Battery recommendation

Kober wrote:

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
No pedestal hookups? A not-connected while parked at Times Square is no different than not-connected at Quartzite.

Perhaps I misunderstand your conceptualization of a "campground"

I expect to be hooked to shore power at RV parks (and water) for most of our longer duration trips, or be running the generator. Only expect to be using battery power during quiet hours at RV parks or whenever we don't need AC for TV, MW, etc.

then a single or pair of 12V "marine" batteries and an upgrade to the WFCO converter to a PD or Iota drop in replacement. the drop in will do a better job of fast charging the batteries and getting them to full charge.

And 1 or 2 12V batteries will likely last you through the day or more and be inexpensive.

A pair of GC 6V would last longer but cost more and you'd probably not see any real benefit. If you wanted to go the 6V route I'd suggest a pair from Costco or Sam's club. way less expensive than a pair of Trojans, which likely would be overkill for you.

2oldman wrote:

Kober wrote:
... and 2 Honda gens to keep the single battery charged. .

That'll do it.

If it takes two Honda's to charge a single battery you should have maybe bought a Champion gen instead. :B

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
No pedestal hookups? A not-connected while parked at Times Square is no different than not-connected at Quartzite.

Perhaps I misunderstand your conceptualization of a "campground"

I expect to be hooked to shore power at RV parks (and water) for most of our longer duration trips, or be running the generator. Only expect to be using battery power during quiet hours at RV parks or whenever we don't need AC for TV, MW, etc.

Kober wrote:
... and 2 Honda gens to keep the single battery charged. .

That'll do it.

Ductape wrote:
"New to me" implies a used battery. Two different age batteries in parallel is recipe to ruin both when first one goes. Spend a bit more and get two 6v golf cart batteries.

^^^THIS^^^ X2

time2roll wrote:

Kober wrote:
I looked and it is indeed a WFCO converter.

If you expect a semi-fast recharge using a generator you will probably need to upgrade the WFCO.

Give it a try charging a lowish battery and see if voltage steadily climbs to 14.2+ volts and you are good. Most WFCO just trickle charge at 13.6 volts max regardless of what the battery needs. There are few tricks to get boost mode but most give up and replace the converter.

I will check the charging voltage at the battery. If it is only 13.6 I may want to change out the converter as you suggested. The previous owner may have done that already.

No pedestal hookups? A not-connected while parked at Times Square is no different than not-connected at Quartzite.

Perhaps I misunderstand your conceptualization of a "campground"

ktmrfs wrote:

Kober wrote:
My new to me toy hauler came with only one battery. I plan to add a second battery and am looking for recommendations based on your experience.

OK, but while others have chimed in, IMHO WE need more information on YOUR planned camping to give any valid recomendations.

So....

Will you be dry camping? If so, how often and how long. And when dry camping what do you want to do? watch TV, run a microwave? camp in cold weather?

How many day/year would you dry camp?

If you don't dry camp, and go with full hookups, how often? and when you are at rest stops do you want to run a microwave?

If you will dry camp and camp with hookups, how how many days/year of each and how many days at a time.

With this info WE have a better understanding of YOUR needs and can better advize you on what to do about batteries.

What works for me may be entirely in approriate for you.

I come from a truck camper with mostly dry camping and using both solar and 2 Honda gens to keep the single battery charged. Rarely in the 15 years did we use RV parks with hookups.

With this Toy Hauler I see us using RV parks more often to to the lack of agility and the fact the I won't be dragging this monster on too many back roads, especially since we plan to take our motorcycles where we go. Boondocking is the one thing I'll be missing the most.

In view of that, I see us using the batteries only after the mandatory quiet hours of RV parks. We don't watch TV while camping. The wife preferring the quiet time to read, nap and me taking or editing pictures on my laptop.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
How do you plan to use your unit?

I come from a truck camper with mostly dry camping and using both solar and 2 Honda gens to keep the single battery charged. Rarely in the 15 years did we use RV parks with hookups.

With this Toy Hauler I see us using RV parks more often to to the lack of agility and the fact the I won't be dragging this monster on too many back roads, especially since we plan to take our motorcycles where we go. Boondocking is the one thing I'll be missing the most.

In view of that, I see us using the batteries only after the mandatory quiet hours of RV parks.

Kober wrote:
My new to me toy hauler came with only one battery. I plan to add a second battery and am looking for recommendations based on your experience.

OK, but while others have chimed in, IMHO WE need more information on YOUR planned camping to give any valid recomendations.

So....

Will you be dry camping? If so, how often and how long. And when dry camping what do you want to do? watch TV, run a microwave? camp in cold weather?

How many day/year would you dry camp?

If you don't dry camp, and go with full hookups, how often? and when you are at rest stops do you want to run a microwave?

If you will dry camp and camp with hookups, how how many days/year of each and how many days at a time.

With this info WE have a better understanding of YOUR needs and can better advize you on what to do about batteries.

What works for me may be entirely in approriate for you.