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Recommendation for replacement battery

TxTiger
Explorer
Explorer
First, anyone traveling this weekend I wish you a safe and fun trip.
My battery is going on 3 years old and doesn't seem to maintain a charge for very long so I'm going to replace it. Any advice on what type of battery to get (deep cycle, big cranking amps, etc) and brands that have worked well for you would be greatly appreciated. I see batteries listed as rv/marine, but some seem to be deep cycle, others with large cranking amps. I would think deep cycle would be better than something with a lot of cranking amps, or something with both. But looking for advice since I don't know.
Thanks
2000 F250, 7.3 PSD, 6 speed manual, CC, SB
2013 Northstar TC800
53 REPLIES 53

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
SidecarFlip wrote:
I can install 2 at the same weight as one conventional battery and with me, I'm very attuned to weight.
The weight thing is very nice.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

Homeless_by_Cho
Explorer
Explorer
beachbum2011 wrote:
Cabelas Advanced Angler group 27 agm
I watched until they where on sale ordered two free shipping to local store.
They are five years old still hold charge well.


Are the terminals always corrosion free?
LeRoy
Homeless by Choice
FULL TIMER since 2012
2015 Chevy 3500, Duramax, 4X4, DRW, Crew cab, Long bed
2013 Northern Lite 8'11"Q Sportsman truck camper
2015 Polaris RZR Side by Side

towpro
Explorer
Explorer
beachbum2011 wrote:
Cabelas Advanced Angler group 27 agm
I watched until they where on sale ordered two free shipping to local store.
They are five years old still hold charge well.


Glad to here that. Got the same thing now 2.5 years old. They are made but universal battery.
2022 Ford F150
Sold: 2016 Arctic Fox 990, 2018 Ram 3500, 2011 Open Range
Sold Forest River Forester 2401R Mercedes Benz. when campsites went from $90 to $190 per night.

beachbum2011
Explorer
Explorer
Cabelas Advanced Angler group 27 agm
I watched until they where on sale ordered two free shipping to local store.
They are five years old still hold charge well.

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
covered wagon wrote:
Sidecar, with a statement like that you just got 20 demerits in my merit book. I had more respect for you bud but now you'll be gathering firewood for the rest of time for all of us.

Trojan Batteries have a very good reputation and are expensive enough to have to be vigilant about taking care of them. Only reason I go cheaper ones is not having to worry about them so much, esp. when they have to stay uncharged due to circumstances while traveling..


I'm sorry. Was just injecting some humor. At my age, the only Trojan I use is a battery(s).
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

covered_wagon
Explorer
Explorer
Sidecar, with a statement like that you just got 20 demerits in my merit book. I had more respect for you bud but now you'll be gathering firewood for the rest of time for all of us.

Trojan Batteries have a very good reputation and are expensive enough to have to be vigilant about taking care of them. Only reason I go cheaper ones is not having to worry about them so much, esp. when they have to stay uncharged due to circumstances while traveling..

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
Eric&Lisa wrote:
Kayteg1 wrote:
How is Trojan lately?...


I am on my 2nd Trojan. The first lasted a decade, and it wasn't really bad - I just felt like being proactive due to its age. Longevity attributed to annual watering with distilled water.

No complaints about Trojan. I am a happy customer. Trojan batteries are made for portable industrial equipment that draws a heavy power load. Think the floor cleaners that they run around Home Depot, etc. They are not marketed at RV owners as a primary customer base. There is only one supplier in the area (greater Portland, OR metro), although there are several dealers that buy from them. So they are not the consumer grade batteries you can expect to find at your local Wal-mart/Costco/etc. It takes some looking and calling to find out who has them.

Trojan batteries are worth the extra effort and expense in my opinion.


The condoms ain't bad either....lol
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

Eric_Lisa
Explorer II
Explorer II
Kayteg1 wrote:
How is Trojan lately?...


I am on my 2nd Trojan. The first lasted a decade, and it wasn't really bad - I just felt like being proactive due to its age. Longevity attributed to annual watering with distilled water.

