Best battery for your dollar....

[LSUTiger]

So what's everybody's opinion on the best bang for your buck when buying a house battery for the RV?


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[ryand]

Everyone's opinion on this will be different....depends on what you are asking it to do. For me the best value was the Exide Deep Cycle at Menards group 27. It apparently is a true deep cycle. In the Spring you can find them for around 70 each. I outfitted our RV with two a few years back. We dry camp at a race track each year. They have plenty of juice to get through a cold night with the furnace running.

[Witch Doctor]

It all depends what you use your RV for. It would help to know, there are different groups and money to be spent but if you boondock alot that would be one kind if you plug in all the time that's another kind. Pure deep cycle is always the best, but you also need to keep a good eye on your draw down. are you looking for gel type, matt type of flooded cell. Big difference in all the prices. I think probably most use a 12v flooded cell.

[Newellri]

I am using a sealed battery in my georgetown because the flood battery's kept setting of co2 sector, usually late at night!


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[LSUTiger]

I don't mind spending 200-300 for a battery. I would say 90 percent of the time I am hooked up to the campground. I would like to get into some boondocking though!


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[ependydad]

I found a Trojan 27TMH locally for $145 which online, I was finding for $220 plus $70-80 for shipping. I am pretty happy with it and it fit my existing battery box (which isn't easily enlarged).

[rana]

I'll second and third on "it really depends". Planned usage is everything. It would be much easier to give you the best feedback to know more about your type and length of typical stays.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by LSUTiger

I don't mind spending 200-300 for a battery. I would say 90 percent of the time I am hooked up to the campground. I would like to get into some boondocking though!


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Then you can't go wrong with Trojan group, Deep Cycle purpose only not a comb. starting. Also to increase your amp life look at converting to 6 volt, you can almost double the amp hours. You can't beat that comb. for boondocking. Also they would serve you well plugged in. If I boondock that is what way I would go. But if you are plugged in all the time you really can get by with any brand. From Walmart to interstate. Also there quite a few threads on the difference in batteries, and going from pure 12 volt to 6 volt combinations.

[WestCoastRV'er]

Another cause for Co2 alarm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHWCIYgfRKg

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[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by WestCoastRV'er

Another cause for Co2 alarm.

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Thanks! I will have to keep that one in mind!!!

Cos the little white boy dog can be a stinky ole thing!

[Big bird]

Inter-State deep cell RV Marine 12 v. Two are better than one. Pricey, but they work

[bob7794]

If you should decide to with the 6v Costco's are made by Interstate and are around $85. I highly recommend them.

[BigTJohn]

Just so y'all are on the same page - it is a CO (carbon monoxide) detector. CO2 (carbon dioxide) is what you exhale and if there was a detector for CO2, it would be going off all the time. Most of the CO detectors need to be disconnected for 1 minute each year then reconnected to "reset them" and ensure a good electrical continuity. Poor contacts will cause just a bit of corrosion and will make the unit sound off when it really is not detecting any CO.

[camaraderie]

HMMM... from what YOU say..you just need a basic good 12V wet cell battery...of the true deep cycle variety. Perhaps two... if you do more boondocking. I like the idea of two since it gives you redundancy. I don't like the idea of dual 6V's because if one goes out...you are toast.
So...I'd either get the largest 12V that will fit...a Group 31 might be possible... or the larges pair of 12V's that will fit...probably more like group 24's . Group 27's are close in size to the group 31's so they remain an option.. and if you have some extra height clearance to spare you can get the tall versions.
I'll go with Ependydad that the Trojan wet cells are the best made wet cells out there and can often be found at a decent price...though not to compare with the cheaper stuff.
Alternatively I like the Deka Marine line of deep cycles ALL of which have a DC in their model numbers so you know you are getting a true deep cycle performer. Avoid any batter that mentions cranking amps or CCA's on the label...even if it says deep cycle. It ain't! Good luck!!

[palmetto rogue]

I have read that besides brand name one way to judge a battery is by comparing weights as they are an indicator of the amount of lead used in the plates.

[camaraderie]

I would generally disagree with that today....since new formulations have been developed which throw those calculations off. And of course, there is a world of difference in construction of plates, separators and connectors which makes a difference in on the road performance vs. on a lab table. Just a quick example:
Trojan group27=55lbs.
Deka Marine Master True Deep Cycle=53lbs.
Interstate DUAL Purpose (no 20 hour rating!) = 53lbs

While it may be true that the Trojans are a bit better than the Dekas...there is no way that the Interstates are the Deka's equal even though they are sold as Deep Cycle...they are dual purpose and have thinner plates but more of them!
BTW...Interstate makes NO deep cycles other than the golf cart 6v's .

[palmetto rogue]

Good points

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Alternatively I like the Deka Marine line of deep cycles ALL of which have a DC in their model numbers so you know you are getting a true deep cycle performer. Avoid any batter that mentions cranking amps or CCA's on the label...even if it says deep cycle. It ain't! Good luck!!

I will say- I was a little surprised when I spoke to 3 different battery shops and all 3 tried to sell me a hybrid battery when I specifically asked for a "deep cycle" battery. I had to research which battery that I wanted and needed to know precise measurements for my battery box.

[boondocking]

A good comparison chart.

http://blogsdir.cms.rrcdn.com/37/fil...ison-Chart.pdf

[F and E Damp]

We got a pair of deep-cycle size 27 12V batteries for our MH from Costco when we bought it (used). Original owners had done 8 years with a single one that was with the rig from the factory.

They were about $75 each and we hadn't had any trouble in the four years + while we had the rig.