Walmart Battery Lifespan?

hi mtnbbud

i think you got great service out of your battery based on the abuse you describe.

try two 6s (plus solar or generator) and report back in 3 years but don't drain the batts to zero regularly!

Two 6V's will take more abuse and cycle deeper than a marine 12V battery. Charging and maintenance is the same. I'd suggest to take your battery to an auto parts store and have it load tested, once charged.

Your Schumacher auto charger may be sensing a dead battery and will not charge it. Your RV converter is dumber and will charge it, if it's not toasted. It sounds like it has lead a hard life.

EsoxLucius wrote:

landyacht318 wrote:
To say a group 27 wally world battery is the same as a Trojan group27 or a Crown 27 is asinine, but then again so is thinking any group27 is a true deep cycle battery.

Fullriver DC220-6 Group 27 AGM battery is not a true deep cycle battery?

.

I thought I wrote flooded/wet group 27. Meant to anyway.

You might try a deep cell from Costco/Kirkland. They are about as good for the money as you will find. That's unless you plan to go AGM. I had similar experience with Walmart batteries. I have two Kirkland's for the trolling motor that have lasted far longer. I use one and then the other the next day while the first one charges on my solar panels.

3 tons wrote:
As is typically the case here, an OP again leaves out specific information - what type of batteries?? (6v, 12v, group, etc), drip, drip, drip...So I have to assume the replies as generalized...

This is the battery. EverStart 12V 29DC 114 amp hrs I've discharged the battery to a very low level on many occasions and once when using with my electric trolling motor on my boat until the electric motor wouldn't practically turn. I bought it on 11/2013.

I took it off the trailer before I put the trailer in storage on Sunday and hooked it up to my Schumacher battery charger/maintainer. I just went down to look at it as I was going to see if I could find my cheap voltage meter to test the voltage. (I was going to unhook the maintainer and test the battery again after the weekend to see if it's holding a charge.) The battery charger was flashing yellow which indicates aborted charge.

I did check the water level before I started charging it and two cells were low so I added water before I started charging.

I may have some type of electrical issue with the trailer as it's a 1989 and I'm the 3rd or fourth owner. I've been trouble shooting and fixing issues since I bought it and have replaced the converter, water pump, and propane detector. The fridge was recently replaced before I bought it. I was using the same battery when I had the old converter and water pump in the trailer. I had hoped replacing the old converter and water pump would alleviate many of my battery issues.

The battery has a 24 month warranty. (Might have been a 36 month warranty when I bought it) I assumed a battery would still have a few years left in it after the warranty expired before it was time to replace it. I want to make sure it's the battery that needs to be replaced and not an issue with my trailer or mistakes in my treatment of the battery.

I have considered replacing the battery with 2 6 volts, but I'm not experienced or trained in mechanics. I do have a masters degree in Science and Math and am able to figure things out with time. I don't know if switching to 2 6 volts would require making any changes my converter. Also, if I pull them off when the trailer is in storage could I keep them wired in series and charge them at the same time, or would I want to charge/maintain them separately. Is it worth going to 2 6 volts? I dry camp about 30% of the time. most of my trips are fairly short trips of 3 days or less. My longest trips are 1 to 2 weeks.

I've been looking at batteries mostly online at this time.

I found this one on Amazon and was wondering if it's any good?
Vmaxtanks

Here's a 6 volt

Would the extra weight of 2 6 volts be a concern if I'm towing with a Tacoma with a 500lb tongue weight rating?

As is typically the case here, an OP again leaves out specific information - what type of batteries?? (6v, 12v, group, etc), drip, drip, drip...So I have to assume the replies as generalized...

I purchased two WM 6v's recently (about 7-8 mos ago) and so far no problems, even runs the 11.5btu AC for over 30 minutes without a hitch... At time of purchase I called Interstate and was told that they are rated at 208 a/hrs each (or 208 total when in series)... I'll keep everyone advised as they progress...In my view, for $85 per, If I get even 3yrs out of them (properly maintained...), I'll be glad to swap 'em out for another brand new set....Time will tell...

Walmart batteries get very good reviews from major consumer magazines...I have used them without issue in trailers and trucks. I suspect the battery isn't the issue here.

I replaced the interstates, from Wal Mart about every eleven months to maybe fourteen it seemed, in the daughters pick up and Son's car. Those were the top of the line in the sizes for their vehicles, not deep cycle batteries.
lead cost money. One quick reference for same category of battery, the heavier one will generally last longer. Thick lead plates last longer.
There are battery comparison charts here and there.
The consesis, I'm taking a risk here, is the Trojan deep cycle lead acids lsst the longest and some others equal to.
The Life Lines in the high dollar batteries seem to be the top. there is probably a cocomparimparison chart someone can post.
in my pickup I'm running the Exide. The first one leaked at the post and did some damage and Batteries Plus said they all did that until I talked with his boss.
The days, of Sear Gold Series and Delko and so on as being a no questions asked relaible long life batteries seem to be gone. You have to comparison shop more and more and listen to those you know or go on your recent years experience.

landyacht318 wrote:
To say a group 27 wally world battery is the same as a Trojan group27 or a Crown 27 is asinine, but then again so is thinking any group27 is a true deep cycle battery.

Fullriver DC220-6 Group 27 AGM battery is not a true deep cycle battery?

.

My experience with wally world batteries is not stellar, but I could have treated them better too.

In 2007 I bought my last 3 at the same time.

One shorted a cell in 11 months
the Second developed high resistance in 22 months
The third lasted 7 years total after being delegated to engine starting duty only, and never cycled again. It was extremely weak at the end of those 7 years. 2 seconds of engine cranking OK, 3 Not.

To say a group 27 wally world battery is the same as a Trojan group27 or a Crown 27 is asinine, but then again so is thinking any group27 is a true deep cycle battery.