TT batts

[sluggo68]

I currently have 2 interstate Deep Cycle, 5RM-24, 690 MCA / marine/rv batts in my 2014RLSS TT. the are 1.5 yrs old. I was wondering what are the best Batts to have for a TT? I have heard that some people have 6vt golf cart batts on theirs. I want to get the longest lasting use/life out of them with little maintenance & the longest life out of them.

[Vapor_Trails]

Majja13 wrote:
I switched to 6's this spring and have loved every minute of them. But I only did so as some Jack@$$ decided to steal my brand new 12's. So use what you have until they die and then make the switch.

I know this is off topic a bit, however, there have been a rash of RV battery thefts in our local storage yards. My brother is Po-Po in a local city and he told me that one night a couple weeks ago one storage yard got hit for over 50 batteries.

They were driving an unplated car and wore hoodies. Poh-Lease have no suspects and no leads.

My storage yard recently got hit, too. Fotunately for me I bring mine home after every trip.

[time2roll]

Jayco23FB wrote:
I looked into changing my stock batteries last summer. I considered 6 volts as well as all the other 12 volt options. I ended up staying with the deep cycle 12 volt group 72s from Costco. My reasoning was everything in my camping set up is 12 volt already so if I had a battery failure I wouldn't be reduced to 6 volts. The other reason was the group 72 is easy to get, faily inexpensive and we have a Costco. Worked for me.

This is a good reason to go 2x 12 volt.
Probably a non issue but the peace of mind is worth it to you then that is best.

The other solution is get 4x 6v GC2 :B (also available at some Costco)

[Majja13]

I switched to 6's this spring and have loved every minute of them. But I only did so as some Jack@$$ decided to steal my brand new 12's. So use what you have until they die and then make the switch.

[sluggo68]

wrovnd,
thanks for your input. I didn't write that post correct, I was meaning that without shore, gen power how well will the batts hold up for dry camping.

[wrvond]

sluggo68 wrote:
well I just bought this new 2014 Springdale 266RLSS and have only had it out once with full hookups so I'm not really sure if these batts will fill the bill. I heard that 6vt golf batts are the best, but i'm not sure. My girlfriend like to just all the goodies (ie, tv, radio, etc.) in the TT when we camp so that's why I'm asking about the batts.

This may be obvious to you, but I didn't see it mentioned anywhere. You do realize that anything that runs on 110 AC such as most televisions, air conditioners, and microwaves will not run on battery without an appropriate inverter installed, right?

[Vapor_Trails]

One Walmart EverStart Maxx Group 27 bought in May 2008 for $75.

It provides plenty of power for lights, fridge and furnace overnight. I do have Honda EU2000 gens that I run everyday to recharge the battery, though.

I take it home and put it on a trickle charger after every trip. It still charges to over 13 Amps so I think it'll keep going for a while.

So far I'm into it for less than $1 a month. No better deal to be had IMHO.

[JiminDenver]

The good thing here is this isn't a I gotta have them right now type situation. Keep the water up in your batteries (only distilled) and keep them charged and the OP should have plenty of time to figure out their needs and what battery fits them.

Btw The single Interstate grp 27 that we run the trailer with is 3 years old and still a happy camper. The 8-D we use for the inverter has the AHs to slap ALL the other children around and laugh about it. That is if you have the room and can lift it. lol

[JJBIRISH]

my T105 Trojans lasted 13 years… both in the camper and in the golf cart… they were still very usable when changed…

[full_mosey]

Gdetrailer wrote:

WoodGlue wrote:
If you've got the bucks and want the best, get a couple of 6v AGM's.

WoodGlue

AGMs ARE not "better" in ALL cases, period.

They are a "specialty" battery which unless you NEED ONE of the "special advantages" you are simply throwing out you money.

One of the supposed advantages is you can recharge at a higher rate which allows you to use a gen for less time. This HAS been proved to be a wash, basically put AGMs might shorten your charging time by a few minutes.

