Interstate or Duralast Batteries

The caps are a strip of three...took a small amount of water every two years. I used these two Interstates for a total of 14 years before one failed and the other for another year.

I use DEKA batteries. I can buy the "name" DEKA products, or go to Sams' Club and buy their brand....made by DEKA a bit cheaper. (NOT a Johnson Control product)

Johnson Controls puts out so many brands (labels), I really wonder if one is better than another...or is it just the labels and advertising that make one more expensive than another?

Ivylog wrote:
At five years I found the caps under the hard plastic top and every other year I add a little bit of water.

I'm just curious, are there regular caps underneath that cover? I've never heard of servicing a maintenance free battery. It's my understanding they utilize different plate materials and configurations, as well as other design features that eliminate the need for an open/vented system. This closed system prevents the electrolyte (water) from boiling off during charge sequence.

So this makes me wonder... Do you recall approximately how much water the batteries used?

Scott
2004 Monaco Dynasty, 42' Regal
2011 Ford Edge, Towed Flat

Can you tell us again whether you are replacing the chassis batteries or the house batteries?

Chassis batteries are for starting the engine, usually rated in Cold Cranking Amps. Gassers generally have ONE 12 volt chassis battery.
(DP's often have 2)

House batteries run the house, and configuration can vary all over the place. These are generally deep cycle batteries, and they are rated in ampere hours based on a 20 amp draw. As an example, the common CR2 size 6 volts are rated at 220 ampere hours or more.
Many gas coaches will have a pair of 12 volt house batteries, often Group 31's where many DP's will have 4 CR2's.

If these are your house batteries, you want the highest amp/hr rated deep cycles you can afford.

My Interstate group 31-950CCA's are 7 years old.

Still going strong!

chuckftboy wrote:
Interstate batteries are hard to beat for quality but the Duralast are probably cheeper. If it were me I'd go with the tried and true Interstates.

X-2, Both good batteries!

I use Interstate because the house batteries are located where I can not lift thenm in or out of their location. I go to a RV repair person and he installs Interstates for me. Yeah, it costs me a little more but he is handy and does other maintenance as needed....and does good work so I trade with him. FYI I change out all my batteries every three years, needed or not, as I dry camp in remote locations in west Texas and don't need a battery problom....oh, no cell service there either....just makes me feel better....

As mentioned, both batteries manufactured by Johnson Controls. Warranty issues will likely be handled easier by any nearby AutoZone.

Appreciate all the comments.
Wa8yxm....Thanks for defining the "31" group designation. Good info.
Thanks to all.

both Interstate and Duralast are made by Johnson Controls at least on the eastern half of the nation.

So.. The difference may be anything from major quality to ... Just the paint job.

By the way the 31 in the battery model number is the size and shape. all 31's should fit in the same tray. Group 31, about 130 amp hours at the 20 hour rate (C/20) and a specific size, The rest of the model number specifies if it's a Deep cycle or not (marine/deep cycle is NOT deep cycle) and if it's flooded, maintenance free or AGM.. But the 31 specifies the size and shape.