Short life batteries

I have had several RV's! In a Class A I replaced OEM batteries with expensive lead acid 6 volt batteries, they lasted only about a year! In the last two I have replaced the OEM batteries with Optima's! Had the Class C for 4 years before getting the 5er, Optima's still going strong! With the 5er, one of the batteries was "weak" after about 9 months, in storage with power! Replaced them again with Optima's! We are full timing now, I can not explain the difference from the battery's point of view between full timing and sitting in storage with power! Knock on wood, my Optima's are going strong! I read a lot of people here criticizing Optima's, I have had nothing but good service from Optima. I have also replaced the stock batteries in my TV! Spend the couple of extra bucks, buy Optima's they won't let you down!

Several have suggested installing a battery disconnect switch. Seems like you could accomplish the same thing by simply not plugging in to shore power when storing the rig. Is there another reason to plug it in other than keeping the battery charged?

I'll keep an eye on this post - I have contemplated the same swap, only with Yellow Tops - and had the same questions. I did install disconnects as well, but the batteries still seem weak and have trouble getting / keeping a full charge.

It would be much cheaper to just get a disconnect switch rather then the blue top batteries (an inline fuse works also, just remove the fuse). The battery will stay charged for many months with a disconnect switch.

Your charger isn't doing something right.

Or upgrade the converter to a multi stage output model so you're not boiling the batteries all the time.

That's what hubby does he disconnects the negative terminal. Until he gets another battery terminal disconnect.

Why not just disconnect the battery so it does not charge or discharge. Remove the negative terminal