Duracell, Costco or Interstate battery?

Iraqvet05 · 05-08-2018, 08:02 AM

My 5 year old dual purpose Interstate battery on my TT is dying. I had charged it overnight on the Battery Tender and cleaned out the TT this weekend. Within a few hours of only using most of the LED lights, the battery was down to 12.4 volts.

I camp 100% of the time at CGs using shore power. Should I get another Interstate dual purpose battery at $110 plus or will the cheaper Duracell and Costco batteries work OK?

wags999 · 05-08-2018, 08:22 AM

Here in Az Costco carries Interstate batteries, not sure in Kansas. Size 24 deep cycle is $76.

Jagiven · 05-08-2018, 08:37 AM

If you are 100% shore power CG sites, I would buy a cheap group 24 dual purpose battery. The main job of the battery is to engage the trailer brakes during an emergency.

estesbubba · 05-08-2018, 08:53 AM

Costco are Interstate and I just picked up 2 RV/marine over the weekend for $73 each. Take you old ones in so they don't charge you for the core.

bdreinv · 05-08-2018, 09:09 AM

I believe Consumer Reports give Costco top rating.Wish we could get five years on a battery in Phoenix.All through we do have a yellow top Optima which is 7 or 8 years old in our dump trailer, really expensive! Thanks

Iraqvet05 · 05-08-2018, 09:20 AM

I'll amend my 100% CG statement to add that I do start the fridge the day before we head out on a trip otherwise we are on shore power. I suspect the Interstate battery sold at Costco is not the same grade or carries the same warranty as the battery sold at other Interstate dealers unless they worked one hell of a deal with Costco.

Spurticus · 05-08-2018, 09:49 AM

The one at Costco is a dual purpose RV/Marine battery. The Interstate battery sold by Interstate is the deep cycle battery that most everyone is familiar with and that dealers typically install.

bdreinv · 05-08-2018, 10:05 AM

I will amend my statement also in our 16 Eagle when the factory batteries die. Will definitely go back to 6V golf car batteries!

RoyBraddy · 05-08-2018, 10:25 AM

I just got four each DURACELL SLIGC110 6V GC2 GOLF CART from BATTERIES PLUS here locally listed on SALE for $84.99 each. These carry a 12Month free replacement warranty. These are for my two parallel groups of two 6V batteries in series new battery bank. This will give two groups of 12VDC Power at 215AHs or I can run them in parallel and get 12VDC up to 430Ahs capacity...

Had a great experience with BATTERIES PLUS - answered all of my questions and took my 4EA 12V 85AH GP24 batteries in for the cores...

Think I am going to very happy with theses Duracell's They weight in at 60.5lbs each... Mine has the fluid caps adapter on them where you can open all three fill ports at same time - this was kinda neat...

These four batteries will replace my remaining three 12V 85AH GP24 Interstates I installed in 2009

I am installing these Duracells inside a TORKLIFT 59-inch metal battery box that will perfectly fit inside the two right angles you see holding the Interstate's on the top of my trailer tongue area...

Roy Ken

CampNow · 05-08-2018, 10:32 AM

Always going to be a lot of subjective opinions on which "brand" of battery is the best.

IMO, a battery's warranty is an excellent indicator how confident the manufacturer and/or reseller is about the longevity and performance of any given battery. The length of the free-replacement period and how it's pro-rated after the FR period expires says a lot.

Secondly, where you purchase a battery, especially if you travel far from home a lot, should factor in IMO. If your battery craps out and the nearest warranty location is 250 miles away---you're SOL.

That's the advantage of purchasing from, say, Wal-Mart. They arguably have more convenient locations throughout the country than any other battery reseller.

Speakiing of "resellers", East Penn, Johnson Controls, and Exide, make the vast majority of wet cell/flooded automotive batteries in the US. FWIW, most Interstate branded batteries are made by Exide and Johnson Controls. If you have a preference for East Penn, Johnson Control, and/or Exide batteries, that's that's a legitimate "brand" preference. If you have preference for Interstate, Wal-Mart, Sears, Costco, Autozone, etc. . . . all battery resellers . . . well, things really get mirky. Who knows who made what.

bdreinv · 05-08-2018, 10:32 AM

Never thought about those guys usually go to Wall Mart. No one there can answer any battery questions! Thanks

CampNow · 05-08-2018, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdreinv

Never thought about those guys usually go to Wall Mart. No one there can answer any battery questions! Thanks

I hear ya. IMO, to get the best price on any given product (a preference many of us have), it typically behooves us to purchase from a business with low overhead. Unfortunately, a business that takes the time to answer questions (hopefully correctly--lol!) usually has to markup their products higher in order to pay for/provide that additional service.

Most of the time we're presented with a choice. Get your questions answered and pay more . . . or research/answer your own questions and pay less.

Wertles · 05-08-2018, 01:11 PM

I have several years of experience with Duracell batteries from Sams Club. They are rebadged DEKA batteries. DEKA batteries are what all of the heavy diesel equipment use as their OEM supplier. I would definitely stay away from dual purpose batteries. I don’t even know why they make them. One deep cell 12V will do better than the dual purpose or better yet, 2 6V in series will give you many more amp hours if you have the room. I have 4 6V in my class A and when I need to replace them, I will increase to 6 batteries.

jimp · 05-08-2018, 03:24 PM

The key to getting long service life from a DC battery is to properly maintain the battery. Brand does play a part as does preference/experience with brands, but there are only 3 or 4 battery makers, so they are all similar for the most part.

redsnapper · 05-08-2018, 03:37 PM

The Home Depot in my neck of the woods handles Exide batteries.

And I believe that common knowledge is to use a straight deep cycle rather than a starting or combo start/deep cycle battery.

A trailer does not need cold cranking amps.

TCNashville · 05-08-2018, 06:00 PM

I'm still using the Exide that came with the trailer now going into it's 6th year. Still going strong. I keep it on a battery minder all winter and top off the fluid as needed. Would buy another.

3'senough · 05-10-2018, 08:45 AM

I had Duracell 6V in my last unit and they lasted 4 years without issue. This unit has Interstate 6V from the dealer no issues yet. Same performance overall between the 2.

All my vehicles now have Advance Auto batteries due to several factors. First is that I can pretty much find an Advance anywhere in my travels for warranty should I need it. What good is a warranty if you can't go into a store to use it.

Second, with their promo codes it can be less than the clubs in some cases. Core charges are all different based on the battery your buying.

I am happy with them so far.

wags999 · 05-10-2018, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iraqvet05

I'll amend my 100% CG statement to add that I do start the fridge the day before we head out on a trip otherwise we are on shore power. I suspect the Interstate battery sold at Costco is not the same grade or carries the same warranty as the battery sold at other Interstate dealers unless they worked one hell of a deal with Costco.

It is exactly the same battery, and Costco does carry deep cycle marine batteries. You have to understand most retailers work on about a 35% to 40% or more markup. Costco markup is about 14%. Plus Costco probably sells many more batteries on a store for store basis than any other retailer does.

flintsters · 05-10-2018, 12:47 PM

I have been debating the same thing. It looks like my options are Costco 6v 105 amp for $95 each plus tax (about 30 minutes from my house and I have a membership), Sams Club Duracell 6v 110 amp for $87 no tax (about 1.5 hrs away and no membership), or Batteries Plus (about same price as Sams Club but more like 2 hrs away but don't need membership). I'm thinking that the extra $20 for 10 fewer amp hrs will probably win out.

Flyrotor · 05-11-2018, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iraqvet05

I'll amend my 100% CG statement to add that I do start the fridge the day before we head out on a trip otherwise we are on shore power. I suspect the Interstate battery sold at Costco is not the same grade or carries the same warranty as the battery sold at other Interstate dealers unless they worked one hell of a deal with Costco.

Costco has such great customer service and return/warranty, I would dare bet the warranty exceeds that of interstate, I haven’t verified that, but just know that Costco does well.

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