2 Camper Batteries 12V or 6V

Amphours are amphours whether they are from a 6 volt jar or 12 volt. Wired in series battery voltage is added together and amperage remains same, and with paralleled batteries voltage is constant and amperage is summed up.

Most 6 volt GC batteries are roughly 210 to 225 amphours, and most 12 volt batteries range from about 85 to 115 amphours depending on group size. Under most circumstances, a pair of 12 volt batteries will have very similar amount of amphours as a pair of 6 volt batteries.

The difference lies in their construction and design. I've had both 6 and 12 volt set-ups and found that our pair of 6 volt GC batteries are proving to be more resilient when deeply discharged and are better capable of taking the abuse of camping off the grid.

Our current set of 6 volt GC2 Interstate batteries purchased from Samsclub are still providing good, reliable service going on 5 years. I had good success with our 12 volt setup albeit with shortened longevity. With either choice how they are charged and maintained makes all the difference.

The two Interstate 12 volt deep cycle batteries that came with our motorhome lasted less than four years. I replaced them with two Trojan T-105 6 volt deep cycle batteries in June 2007. These batteries are still going strong after eight years. I don't worry about failure of one 6 volt battery, as deep cycle golf cart batteries are widely available.

I don't know the difference in amp-hours, but the Trojans definitely can run the furnace much longer without getting to 50% discharge compared to past experience with the 12 volt Interstate batteries.

The Trojans are larger (taller) than my old 12 volt batteries and are heavier. I figure that more lead in a battery means more amp-hours.

I use two 6-volt GC batteries, because they are true deep cycle & are better suited to the duty cycles they are subjected to. I also carry a single 12-volt, as back-up.
I dry camp 100% of the time.

dockmasterdave wrote:
I am wondering some of the same things. 1 thought that comes to my mind is, if I have 2 6v batteries and 1 goes bad, I have nothing.
If I have 2 12v batteries and 1 goes bad, I have less amp hours, but my rig will still operate.
Not much help to you I guess. I'll be watching the replies.

You are right I forgot about that part if one fails you are dead in the water! I did get 2-6V batteries because I figured they are the same batteries in my UPS units so they will not go to waist no matter what. GREAT POINT!

I am wondering some of the same things. 1 thought that comes to my mind is, if I have 2 6v batteries and 1 goes bad, I have nothing.
If I have 2 12v batteries and 1 goes bad, I have less amp hours, but my rig will still operate.
Not much help to you I guess. I'll be watching the replies.