No complaints about Trojan. I am a happy customer. Trojan batteries are made for portable industrial equipment that draws a heavy power load. Think the floor cleaners that they run around Home Depot, etc. They are not marketed at RV owners as a primary customer base. There is only one supplier in the area (greater Portland, OR metro), although there are several dealers that buy from them. So they are not the consumer grade batteries you can expect to find at your local Wal-mart/Costco/etc. It takes some looking and calling to find out who has them.

Trojan batteries are worth the extra effort and expense in my opinion.
Eric & Lisa - Oregon
'97 Silverado K2500, New HT383 motor!, Airbags, anti-sway bar
'03 Lance model 1030, generator, solar,

Bedlam
Moderator
Moderator
SidecarFlip wrote:
My Android gets pretty warm when I'm using power at an accelerated rate. Not sure why the Samsung Galaxy phones went up in flames though. Must have been more than one because Samsung quit producing them.

It was one model of Samsung that had battery problems and other models were fine. Samsung had multiple battery suppliers fail which resulted in pulling that model. Samsung is now reintroducing that model with its own manufactured batteries.

Host Mammoth 11.5 on Ram 5500 HD

covered_wagon
Explorer
Explorer
Okay now I'm understanding what you guys are talking about. DW thank you for the links and good reading. SidecarFlip thank you for your persistence I see now the advantages of Lithium iron type batteries.

I'll be staying with the wet cells for awhile till I see Lithium iron used more and more which may reveal any issues with their use and wait till the price comes down due to prevalence in the market.

Thank you Guys....:)

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
I don't have one (or more) at this point, but I will when my Trojans expire from old age and sulfation.

One thing I like about the solid state Lithium-Iron-Phosphate batteries is the weight. 26 pounds for a 100 AH battery versus 50+ for a conventional battery. I can install 2 at the same weight as one conventional battery and with me, I'm very attuned to weight.

1600 bucks is a lot of jack but with a 5 year guarantee, no memory and unlimited install positions, even 800 bucks a toss works out pretty well.
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
2oldman wrote:
covered wagon wrote:
Cannot see buying 800 dollar batteries and then spend the same for a good charger to keep from having fire or explosion.
I think the fire risks may be just a bit blown out of proportion. I've heard many stories about lead acid batteries blowing up, but so far nobody is advocating not using them.

And you don't need an $800 charger.


That, they do, especially under high amperage boosting where they are producing lots of explosive gases. When jump starting a vehicle it's good practice to cover the battery with a cloth, clamp the positive terminal first and then the negative and don't smoke.

Lithium-Iron batteries charge with a conventional staged converter that you already have in your camper btw.

My Android gets pretty warm when I'm using power at an accelerated rate. Not sure why the Samsung Galaxy phones went up in flames though. Must have been more than one because Samsung quit producing them.
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

DWeikert
Explorer II
Explorer II
covered wagon wrote:
It's weird because there isn't anything on my google search that indicates any differentiation from Lithium Ion to Lithium Iron.

Probably because Lithium Iron is a subset of the group called Lithium Ion batteries where the Lithium Ions are what moves from the negative to positive electrodes. A Lithium Iron battery IS a Lithium Ion battery, but not all Lithium Ion batteries are Lithium Iron.
Wikipedia wrote:
The lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, also called LFP battery (with "LFP" standing for "lithium ferrophosphate"), is a type of rechargeable battery, specifically a lithium-ion battery, which uses LiFePO4 as a cathode material. LiFePO4 batteries have somewhat lower energy density than the more common lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) design found in consumer electronics, but offer longer lifetimes, better power density (the rate that energy can be drawn from them) and are inherently safer. LiFePO4 is finding a number of roles in vehicle use and backup power.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery

See also- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery
Dan
2008 Chevy D/A 2500HD ECSB
2010 Northstar 8.5 Adventurer

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
covered wagon wrote:
Cannot see buying 800 dollar batteries and then spend the same for a good charger to keep from having fire or explosion.
I think the fire risks may be just a bit blown out of proportion. I've heard many stories about lead acid batteries blowing up, but so far nobody is advocating not using them.

And you don't need an $800 charger.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman