Battery Question

Yes, the disconnect is necessary to keep your batteries in good shape.

bilmarde wrote:
I have a 5th wheel stored out of state and I imagine that the battery is shot. Do I really need a new one or can I just use the old one to complete a circuit. If I should need a new one what size do I need. The battery box is large enough for two but in the years I have owned it I have only had one in the box.

If you don't do any boondocking, a single 12v battery should be fine. Get a marine battery, at minimum. If you want to do ant boondocking more than a day or two, then get 2 6v deep cycle/golf cart batteries. Gives you a lot more capacity. Usually about $80-90 at Sam's or Costco. If you have a battery disconnect, always use it or you'll kill the battery in 2-3 weeks unless you have some sort of charger running. If you don't have a disconnect, you should seriously think about adding one or at least pulling a cable while in storage.

Lyle

Thanks for all your help. I'll stop on my way down and pick up a new one.

If you are plugged into shore power and don't pull it anywhere you don't need a battery. I like having one just in case.

bilmarde wrote:
I have a 5th wheel stored out of state and I imagine that the battery is shot. Do I really need a new one or can I just use the old one to complete a circuit. If I should need a new one what size do I need. The battery box is large enough for two but in the years I have owned it I have only had one in the box.

You state "you imagine..." Test it first, put a meter on it, a charger with a de-sulfate setting and see if it takes a charge. Also, what are you planing? Cross country trip, or a short weekend stay. Depending on your plans you may want to consider getting a gel cell, which I feel will last much longer in storage than a wet cell. If you are going to continue long term storage a solar trickle charger may be the thing for your needs! If your current battery is dead, it could be shorted and I would not recommend using it just to complete the circuit! Good luck!

In case of breakaway, the battery has to be capable of applying and holding the brakes. A dead battery will not be capable of doing that, never mind completing a circuit.

The good news is that if it isn't being towed, it isn't necessary to have a good battery.

Just get a deep cycle from Costco or Walmart and go have some fun.
Group 24 or 27 is fine.
Although consider 40w to 100w of solar for storage maintenance.

You need a new one. Deep cycle marine/rv battery. Low/dead batteries will cause all kinds of headaches on your 12v system. Cant just complete the circuit.