Another possible advantage is can be used in any position and do not outgass which could allow for placing them INSIDE your living space. I for one however do not feel that this is a wise thing to do since AGMs like any other "storage" system which CAN store a considerable amount of energy CAN be subject to abuse which can cause catastrophic failure.

The real advantage of AGMs is allowing you to part with more money, get less capacity for the same physical size as a flooded lead acid.

6V GCs ARE not "better" in ALL cases, period.

AGMs ABSOLUTELY DO recharge at a higher rate which allows you to use a gen for less time. Plus, AGMs DO charge cheaper due to lower resistance so that less fuel is used.

Another REAL advantage is AGMs can be used INSIDE your living space. In contrast, the 6V GCs will outgas and emit Hydrogen gas and acid mist in regular operation and that precludes any consideration of using them inside your living space or near any equipment.

🙂

HTH;
John

[Blazing_Zippers]

Living in North Idaho, we've had good luck with Costco 6 volt batts. This year is the first time I've pulled them inside so they won't freeze. They have held enough charge to run them in the cold (heater & lights) for two nights.
My suggestion would be to run yours for as long as they work, then splurge on big 6 volt batteries.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

There are folks who are not open minded about voltage and batteries.

There are advantages to both 12 volt and 6 volt formats.

Folks battery choice is a grey area not black and white.

Each camper should examine their needs, and then examine their desires.

Then they should look at their pocket book--and buy what they can afford that comes the closest to meeting their desires--and what meets their absolute needs.

For me that, worked out to be 12 volt jars. For mena, it worked out to be 6 volt jars. (I picked on him because our banks are both a bit larger than average size).

[Jayco23FB]

That is a complete myth.

There is NO advantage to using two 12V vs on pair of 6V..

All it takes is one cell to go bad in ONE battery and it will draw your "good" battery down and if not found quick enough it WILL dagame the "good" battery.

If you have one cell go bad in one of the 6V batteries you will not be running 6V, no it will be the SAME as if you had a 12V battery with one bad cell (about 11V). This will NOT interrupt your trip since most lighting will operate at lower voltages, your furnace may not like it but it won't ruin your trip any worse than finding a bad 12V battery.

It is not a complete myth and there is an advantage.
If I loss one of my 12 volt batteries for what ever reason I can disconnect the bad one and still have a fully functioning 12 volt system. I understand I have half the capacity, but I still have a 12 volt system and everything in my trailer will work. I have had this happen. That is the advantage.

[sluggo68]

I am glad that I found this forum, I have really gotten some great feed back and info. It's greatly appreciated. Thanks to everyone for your replies and all the great knowledge. I am very knew to the TT world so I need all the help I can get.

[Gdetrailer]

Jayco23FB wrote:
I looked into changing my stock batteries last summer. I considered 6 volts as well as all the other 12 volt options. I ended up staying with the deep cycle 12 volt group 72s from Costco. My reasoning was everything in my camping set up is 12 volt already so if I had a battery failure I wouldn't be reduced to 6 volts. The other reason was the group 72 is easy to get, faily inexpensive and we have a Costco. Worked for me.

That is a complete myth.

There is NO advantage to using two 12V vs on pair of 6V..

All it takes is one cell to go bad in ONE battery and it will draw your "good" battery down and if not found quick enough it WILL dagame the "good" battery.

If you have one cell go bad in one of the 6V batteries you will not be running 6V, no it will be the SAME as if you had a 12V battery with one bad cell (about 11V). This will NOT interrupt your trip since most lighting will operate at lower voltages, your furnace may not like it but it won't ruin your trip any worse than finding a bad 12V battery.

As far as cost or ease of finding GC batts, Costco carries GC batts as well as Sams as well as Sears and many other places.

The advantage of GC batts is they are the MOST Ahr for the money... Most all other batteries simply will not give you as much Ahr for the cost and size.

So, if you are boondocking 6V GC batts should be a consideration, if you are not boondocking and have very little 12V usage without shore power then a low cost group24 Marine/RV battery will be fine.