Engine battery recommendations

Update, well it looks like I need to start replacing batteries. I took it out end of April, was ok, not a lot of punch, but was able to start engines. Took it out again over memorial, and had to use a jump starter at least three times. I'm going to start with the engine battery and put in a disconnect switch to ensure it's disconnected while in storage. I always turn the switch off, but it shouldn't have been that bad given I was accessing the RV almost every week before mem day to get work done it so quite a bit of driving from storage to house, to shop, etc.

Bruce Brown wrote:

Gjac wrote:

Bruce Brown wrote:
We've always used Sams Club, just recently I've found Tractor Supply to be the place to buy batteries. In fact, I'm installing (2) new Exide starting batteries in our DP tomorrow.

Exide HD Battery

I need new batteries for my recently acquired tractor. It takes the same batteries as the MH so that got me thinking. The batteries in our MH are 9 years old. They're still good, but they're 9 years old. A dead battery on the tractor is an inconvenience, a dead battery on the MH is a major pain in the trip. So tomorrow the MH is getting new batteries, the tractor will be getting the hand-me-downs.

. It looks like a good battery for a good price, I wonder why it is only warranted for 6 mos?

I believe it's because it's a Farm Duty battery, and typical Farm Duty isn't as easy on equipment as over-the-road duty - buy a long shot.

So I switched out the batteries last week and finally got a decent look at the original batteries; they had a 1 year warranty on them and made it 9 years - and counting, now in tractor duty.

The Exides have an 18 month warranty, maybe they'll last 50% longer too. Nahh...

Gjac wrote:

Bruce Brown wrote:

Gjac wrote:

enblethen wrote:
I do not remember seeing what chassis the rig is on. This makes a difference as to what battery. As for make of battery it doesn't really matter.
Get a battery with about a 60 month warranty and expect to get 48 months out of it.

I find it interesting that the starting batteries only last 2-3 years in our cars but the starting battery in my MH along with the 2 6v GC batteries are going on 8 years old. The difference is I charge the starting battery in the MH when I charge the house batteries maintenance makes a big difference. The Walmart Max batteries have a 5 year warranty and there are Walmart's where ever you travel. My Walmart battery failed within the warranty period and they gave me a new one for free.

2-3 years out of a car battery? I normally get around 7-8 years. :h Oh well...

All of the batteries in our MH are going on 9 years old, heading out now to install the new starting batteries. Next I need to do something with the coach batteries, they've been tired for a few years now.

Do you maintain your car batteries with a charger? My point is that most of us don't maintain the car batteries, we just drive them, and they don't last. If maintained(charged) they will last for a long time. Also the length of trips taken makes a difference, short trips to the store vs long commutes to work.

I don't do a thing to our car batteries other than drive them.

Between all of us (wife, 2 kids) we have 6 vehicles on the road, not including the MH. Some are kept in a warm garage, some are kept outside. Just last year, during our record cold winter, I finally had to replace the battery in my daughters car. It was a California car to begin life; that battery was 9 years old and smaller than the one in my lawn mower - really. Anything above 0F and it worked fine, it just couldn't handle the -30F stuff we kept getting and I got sick of putting the jumper cables on it when it was that cold. :B

Bruce Brown wrote:

Gjac wrote:

enblethen wrote:
I do not remember seeing what chassis the rig is on. This makes a difference as to what battery. As for make of battery it doesn't really matter.
Get a battery with about a 60 month warranty and expect to get 48 months out of it.

I find it interesting that the starting batteries only last 2-3 years in our cars but the starting battery in my MH along with the 2 6v GC batteries are going on 8 years old. The difference is I charge the starting battery in the MH when I charge the house batteries maintenance makes a big difference. The Walmart Max batteries have a 5 year warranty and there are Walmart's where ever you travel. My Walmart battery failed within the warranty period and they gave me a new one for free.

2-3 years out of a car battery? I normally get around 7-8 years. :h Oh well...

