dealer.

[Lorraine]

Thank you all for your excellent suggestions! I called the dealer who seemed evasive as to why it came with a 24 and said they would need approval from Jayco for a bigger battery box. Then I called Jayco who said to put in a 24 because that's what it came with, and assured me it will not void warranty. I exchanged the 27 for a 24, put it in, and voila! Lights, fridge, awning and all the other amenities that need a 12 volt battery. I'm learning lots of valuable lessons as I adventure on!

[Atlee]

Have you read your owner's manual? Check what it says about the battery. My owner's manual clearly says the travel trailer 12 VDC system is built for a GP 27 battery.

If I had known that when I received my new trailer, I would have demanded a GP 27. I wouldn't have cared that the dealer had to put a different box on it.

Ultimately, it didn't matter, since I changed out the GP 24 the dealer installed, for a pair of real deep cycle golf cart 6 VDC batteries, along with a larger batter box.

A single GP 24 is fine if you are always plugged in at a campground.

Originally Posted by Lorraine

Thank you all for your excellent suggestions! I called the dealer who seemed evasive as to why it came with a 24 and said they would need approval from Jayco for a bigger battery box. Then I called Jayco who said to put in a 24 because that's what it came with, and assured me it will not void warranty. I exchanged the 27 for a 24, put it in, and voila! Lights, fridge, awning and all the other amenities that need a 12 volt battery. I'm learning lots of valuable lessons as I adventure on!

[CAG]

I too ran dual 6 volt batteries for years. Then I switched to three 12 volt AGM which gave me about the same amp rating. Some won't have room for three batteries but I have seen mods made to the compartments to handle more batteries.

The problem with 2 six volt batteries comes when one goes out. You have 6 volts to run a 12 volt system. Won't work.

And I am curious how the TT system could be built for a 27? Are we talking the size of the battery compartment because the electrical system does not care whether the 12 volts is coming from a series 27 or 2 6 volts, or a 24 ...