I had a little corrosion on the walls of my battery tray, so I took them out to inspect. No structural harm, so I scrapped, sanded, painted the tray; now ready to put the batteries back in. At what point does it make sense to replace them as a preventive step?These are 4 Sam’s Club (Johnson Controls) 6V EGC2 batteries, manufactured Feb 09 (8 + years ago). They’ve consistently used only a couple spoonfuls of water every 2 – 3 months (per cell).After sitting in the garage a couple days, each still measured 6.32 to 6.35 volts. (Don't have a shunt&Trimetric type device to measure more accurately).They’ve worked fine. With light electricity use, I’ve gone 5 – 6 days boondocking without running the generator (have single 140w solar panel).There was a little corrosion on a couple terminals and in the horizontal seam just below the top cap. Easily cleaned up.There is a very slight bulge on the two ends of each battery (exact same on all 4). Don’t remember if they were this way when I put them in years ago.Bottom line – They have been working fine, but I wonder if it makes sense to change the 8 year old batteries at home when I’m ready (instead of on the road when I’d rather be doing other things)?

" if it makes sense to change the 8 year old batteries at home when I’m ready (instead of on the road when I’d rather be doing other things)?"Certainly does with me. I change at five years since I don't want to hassle with anything except where to sit to watch the sunset. And you can have the new batts of your choice instead of what that little town store has on hand.

CVD wrote:I had a little corrosion on the walls of my battery tray, so I took them out to inspect. No structural harm, so I scrapped, sanded, painted the tray; now ready to put the batteries back in. At what point does it make sense to replace them as a preventive step?These are 4 Sam’s Club (Johnson Controls) 6V EGC2 batteries, manufactured Feb 09 (8 + years ago). They’ve consistently used only a couple spoonfuls of water every 2 – 3 months (per cell).After sitting in the garage a couple days, each still measured 6.32 to 6.35 volts. (Don't have a shunt&Trimetric type device to measure more accurately).They’ve worked fine. With light electricity use, I’ve gone 5 – 6 days boondocking without running the generator (have single 140w solar panel).There was a little corrosion on a couple terminals and in the horizontal seam just below the top cap. Easily cleaned up.There is a very slight bulge on the two ends of each battery (exact same on all 4). Don’t remember if they were this way when I put them in years ago.Bottom line – They have been working fine, but I wonder if it makes sense to change the 8 year old batteries at home when I’m ready (instead of on the road when I’d rather be doing other things)?With our old coach, every house battery change was done so, while on the road. Once in a WA state Sam's parking lot during lunch and another time in a NJ campground. No biggie and even though I'm running 4 AGM 12v now, I'm not about to fix what's not broke, but do hope to take advantage of my 5yr full replacement warranty with these and no matter where I might be.I mean how can one predict when something will need fixing anyway, as issues can arise out of nowhere. I mean maybe I should have changed my starter out, ahead of time and twice in fact, with our old gas coach, rather than do so in a TX parking lot and in a FL rest area, whaddaya think?

CVD wrote:Bottom line – They have been working fine, but I wonder if it makes sense to change the 8 year old batteries at home when I’m ready (instead of on the road when I’d rather be doing other things)?OK so as you put it, Bottom line, when would you rather have Mr. Murphy visit you? At home, or 300 miles away, on a Sunday, with no options available because Monday is a holiday. (or at least that is my luck)Happy Motoring

Batteries don't often fail catastrophically (at least it's never happened to me). Usually you notice you need to charge more frequently as they deteriorate. If they are still up to capacity, why toss them? The worst that's likely to happen is you have to charge them a day or two earlier.I don't think there is any magical "lifetime" number for batteries. The one on my motorcycle is 13 years old and it fired up the bike instantly this spring. I'd keep them until they show signs of weakness.

I wouldn't do a thing. You have 6 batteries. If a cell died tomorrow you could still use the remaining 2 pairs (4) to get you to a point where you could replace them. I just replaced a pair of start batteries because one had a dead cell. I'd known about it for a 4 month stretch before I replaced it. The single good start battery worked all throughout the winter I spent in the southwest. Once or twice I had to use the coach battery crossover to help a start in very cold weather, but I could easily deal with a known problem until I got home. Don't see any difference here. I would get a good test on the batteries under load so you know what you're dealing with before you finally decide.

When To Replace Coach Batteries? | Good Sam Community

Mile_High
Explorer
Jun 02, 2017
I asked an Interstate rep at an RV show when was a good time for 6V replacement because I had 7 years on mine. He said that type of battery degrades more on number of cycles (discharge-recharge) than age, so it really depends on use. Last I heard from the new owner, they were into the 9th year.

for what it's worth.
Two_Jayhawks
Explorer
Jun 01, 2017
CVD wrote:
OP here - I decided to replace the batteries, just went to Sam’s Club.

