Batteries - Need 2?

[pattersonb]

I've got one battery in my Cardinal 30RKLE (650 cold cranking amps - deep cell). It's approximately 3 years old, and has provided good service to date. However, my camping is usually done with electricity hookups, and the unit is plugged in between trips. I'm assuming that it is still good, but will be doing some dry (and possibly cold) camping enroute to Florida next March....and will find out if the battery is good. I'm not worried about lights - just the furnace having power for the night. That said, does anyone recommend having 2 batteries in my 5th wheel? Or, would a larger capacity single unit be prudent?
Thanks!

[acadianbob]

We do nicely with one 130 amp hr group 30 twelve volt battery. Trojan.

[Herk7769]

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...two-16293.html

There are 56 posts here so prepare yourself for a long read.
ALL good info.

[nailit]

If you have the space, go with two 12v batteries (IMO). But like Lou said, these is plenty of discussions about this topic.

[hoovercab]

We found that when we dry camp is when we need a 2nd battery. When you have teens they don't understand light switches.

[donn]

That is sort of like asking a Ford owner if a Chevy is better. As soon as I got our fiver home in 2005, I made room and added three more batteries. This year I replaced them with 4-6VDC Golf cart batteries to the tune of about $400.00. But we spend a lot of time dry camping so to me it was worth every penny of the investment. Since your life style is not dry camping, I personally would simply go out and buy yourself one new 12 VDC Deep cycle battery in a GP27 size. As long as you have the furnace down to 55-60 at night it will survive just fine one night of dry camping

[flyrotor]

Originally Posted by pattersonb

I've got one battery in my Cardinal 30RKLE (650 cold cranking amps - deep cell).
Thanks!

This sounds like an auto battery, cold cranking amps are generally for starting engines and do not necessarily provide for continued draw as you find in a travel trailer.

You also state that you usually have electric hookups, which stands to reason why this battery has performed well for you.

If you are going to dry camp, two deep cell RV batteries are recommended as minimum equipment, however, those serious to dry camping have changed to either two or four 6 volt trojan batteries as their design is to provide continuous power draw.

Two RV batteries will work fine if you have a generator to recharge them when needed.