Should I replace my batteries?

time2roll wrote:
Since they seem to be in good shape... check the fluid level and keep them.
Good chance they will serve you well for 2 to 5 more years.

Worst case you replace them on the road. Not really a big deal.

I agree :C

OP, now that you have about 4 different answers, the choice is yours.

cummins2014 wrote:
Maybe the secret is never running them down very low, don't know, but they have held up well .

Yes, that's true.. if you don't work them very hard they *should* last longer. The OP says he mostly dry camps with a lot of battery cycles. That's different.

There's always the peace-of-mind factor in this, and that's a totally personal decision. Would I want to be out in the middle of nowhere and those batteries start failing? No. I'd rather take care of it when it's convenient.

VoodooMedicineMan wrote:
Load meter

Very similar Load Tester for $20.


Maybe I get one on my way home today.

My 2010 trailer has the original GC2's, SG is still very close to new.

cycles, in the 300+ range, about half of them down to 25% SOC (75%DOD), A good GC2 is rated for 500+ cycles to 25% SOC.

Previously I ran a set of GC2's for 12 years with again 300+ deep discharges,then passed them to daughters In-laws who ran them 3 more years many discharges to 50% or less SOC before he replaced them.

My advice, charge the up, measure SG compare to what it should be new.

Also, load testing on GC2's will often give erroneous results. GC2 have high internal resistance so if you load test to the same load critera as a 12V starting battery it may show up as bad even on a well conditioned new battery.

I had the same dilemma 4 years ago, pair of 6 volt batteries were 8 years old and still performing up to task. Similarly, our rig is plugged in year round when stored in our side yard all the while being maintained by our Iota IQ4 converter.

Sure, there was a bit of drop-off since new, but when dry camping or boondocking we utilize solar and genny to restore consumed amphours making it difficult to notice any significant degeneration. I believe they could go another couple of seasons easy.

I always get my GC2 batteries on the cheap from Samsclub since badging means very little in their overall longevity, particularly if improperly maintained. Happened to be at Sams on one of their Saturday one day sales where 6 volt batteries were $20 of regular price, picked up a new pair.

I guess I prefer to play it safe, although I knew batteries still had plenty of life in them. Do the very same thing with our ST tires, always change them out on their fifth season regardless of their condition. Never a blowout or even a flat, and yes we occasionally tow above 65mph.

f150camper wrote:
Any recommendations here?

I like Trojan, tried and true. And I'd get the AGMs. Lifeline is good too. No maintenance, but yeah, more money.

Unless you plan to be somewhere fairly remote that makes it difficult to get new ones I would just run them until they die or won't keep up with your needs.

He said Jasper or Banff.

I would replace them with AGM batteries.

2oldman wrote:

f150camper wrote:
Any recommendations here?

I like Trojan, tried and true. And I'd get the AGMs. Lifeline is good too. No maintenance, but yeah, more money.

I have been a big fan of Trojan for years. However, I recently got burned by them pretty hard.

I proactively replaced the battery in my boat with a Trojan battery in the fall of 2016. I went with the model recommended to my by the Trojan dealer in Portland, OR. This battery made it through two boating seasons before refusing to hold a charge in the fall of 2018. I think I was out a half dozen times each season - so this is not like something that was used every weekend.

For those who do not know battery codes, they are a mix of letters and numbers. A=January, B=February, and so forth. That letter will be followed by a one or two digit code indicating the year of manufacturer. I always check the codes to buy a fresh battery.



Notice the sticker which means this battery was made in August 2016. As I was buying this in the fall of 2016, it seemed to be a fresh battery. Since it was dead, I took it in for exchange. The other battery dealer pointed out the "D5" which is burned in to the battery, which indicates April 2015 as the manufacturer date. He said it is pretty common to some dealers to put a new sticker on an old battery, and count on the customer not noticing the burned in date code.

Yeah, I fell for it.

I put this Trojan battery in my boat because I had really good service (10 years) out of the Trojan in my camper. The old Interstate battery that was in my boat in 2016 now starts my tractor, and it is a good 13 years old - so it is not like my usage in this boat is hard on the battery. (Having my tractor not start because of an old battery is a different problem than when the boat is on the river and doesn't start).

Anyway, I have been a fan of Trojan Batteries for years, and I have spoken highly of them on this forum. I don't feel as strong about them now after this incident.

YMMV!
-Eric