What are the best batteries and where to buy them?

[mtbg308]

I'm trying to bring back to life an old 40ft class A with a Cummings diesel motor that's been sitting for 5+ years. Need batteries all around. What are the best batteries for for engine start, and for deep cycle, and where do folks usually get them if they're looking to save a few bucks?

Hope I posted in the right place. Thanks!

[KD4UPL]

Deka or Trojan would be two of my top choices, particularly for deep cycle batteries.
Batteries are really only made by a handful of companies, probably around 5 in the country. They just re-brand them for everyone else.
I agree with using 6v golf cart batteries for your house bank. 2 is a good start, 4 is better if you camp without hook ups much. As for starting, find out how many CCA Cummins recommends for that engine. Then get at least that many if not more in whatever battery will fit the space.
Cummins does not have a "G" in it.

[Texan79423]

Walmart is always open and has decent batteries. There are everywhere if your traveling. Kind of hard to get a golf cart shop to open up on Sunday or at 5 am when your loaded and ready to head out.
Please remember I am only right half the time.

[DrewE]

For house batteries it depends a good bit on how you intend to use the motorhome. If you need something more than a token battery, often the most cost effective in terms of capacity and longevity for the money are pairs of 6V golf cart batteries. It pays to shop around for them a bit. Sam's Club and Costco in many places have them for around $90 apiece, but sometimes local golf cart shops may have better quality or higher capacity batteries for about the same price...and sometimes the golf cart shops are much more expensive.

If your time camping will be generally spent hooked up to shore power or running the generator or on the road, you don't need much of a house battery. A single marine/RV battery is probably the least expensive. All it needs to do is keep things running while you run into a restaurant or hook up at the campground.