The kicker was thinking through my intentions with the coach (which is to hang on to it for a couple more years). Given I’ll very likely have to replace them sometime in the next year or two, I might as well do it now (in my driveway). BTW - the bulge on the old batteries looks more pronounced now that I’m looking at them sitting next to the new batteries.

Thanks for the opinions.

I think you made the right call. Eight years on the old batteries is a testament to your care & maintenance. That's above industry average life for batteries flooded or AGM.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2017
Gjac wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
Both times I've changed out my house batteries have been while camping. I've found that when they fail they just go out. Basically working fine one day, gone the next day. First time I pulled into a camping world and changed all four batteries out in the parking lot. Next time I got smart and drove the toad to Costco and got cheaper and better batteries and brought them back to the campsite and changed them. Didn't really need to do it on the road that second time as we had shore power but it really wasn't that difficult to change them.
. Were thes 12 or 6 v batteries? My 6 v ones seemed to just lose capacity but my 12 v ones seemed to go all of a sudden.

Actually I should have been more clear. They were 6 volt, and when they went bad it was my fault for not keeping up on the water level. On the first set when I saw the low water and it took almost a full gallon to fill one battery back up, I knew I screwed up and the batteries were shot. I filled them all with over 3 gallons and they did not hold a charge. Thought I learned my lesson but did the same thing a second time. Then I bought the battery fill kit where you fill them all at the same time with a little hand pump. So now I keep distilled water right by the motorhome in the storage shed and before every trip it only takes a couple of minutes to plug the hand pump in and make sure the batteries are full. I also used to leave the motorhome plugged in all the time while it was in storage by my house, and that seemed to really drain the liquid out of the batteries. So now in storage I disconnect the house batteries with the switch and I put a separate trickle charger on my chassis batteries and everything works great.
Gjac
Explorer III
Jun 01, 2017
msmith1199 wrote:
Both times I've changed out my house batteries have been while camping. I've found that when they fail they just go out. Basically working fine one day, gone the next day. First time I pulled into a camping world and changed all four batteries out in the parking lot. Next time I got smart and drove the toad to Costco and got cheaper and better batteries and brought them back to the campsite and changed them. Didn't really need to do it on the road that second time as we had shore power but it really wasn't that difficult to change them.
. Were thes 12 or 6 v batteries? My 6 v ones seemed to just lose capacity but my 12 v ones seemed to go all of a sudden.
Gjac
Explorer III
Jun 01, 2017
I have the same batteries and they are 9 years old. I think the answer is based on how they were maintained. I dry camp most of the time but have never gone below 50 percent SOC. Most cycles were 70 or 80. I equalize and desulfate several times a year. My Trojan 105's only lasted 4 years only because I had some misconceptions on maintainance. I am planning a 3 mo trip this summer and they will be used heavily so we will see how much longer they last.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2017
Both times I've changed out my house batteries have been while camping. I've found that when they fail they just go out. Basically working fine one day, gone the next day. First time I pulled into a camping world and changed all four batteries out in the parking lot. Next time I got smart and drove the toad to Costco and got cheaper and better batteries and brought them back to the campsite and changed them. Didn't really need to do it on the road that second time as we had shore power but it really wasn't that difficult to change them.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Jun 01, 2017
At 8 years they are near the end. Have them load tested at a battery shop. - ie NOT a auto store. Even the inexpensive home load tester can reveal a failing cell.

If you don't replace them you could get a few more years. If a cell failed on the road would you be OK with just 1 pair on a temporary basis? That might be a deciding factor.
crasster
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2017
Typically I clean the batts with anything carbonated. Then I use a desulphator at 12v to re-condition the batteries. I've seen batts last over 12 years doing this and still going!
traveylin
Explorer
Jun 01, 2017
Batteries do not often fail catastrophically It happened in my driveway with the explosion enough to shake the house, A mess to clean up. It was an Interstate 12 volt with about 30 months of use. I leave the mh plugged in so some ac keeps the humidity down.
CVD
Explorer
Jun 01, 2017
OP here - I decided to replace the batteries, just went to Sam’s Club.

The kicker was thinking through my intentions with the coach (which is to hang on to it for a couple more years). Given I’ll very likely have to replace them sometime in the next year or two, I might as well do it now (in my driveway). BTW - the bulge on the old batteries looks more pronounced now that I’m looking at them sitting next to the new batteries.

Thanks for the opinions.

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