All of the batteries in our MH are going on 9 years old, heading out now to install the new starting batteries. Next I need to do something with the coach batteries, they've been tired for a few years now.

Do you maintain your car batteries with a charger? My point is that most of us don't maintain the car batteries, we just drive them, and they don't last. If maintained(charged) they will last for a long time. Also the length of trips taken makes a difference, short trips to the store vs long commutes to work.

Hi everyone, again, thanks the inputs, is great feedback. Here's an update. I pulled the battery and trickle charged overnight. Put it back and it started the MH. After reading the echo charge manual, and see posts about life of house batteries, I'm. Thinking they are probably due for a change soon. it's a 2003 and I don't see any paperwork on battery replacements. The echo charge manual said it will only charge the engine battery if they house batteries are over 13 volts.

Does that seem right? I measured them on + 6v and on -6v across each battery. So I presume that's 12v or somehow I measured them incorrectly. I need to brush up on my dc electronics I guess.

I'll bring the Mh back this weekend and see how things are fairing.

Gjac wrote:

enblethen wrote:
I do not remember seeing what chassis the rig is on. This makes a difference as to what battery. As for make of battery it doesn't really matter.
Get a battery with about a 60 month warranty and expect to get 48 months out of it.

I find it interesting that the starting batteries only last 2-3 years in our cars but the starting battery in my MH along with the 2 6v GC batteries are going on 8 years old. The difference is I charge the starting battery in the MH when I charge the house batteries maintenance makes a big difference. The Walmart Max batteries have a 5 year warranty and there are Walmart's where ever you travel. My Walmart battery failed within the warranty period and they gave me a new one for free.

2-3 years out of a car battery? I normally get around 7-8 years. :h Oh well...

All of the batteries in our MH are going on 9 years old, heading out now to install the new starting batteries. Next I need to do something with the coach batteries, they've been tired for a few years now.

Gjac wrote:

enblethen wrote:
I do not remember seeing what chassis the rig is on. This makes a difference as to what battery. As for make of battery it doesn't really matter.
Get a battery with about a 60 month warranty and expect to get 48 months out of it.

I find it interesting that the starting batteries only last 2-3 years in our cars but the starting battery in my MH along with the 2 6v GC batteries are going on 8 years old. The difference is I charge the starting battery in the MH when I charge the house batteries maintenance makes a big difference. The Walmart Max batteries have a 5 year warranty and there are Walmart's where ever you travel. My Walmart battery failed within the warranty period and they gave me a new one for free.

There's a tremendous amount of heat surrounding the chassis battery in a car and especially here in the tropics. All my batteries are under the steps in the coach and even if the chassis bat was under the hood, it would be out front of the radiator and be getting plenty of air for staying cool.
Having said that, I would think New England for being a little kinder to batteries and can remember batteries lasting a very long time when living up north and especially in years gone by. Then again, many cars and trucks almost had room for another engine under the hood, back then.

I have a group 74/78 in rig. It sure helps to have charger on it.
Mine came set up for side posts.
Most Fords and diesels come with top round posts.
Memory says Workhorse has some of each depending on chassis series.
That is why it would be good to know chassis.

enblethen wrote:
I do not remember seeing what chassis the rig is on. This makes a difference as to what battery. As for make of battery it doesn't really matter.
Get a battery with about a 60 month warranty and expect to get 48 months out of it.

I find it interesting that the starting batteries only last 2-3 years in our cars but the starting battery in my MH along with the 2 6v GC batteries are going on 8 years old. The difference is I charge the starting battery in the MH when I charge the house batteries maintenance makes a big difference. The Walmart Max batteries have a 5 year warranty and there are Walmart's where ever you travel. My Walmart battery failed within the warranty period and they gave me a new one for free.

pianotuna wrote:
I'd get the biggest meanest battery that will fit the available space.

Funny you say that. Before reading your post I was thinking "The Biggest Baddest Battery that will fit.