Battery recommendations

Gjac wrote:
If you look at cost/amp hr I think it would be hard to beat the GC batteries from Sams Club or Costco.

Reiterating what I mentioned earlier, I am extremely pleased with the Golf Car 6V AGM Duracell brand batteries from Sam's Club for $180 each. Yes they are twice the price. To-date they exceed both of my 12V wet acid battery experiences by a factor of two (so far) and continuing. There is also the benefit of never a worry about acid levels and acid boil-overs, or corroded battery terminals. The only maintenance I do with them is charge them when my volt meter reads in the 12.1v to 12.3v range. 5 years so-far so-good. It was one of the best improvements I made to our rig since we bought it new in 2007.

Based I what I heard in this thread the AGM batteries makes sense in a DD where you just drive it and let the alternator do the charging. My wet cell batteries in my cars usually last about 4 years. If the AGM's last 8 years and they are twice the price that makes sense. In the MH I maintain the batteries much better than my cars so my 2 Sams club 6 v house batteries are 12 years old now and still doing their job. The Walmart starting battery lasted 9 years, not because it was better than my previous Trojan marine battery which lasted 4 years but because I just charge it when I charged the house batteries. If you look at cost/amp hr I think it would be hard to beat the GC batteries from Sams Club or Costco.

I did get a watering kit. It was, I think, old stock and it broke when being installed.

I am currently using "reconditioned" telcom jars which I purchased from Interstate. They are now 4 years old and serving me well. I do have a large bank, but I do push them HARD. Cost was less than $1 per amp-hour.

Gjac wrote:
Hi Don, so it is maintenance that justifies the cost? I wish my batteries were on a slide out to make them easier to add water and clean the terminals. It is just hard for me to justify spending 3 times the cost per battery if they don’t last at least twice as long.

AGM batteries will probably last at least twice as long as liquid acid batteries if one forgets to keep the liquid levels high enough in their liquid acid batteries, or if one remembers but postpones keeping the liquid levels high enough because their liquid acid batteries are a pain to access.

Our first set of AGM RV coach batteries lasted around 8 years before I replaced them just-in-case (they were still functioning when replaced). They were taken care of by only the stock 13.6 volt fixed voltage RV converter when parked, and the RV engine's alternator when traveling.

The AGM starting battery in our occasionally used pickup truck just sits there under the hood ready to do it's starting job with no attention from me between uses - but I do dust if off about once a year.

Gjac wrote:

RambleOnNW wrote:
I like the BatteriesPlus X2Power AGM batteries so when the Group 65 flooded battery was failing I replaced it with this: https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/car-and-truck/ford/e=450-super-duty/2006/v10-6.8l-650cca/sli65agmdp

5 year full replacement. When dry camping I like another AGM deep cycle source.
It was 10% off ordering online and picking up in store.

The Duracell AGM looks good too:

https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/car-and-truck/ford/e=450-super-duty/2006/v10-6.8l-650cca/sli65agm

I don't know much about the AGM batteries and know there are advantages such as not having to add water and vibration but how long do the last compared to wet cells? At $200-$300 apiece I would hope they would last at least twice as long.

We had a good flooded battery in the RV that was the same type 84-month flooded battery as in our other cars but it did not last nearly as long. It may have been due to the fact that the RV sits a lot and flooded batteries have higher self discharge rates and also the chassis battery powers the electric steps. I disconnect the battery when not in use.

The batteries plus AGMs are made by Northstar that allegedly has people from Odyssey that is a well regarded battery company. Our house batteries are Sears Platinum AGM marine batteries made by Odyssey and have the same specs as the Batteries Plus AGM. They are going on 8 years old and still going strong.

Hi Don, so it is maintenance that justifies the cost? I wish my batteries were on a slide out to make them easier to add water and clean the terminals. It is just hard for me to justify spending 3 times the cost per battery if they don’t last at least twice as long.

Hi Gjac,

If the owner of flooded batteries is careful, their life span may often exceed those of AGM. If the owner is careless then AGM may win the life span challenge hands down.

Where AGM shine is their almost zero need for maintenance, and superior discharge and charging rates.

I certainly don't miss laying down in the snow to check electrolyte levels.

Gjac wrote:


I don't know much about the AGM batteries and know there are advantages such as not having to add water and vibration but how long do the last compared to wet cells? At $200-$300 apiece I would hope they would last at least twice as long.

RambleOnNW wrote:
I like the BatteriesPlus X2Power AGM batteries so when the Group 65 flooded battery was failing I replaced it with this: https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/car-and-truck/ford/e=450-super-duty/2006/v10-6.8l-650cca/sli65agmdp

5 year full replacement. When dry camping I like another AGM deep cycle source.
It was 10% off ordering online and picking up in store.

The Duracell AGM looks good too:

https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/car-and-truck/ford/e=450-super-duty/2006/v10-6.8l-650cca/sli65agm

I don't know much about the AGM batteries and know there are advantages such as not having to add water and vibration but how long do the last compared to wet cells? At $200-$300 apiece I would hope they would last at least twice as long.

I like the BatteriesPlus X2Power AGM batteries so when the Group 65 flooded battery was failing I replaced it with this: https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/car-and-truck/ford/e=450-super-duty/2006/v10-6.8l-650cca/sli65agmdp

5 year full replacement. When dry camping I like another AGM deep cycle source.
It was 10% off ordering online and picking up in store.

The Duracell AGM looks good too:

https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/car-and-truck/ford/e=450-super-duty/2006/v10-6.8l-650cca/sli65agm

suprz wrote:
I just checked with my local ford truck center and a new oem with 900CCA is 139.00. Before the core refund. That's not too bad. I've heard good things about the ford I'm batteries

You shouldn't be disappointed with that battery.

However, even for a starting battery ... I actually prefer AGM technology for that battery ... like the ultra-reliable AGM starting battery I have in my 4X4 PU.

I find it tough to remember to check the water level in my E450 motorhome's heavy duty liquid acid OEM Ford starting battery - good as the battery might be otherwise. :S