The last 2 years or so, the original batteries in my 2010 AF811 have pretty much been useless. I haven't used the camper much during the summer of 2013 and 2014, and most of the time I had shore power during those 2 summer. Part of the time I had decent sun coverage so the solar provide my DC power needs when I didn't have shore power - at the NW Overland Rally last summer. I pretty much had to run the generator after dark until it was bedtime - that's how bad the batteries were last summer at the Rally.I'm at the point where I can't tolerate the poor performance of the batteries any longer, particularly with the need to take a few trips and use the camper the remainder of the winter. I've already decided on AGM batteries. Why? Because checking / adding water to batteries is a total nuisance. I have to completely disconnect all the DC connections and remove the batteries from the battery compartment, and doing so when the camper is on the truck isn't fun - a ladder is required.I already have a decent 3 stage charging system - a Xantrex (aka Statpower) PS2.0 inverter / charger and the smart remote for it. I can tailor the charging regimen for AGM batteries.I know that I've murdered the batteries due to lack of maintenance.I need to start taking some measurements to see if the batteries from DEKA I have been eyeballing will fit the slideout battery tray.I've procrastinated this long because I just don't (hadn't been) using the camper enough to justify the expense of new batteries.

It is like playing a game of chicken to see who blinks first. I'm on my original set of batteries on my Dodge (8 years old) and I know that I'm past due but it keeps starting. LOL! Maybe this is an indication that I'm cheap. LOL!

I installed a pair of Deka AGM golf batteries in my Hallmark last year and have been very happy with them. I was able to get them thru the local Deka distributer for just under $200 each at their counter. I switched over to a PD 9260 inverter at the same time, no more removing batteries to water them.

I use 2 Deka AGMs in my AF. They are Group 31. Your battery compartment is probably the same as mine. Going on 5 years and still good.

kerry4951 wrote:I use 2 Deka AGMs in my AF. Going on 5 years and still good.That's very encouraging news!! Thanks for posting. :-)Sidebar: My very first RV was a cargo trailer that I put carpet in and had some lights and storage cabinets in it too. I had a Group 27 Prevailer brand gel battery in it. It last at least 10 years.Somewhere in my stack of papers is the Deka flyer. I need to find it.

ISBRAM wrote:I installed a pair of Deka AGM golf batteries in my Hallmark last year and have been very happy with them. I was able to get them thru the local Deka distributer for just under $200 each at their counter. I switched over to a PD 9260 inverter at the same time, no more removing batteries to water them.I am planning on getting them the same way - through the local Deka warehouse. They will sell "over the counter" but the average Joe would never know it because they are more or less "the local distribution center." Super_Dave wrote:It is like playing a game of chicken to see who blinks first. I'm on my original set of batteries on my Dodge (8 years old) and I know that I'm past due but it keeps starting. LOL! Maybe this is an indication that I'm cheap. LOL!I remember another partial reason for the procrastination - both of my trucks have needed new batteries within the last 6 months. OUCH x4.The 06 is my daily driver and RV transport rig, and on one trip last summer, one battery developed a shorted cell and cooked itself.The 09 has been on borrowed time for at least 2 years, due to something draining the batteries, partially due to lack of use on that truck. The OEM batteries finally died early fall - I put a pair of Dekas in it. I know what killed the batteries, and I sold that item to eliminate the problem.

Time for new batteries for my AF811 | Good Sam Community

brholt
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2015
With my AF1150 I found a battery water kit made a world of difference and made the maintenance of the batteries extremely easy. Just another option if you want to reconsider flooded cells at all.
deltabravo
Nomad
Feb 02, 2015
ISBRAM wrote:
I installed a pair of Deka AGM golf batteries in my Hallmark last year and have been very happy with them. I was able to get them thru the local Deka distributer for just under $200 each at their counter. I switched over to a PD 9260 inverter at the same time, no more removing batteries to water them.

I am planning on getting them the same way - through the local Deka warehouse. They will sell "over the counter" but the average Joe would never know it because they are more or less "the local distribution center."

Super_Dave wrote:
It is like playing a game of chicken to see who blinks first. I'm on my original set of batteries on my Dodge (8 years old) and I know that I'm past due but it keeps starting. LOL! Maybe this is an indication that I'm cheap. LOL!

I remember another partial reason for the procrastination - both of my trucks have needed new batteries within the last 6 months. OUCH x4.

The 06 is my daily driver and RV transport rig, and on one trip last summer, one battery developed a shorted cell and cooked itself.

The 09 has been on borrowed time for at least 2 years, due to something draining the batteries, partially due to lack of use on that truck. The OEM batteries finally died early fall - I put a pair of Dekas in it. I know what killed the batteries, and I sold that item to eliminate the problem.
deltabravo
Nomad
Feb 02, 2015
kerry4951 wrote:
I use 2 Deka AGMs in my AF. Going on 5 years and still good.

That's very encouraging news!! Thanks for posting. :-)

Sidebar:
My very first RV was a cargo trailer that I put carpet in and had some lights and storage cabinets in it too. I had a Group 27 Prevailer brand gel battery in it. It last at least 10 years.

Somewhere in my stack of papers is the Deka flyer. I need to find it.
kerry4951
Explorer
Feb 02, 2015
I use 2 Deka AGMs in my AF. They are Group 31. Your battery compartment is probably the same as mine. Going on 5 years and still good.
ISBRAM
Explorer
Feb 02, 2015
I installed a pair of Deka AGM golf batteries in my Hallmark last year and have been very happy with them. I was able to get them thru the local Deka distributer for just under $200 each at their counter. I switched over to a PD 9260 inverter at the same time, no more removing batteries to water them.
Super_Dave
Explorer
Feb 02, 2015
It is like playing a game of chicken to see who blinks first. I'm on my original set of batteries on my Dodge (8 years old) and I know that I'm past due but it keeps starting. LOL! Maybe this is an indication that I'm cheap. LOL!

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