Basic battery questions

[az350x]

The battery in my TT is officially dead. I'm contemplating replacing the 12v with a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries. I've had Trojans before in another RV, but am shocked at the price of them these days.

Our typical camping is-
3-5 days at a time
Usually prefer full hookups when possible
We have an inverter, but when dry camping only use it for coffee, etc. no TV off of battery.

I'm thinking I don't really need the 6's, and after seeing the price of them, would probably prefer to apply the money I'll save staying with one 12v battery toward a small, portable QUIET generator for topping off the battery when needed, etc.

Thoughts?

[the_bear_II]

We get by with 4 12v batteries and a 2000w Honda Generator (actually 2 2000w if we will be using Air Conditioning).

The batteries usually last about 5 years. I replace all 4 if one or more goes bad. I use Sears Die Hard and usually get a discount on the new batteries because of the warranty.

With our TT we had two batteries and a 1000w generator. We could boondock for as long as we had water, food and fuel (plus a place to dump)

[westend]

GC2 6V batteries at Sam's club or Costco are 2/$200 (or less, I paid $190 w/core charges and tax). You won't find a decent hybrid Marine 12V for less than $130. With 2X 6V's you'll have around 220AH of capacity. The 12V will have around 100-120AH of capacity.

What I'd suggest is to buy the Sam's club 6V's and put $200 into solar charging. At $400, you'll be at < half the price of a Honda generator, won't have to lug it around, or buy gas and oil.

If you're only going to use a battery occasionally and have a tight budget, buy one 12V Trojan or other deep cycle battery and revisit your battery/charging situation later.

[az350x]

2oldman wrote:
I guess your real question is about generators. You may want to wander over the Tech forum and search 'generator'. You'll be there all day.

The generator idea is down the road a bit, and really only a maybe at this point. The battery situation is more of a "right now" sorta thing.

[2oldman]

I guess your real question is about generators. You may want to wander over the Tech forum and search 'generator'. You'll be there all day.