Need expert advise from those that know batteries best. I have an 05 PW Excel that has room for just one 12v house battery in the outside compartment. It's a wet cell, and just as soon get away from them and go to an AGM battery. My plan is to purchase two 6 volt AGM's and place them inside under the galley sink. That's the easy part. The hard part is which brand AGM to go with. My first choice would be Lifeline GDL-4CT6 batteries with 220ah. $600 for two delivered. But, looking around I came across a lesser known name, Amstron. At 210ah and $417 for two delivered at the same weight as the Lifelines and the same specs, other than ah's, I'm wondering if this isn't a case of you get what you pay for or do the Amstrons cost less just for being a lesser known name? If you had a choice and could buy either one, which would you choose?

How about a couple of these Fullriver models, in either 6V or 12V type:http://www.fullriver.com/products/dclist.htm(I installed two Fullriver 115 AH 12V AGM models in our RV this past summer, at a little over $300 each.)

Deka or Trojan would be my top pick. Lifeline are good too for sure.I don't know anything about Amstron. They are quite possibly just re-labeled and made by someone else. See if you can find out who.

Makin Do: I have the very same vintage, model and brand of rv you have. I installed two Lifeline batteries about 7-8 years ago and they are still doing fine. One was in the original battery compartment outside and one under the passenger side bed. Don't know if you have one or not but I recommend also the installation of a $25 or so Charge Wizard that just pugs into the side of the PD converter. You can then just leave the rv plugged into 110 ac all the time.

pnichols wrote:How about a couple of these Fullriver models, in either 6V or 12V type:http://www.fullriver.com/products/dclist.htm(I installed two Fullriver 115 AH 12V AGM models in our RV this past summer, at a little over $300 each.)How are those performing?

How about calling San Diego battery and order-up a 2-story (tall) 180 amp hour group 31 battery for $380 ?One battery, the same plates as a GC .115"With the heavy group 31 outside you will have close to 150 usable amp hours capacity and enough twanger-plucker to roar an 1,100 watt microwave with a correctly sized microwave. Be sure to specify the heavy regular tall 31 there are two. Then order the 2-story. I am a satisfied owner of both. I do appreciate knowing these batteries do not have onion-skin thin plates.

Choice of Batteries - Which Would You Choose? | Good Sam Community

46 Replies

pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 21, 2015
If you have deep pockets consider using an LI chemistry battery.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Dec 21, 2015
How about calling San Diego battery and order-up a 2-story (tall) 180 amp hour group 31 battery for $380 ?

One battery, the same plates as a GC .115"

With the heavy group 31 outside you will have close to 150 usable amp hours capacity and enough twanger-plucker to roar an 1,100 watt microwave with a correctly sized microwave.

Be sure to specify the heavy regular tall 31 there are two. Then order the 2-story. I am a satisfied owner of both. I do appreciate knowing these batteries do not have onion-skin thin plates.
mena661
Explorer
Dec 21, 2015
pnichols wrote:
How about a couple of these Fullriver models, in either 6V or 12V type:

http://www.fullriver.com/products/dclist.htm

(I installed two Fullriver 115 AH 12V AGM models in our RV this past summer, at a little over $300 each.)
How are those performing?
ernie1
Explorer II
Dec 21, 2015
Makin Do:
I have the very same vintage, model and brand of rv you have. I installed two Lifeline batteries about 7-8 years ago and they are still doing fine. One was in the original battery compartment outside and one under the passenger side bed. Don't know if you have one or not but I recommend also the installation of a $25 or so Charge Wizard that just pugs into the side of the PD converter. You can then just leave the rv plugged into 110 ac all the time.
KD4UPL
Explorer II
Dec 21, 2015
Deka or Trojan would be my top pick. Lifeline are good too for sure.
I don't know anything about Amstron. They are quite possibly just re-labeled and made by someone else. See if you can find out who.
pnichols
Explorer II
Dec 21, 2015
How about a couple of these Fullriver models, in either 6V or 12V type:

http://www.fullriver.com/products/dclist.htm

(I installed two Fullriver 115 AH 12V AGM models in our RV this past summer, at a little over $300 each.)

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Choice of Batteries - Which Would You Choose?

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