Battery time. 6V?

If the cost isn't a factor for you, go with a 100ah LiFePo4 battery. The same capacity at a quarter of the weight and size. It is maintenance free and has a built in battery monitor keeping your investment safe from undercharging. Although the initial investment is high, they are coming with a multi-year warranty that will protect that investment for years to come.

Sounds like you have problem with charger when you boiled old batteries dry?
Start with getting better charger.
I use car & boat batteries in my camper. When they are not deep-cycle, I never had a problem with it.
When you buy designated batteries for camper, I would remove the try and put GC batteries. Best bang for the money and cheap batteries from Sam's lasted me 12 years, even they were not carried about much.
Having 24V battery bank in my motorhome, I used them for welding.
Just out of curiosity.

Since you’re considering AGM, take a look at VMAX Tanks. I’ve got one of their group 31 AGM’s and I think it’s been a good battery. Heavy sucker too, about 75 lbs. You do need a charger that supports AGM though.

:):)

I agree with the charger change/check. Personally, can’t see any reason to go 6V, but then, my batteries seem to last long enough for me.

In the RV world, the idea that 6V batteries are always the way to go, for everyone, every time, is a myth as persistent as never letting a battery sit on concrete.

:):)

adamis wrote:
If the cost isn't a factor for you, go with a 100ah LiFePo4 battery. The same capacity at a quarter of the weight and size. It is maintenance free and has a built in battery monitor keeping your investment safe from undercharging. Although the initial investment is high, they are coming with a multi-year warranty that will protect that investment for years to come.

Cost benefit ratio is a factor. Camper only gets used a couple weeks a year on average and sits in the shop or under a cover for about 50 weeks a year. So considering my camper batteries are virtual paper weights 90% + of the time, not spending that kind of coin on batteries. Plus I use it sometimes in the cold which is not a Lifepo4’s forte.
Thx for the suggestion though. I understand the advantages of them.

Kayteg1 wrote:
Sounds like you have problem with charger when you boiled old batteries dry?
Start with getting better charger.
I use car & boat batteries in my camper. When they are not deep-cycle, I never had a problem with it.
When you buy designated batteries for camper, I would remove the try and put GC batteries. Best bang for the money and cheap batteries from Sam's lasted me 12 years, even they were not carried about much.
Having 24V battery bank in my motorhome, I used them for welding.
Just out of curiosity.

You’re correct, but my charger/converter is good. I knew I cooked them. Just got a charge wizard for it. $25 to turn it into a smart charger.
I was gonna just get some $99 specials and I agree, they work fine.
But ended up going 6V. Mighty max 200ah batteries.
Fwiw, they are packaged slightly smaller than most 6V with similar ah ratings. Just small engouh to fit in the tray and slide in.

NRALIFR wrote:
In the RV world, the idea that 6V batteries are always the way to go, for everyone, every time, is a myth as persistent as never letting a battery sit on concrete.

:):)

Curious, what are the downsides, beside not being universally compatible if you want to yank out the camper batteries and use them on another vehicle?
I generally maintain the slew of batteries in our stuff pretty well, and get good battery life.
These just didn’t get the love they needed and I fried them.

Will see if they are the right choice, years from now. Now that I’ve idiot proofed my charging from myself, lol, they “should” net me 10 years or so. Hoping....

NRALIFR wrote:
In the RV world, the idea that 6V batteries are always the way to go, for everyone, every time, is a myth as persistent as never letting a battery sit on concrete.

:):)

:h

NRALIFR wrote:
In the RV world, the idea that 6V batteries are always the way to go, for everyone, every time, is a myth as persistent as never letting a battery sit on concrete.

:):)

I have observed RVers posts over the years on what are the best batteries and everyone has their own opinions on which batteries are the best for their situations, but I have never heard about this "myth" regarding 6V batteries, just honest, real life experiences from RVers.

38 years ago we purchased a 1978 Vanguard 8' TC which had an ice box, hand pumped fresh water system, manual lit HWT and manual lit furnace and 3 small lights all receiving power from a 12 V battery in the truck. Made due electrically as long as we did not use the furnace much(warm weather camping).

Fast forward, we had a TC with 4x6V AGM's and presently a TT with 4x6V GC2's. Power requirements have changed over the years meaning that with the large increase in daily AH required, batteries have become a lot more relied upon in every day RV life. In our case we need batteries that can be drawn down a fair bit every day(we dry camp 95%) and charged back up to close to 100% with out having to be replaced every few years. Also, it would be nice if they were not too heavy and didn't break the bank.

On the advice of many on this site, 6V GC2's were the popular choice but not the only choice.

Your choice and number of batteries has a lot to do with your camping style(dry camping or power pole princess), battery location, (AGM required inside?) and budget(Lithium$$$).

Dave