Battery recommendation

RoyB wrote:
It really a matter of cost. Two GP24 GC2 (GOLF CART) 6V Batteries from COSTCO wired in series will give you around 220 AHs for around $90 each plus returned core.

The OP is here in Ontario where I am also and there's not a chance on the planet one can buy 6 volt deep cycle batteries for just $90, even at Costco. While one can't argue with the technical advantages of a pair of 6 volt GC2 batteries augmented with some sort of solar re-charging capability, for those who dry camp only occasionally a couple of 12 volt batteries IMO make more sense as one has a choice between running both simultaneously in parallel or just one at a time, thereby allowing one battery to be recharged (offsite if necessary) while the other keeps the trailer fully functional.

To the OP -

When buying a deep cycle battery don't look just at price but also warranty - many are covered for only one year but if you head to a local RV Care dealer you can buy a DC24, DC27, or DC 31 deep cycle battery that carries a full 2 yr warranty, good at any RV Care dealer in Canada.

I mostly camp at sites with hydro. However our one trip we do without power is 10 days.
That's when I think I need the two 6 volts with solar.

Hi,

I prefer 12 volt jars, however, battery failure in 6 volt jars is NOT one of the reasons.

I suggest that, if you boondock, you use what ever voltage will return the greatest number of amp-hours. Two volt is my first choice, but since I can not afford that, I went with twelve volt. I use an inverter and do draw up to 276 amps.

IT depends on your camping style. But the first question is did you former batteries perform adequately for you? If so and if replacing them is the cheapest then go that way.

If you mainly camp with electrical hookups then any cheap 12 volt battery will work just fine and save you some money.

If you mainly or frequently camp without electrical hookups then the two Costco or Samsclub 6volt batteries at around $90 each are going to give you the best return on the cost per AH.

Most of us that run 6 volt batteries considered the "if one battery fails I have no batteries for the weekend." scenario before we went 6 volt.

I'm happy with my 6 volts. Below is the reasoning I used in making my decision for 6volts over 12.

If I have 2 12v batteries and one dies, the dead one going to drag the second one down long before I realize that there is a problem.

I mainly camp for the weekend, so if I truly had a battery problem that I couldn't get around, I would either camp without a battery (most likely). Or I could run jumper cables from my tow vehicle to the trailer and skip running the heater so I was still able to start the vehicle in the morning.

The odds are ridiculously low of a battery failure while out camping for two days. I believe we have over a million subscribers to this forum. In my 10 years here I've read about maybe two battery failures and only one of them was a 6 volt.

There are far worse and unfortunately much more likely things that can happen to your trailer than a failed battery. It seems like at least once a month I see pictures of a wrecked trailer on the highway. So you are far safer just not towing the trailer and leaving it in storage than worrying about batteries.

Really the worst outcome of a failed battery that I can think of is that I have to come home early from a camping trip. It's not the end of the world for me if that happens.

I play the lottery when the jackpot gets large. I like to imagine what I would do with all that money when I win. But I realize that the odds of winning are so astronomically against me that I'm never actually really going to win view a failed battery ruining my trip as about as likely as winning the lottery. Sure it could happen, but in reality it's never going to happen to me.

There you have it, my reasoning on why I went with the 6 volts.

Trojan has a proven track record. They are the standard for SLA 6V batteries. If economy is important, shop for Trojans through a golf cart distributor or cross the border. Canadian Tire sometimes run special sales on batteries but getting big discounts on a "real" deep cycle battery is difficult.

6V GC2 batteries are much more durable and have a longer life, overall, than typical marine hybrid deep cycle/starting batteries. They can be drawn down a bit more than typical 12V and will recover from infrequent deep discharge.

It really a matter of cost. Two GP24 GC2 (GOLF CART) 6V Batteries from COSTCO wired in series will give you around 220 AHs for around $90 each plus returned core.

A couple of GP24 12VDC 85AH rated 12VDC batteries Interstate SRM-24 wired in parallel will give you around 170 AH for $110 each but the GC2 batteries will have larger internal plates and will produce battery power almost double the length in time.

TROJAN PRODUCT SPECFICATION GUIDS

If this is important to you the GC2 Batteries would be the way to go..

Roy Ken

samhain7 wrote:
As some may know..I had my battery ripped off today.

Looking for recommendations..

12v? 6v?

A local guy can get me 6v Trojans for $200 each...

Mainly depends on how you are using your camper. If doing a lot of boondocking, the 6 volt route would likely work best. If hooking up at campgrounds, any 12 volt RV battery should do you

I went with 2 12 volt batteries so if one gave out, the other battery would still supply us with 12 volts. If I had the room, I would have four 6 volt batteries for more capacity while boondocking.

For $200.00 each, they better be AGM's