interstate battery bites the dust in two years

What was it drawn down to during service? Batteries drawn down over 50% will have a shortened life. How many batteries in your bank? Do you have a 4 battery bank? Sometimes RVers run with one or 2 batteries and draw them down almost 100% over night. It shortens the life no matter what brand. Of coarse there is a possibility you just got a bad battery.

I think we forget that those that actually USE their batteries for dry camping wear them out faster AND need good performance.

Those who just need a few hours of battery power here and there, don't really wear their batteries out as much and even after they are old and worn out- the battery stil performs OK for their meager power needs.

Kind of a double jeapordy and thus the 5 and 8 year battery life.

What voltages were you operating it at? Have you used a hydrometer?

Is it a true deep cycle battery? Some are a combo start / deep cycle and they do not last as long.

I treat our RV's two 12V Interstate coach batteries about the same as you describe - except for the watering. Our Interstate batteries have no liquid acid in them because they're AGM batteries.

Ours are about 8 1/2 years old and will still get us through a couple of days of dry camping before needing charging. However, we'll be replacing them soon with a new set of AGM batteries. We keep them charged when the RV is at home, and mostly when camping, using the stock converter in the RV. Between campsites the engine alternator pumps high amps into them and can bring them back up to full in about 4-5 hours of driving. Our old Interstates actually seem to perform slightly better after we've exercised them a bit during the the first few days of a camping trip.

These AGM batteries are deep cycle 12V batteries - not the common marine/starting type of battery. Your Interstate battery may be the marine/starting liquid acid type? If it is, you might want to consider replacing it with a true deep cycle type of battery.

I just replaced my Interstate. Lasted five years. It was plugged in for 7 months a year and sat for five, no battery tender as it held a good charge on its own.

Thanks, all. I admit my research has not been battery heavy on this forum.
I will address some of your responses:

It is a 16footer BH trailer. Small, so one battery.
I do not have a hydrometer.
It is not true deep cycle (marine I believe will be the distinction correct?)
We do in fact Boondock, we bought some property in Colo. and that is where I was.
Last year we left everything up there and returned to a working battery even after a week or more. Just did a generator charge. The battery worked like a charm.

I have heard about reviving them?? Thought about putting battery tender on, but heading back up very soon. Because of price I will stay with a Marine type, but in the future think about an upgrade. Plus, no room here at home to have another battery around want to take it in for the core when I get a new one. Seeing how there are two big battery company's its a******shoot on these things. Any suggestions on brands, or is it just a******shoot. Or, would we see quality control in some and not others.

Thanks, all. As always greatly appreciated. I am on a lot of forums for various things, and this is one of the best. I want to post pics soon of the property before and after. Hope to do soon. Some of you might find it really interesting what putting in a pad will do to a piece of property. We use this spot to take of from and go mobile camping.

Hi,

After boondocking it is important to return the battery to 100% state of charge. A normal converter may struggle to do that.

Add a proper temperature compensated SG meter to your arsenal of tools.

The existing battery is probably toast--so you have nothing to loose by trying to revive it. To do so may require a manual battery charger.

Pianotuna, thanks. I never charged it before leaving the camper, and return a week later or more. That could be it. I have been thinking of why (outside of bad battery) and my watching it like a hawk, might be more like a robin. Yes, I made that up, pretty bad.

Should have charged before I left, and disconnected the terminals I think, or take it home.