12v marine/deep cycle batteries

AZDesertRat wrote:
I know they are not true deep cycle and I have no intention of going to 6 volt batteries.
Which would be your choice between the Interstate SRM-29 and the WalMart Everstart Maxx 29DC? I can get the Interstates for $119 and the Everstarts for $99. They both weigh 61 lbs. I found the specs on the Interstate and its 1 year warranty but can't find anything on the Everstarts?
I am buying two to go along with my two 100w solar panels and Phocos controller for short boondocking trips in AZ with plenty of sunshine.

Forget the interstate and neverstarts. Go to tractor supply and get Exide stowaways; 105 Ah in a DC27 case.

I have had no issues with my Interstate Dual purpose. On another note: One factory can produce many different name brands of batteries but that does not mean they are all the same. When a company outsources it's batteries to a manufacturer, the manufacturer will build each brand and model to the companies standards.- Be blessed and have a Wonderfully Merry Christmas.

My class B has room for only 1 house battery and I do some boondocking. I have been using a M29MF ACDelco Voyager Battery and have been satisfied. It's a marine/deep cycle combo with 105AH. I wish I had room for a pair of 6 volts, but I barely can fit this one.

Yea everyone burns through a few 12 volters and by the time they figure out how to make them last they have moved on to six volt. Then they brag on how great the golf batteries are. I am guilty of the also. Try to keep it in perspective.

Enjoy those WM 29s.

pnichols wrote:
I'm with you 100% on staying with 12V RV batteries - mostly due to the standard automotive sizes they come in. The convenient battery storage area that Winnebago built into our Itasca Class C motorhome is right under the entry step and is accessible from either outside the coach or inside the coach. There's room there for two 12V batteries up to Group 31 in length and width, but the area is not tall enough for 6V "golf cart" type batteries.

Hmmmmm. My 2007 Winnebago Outlook 31C (Class C) MH currently has 2 of the 6v "golf cart" type batteries under the step. Of course, the fact that Winnebago made mine tall enough for those batteries doesn't mean they made yours tall enough.

AZDesertRat wrote:
I know they are not true deep cycle and I have no intention of going to 6 volt batteries.
Which would be your choice between the Interstate SRM-29 and the WalMart Everstart Maxx 29DC? I can get the Interstates for $119 and the Everstarts for $99. They both weigh 61 lbs. I found the specs on the Interstate and its 1 year warranty but can't find anything on the Everstarts?
I am buying two to go along with my two 100w solar panels and Phocos controller for short boondocking trips in AZ with plenty of sunshine.

I'm with you 100% on staying with 12V RV batteries - mostly due to the standard automotive sizes they come in. The convenient battery storage area that Winnebago built into our Itasca Class C motorhome is right under the entry step and is accessible from either outside the coach or inside the coach. There's room there for two 12V batteries up to Group 31 in length and width, but the area is not tall enough for 6V "golf cart" type batteries.

That being said, I will not use "marine/deep cycle" 12V batteries in our RV. Only true deep cycle batteries will do ... and you usually can't find them at Walmart, Costco, Sears, Napa, O'Reilly, etc. type stores. Of course these kind of stores do carry true deep cycle batteries -> the taller 6V "golf cart" batteries. That's the reason so many RV'ers use 6V batteries if they can fit them ... they're readily available and not too expensive.

However, there are true deep cycle 12V batteries available in the standard automotive sizes. They're available in regular flooded (liquid) acid types and in dry (AGM) acid types, but both technologies will be more money than non-true-deep-cycle 12V marine/deep cycle flooded batteries and true-deep-cycle 6V golf cart flooded acid batteries.

Here's a link to a quality true deep cycle flooded 12V battery in Group 27 automotive size:

http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/datasheets/27TMH_Trojan_Data_Sheets.pdf

(I use a couple of true deep cycle Group 31 AGM batteries in our RV - for a total of 230 amp hours.)

IMO a 12v battery is a 12v battery. The choice is down to the "return policy" of each one where you get it, and the availability of stores that will do that return near where you camp if you have any trouble.

Gotta hear it....

How many out there have run 6 cells of golf car battery and had one fail prematurely? I don't mean after seven years - a car jar won't last 7-years after it spells the word BOONDOCKING.

But I do know of a number of cases where a 6-cell battery of a pair went ---- up and it's mate said "Me? Alone? YGBSM! Golf courses tend to get prickly when their 6-series string 3-cell batteries has a quitter. No power no rental no greens fees. Sorta important.

Seems as though 24, 27and 29 batteries are on the downslope. Comparing a .050" battery to a .090" plate battery is no fair match. If I had to speculate I would say there is a FAR greater chance of BOTH car jar batteries failing than a single cell in a 6-cell series string going bad.

To each - their own...

It always happens that way here. Ask about an F-150 for occasional light towing and all you hear is get a F-550 or you will die a horrible death or regret it the rest of your life. My F-150 ecoboost is doing quite well.

Apparently if you ask about 12v battery A vs. 12v battery B, and state that you don't want 6v batteries, you get told anyway to buy 6 volt batteries.

LOL!