What size battery to install in 2004 Rockwood Freedom 2290

[hamblinb]

The guy I bought the camper from said it probably needs a new battery and we plan to run the propane heater for a couple nights, without outside power, so what size battery would I need, or better yet, what size came with the unit originally?

[timfromma]

Depending on how cold it is and how warm you like it will dictate how much battery you need. I use (2) 90AH deep cycle batteries in my TT. Keep in mind that you don't want to discharge deep cycle batteries more than 50%. My 90AH batteries are more like 45AH since that's all the juice I can pull from them without potential battery damage.

[boondocking]

The original battery was more than likely an 80-90 AH. Measure the space and install the largest battery that will fit.
You can use this chart to figure out what group number and AH for the physical size of the battery.

[bikendan]

Running a furnace all night, will empty a single battery by morning.

If you plan on dry camping or boondocking, you need a dual battery setup, unless you have a generator or solar system.

The best is a dual 6v golf cart batteries setup.

[OldCoot]

Just installed 2 Interstate SRM-24 with the following specs.
Cranking Amps: 690
Cold Cranking Amps: 550

I hook them up parallel.

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Just installed 2 Interstate SRM-24 with the following specs.
Cranking Amps: 690
Cold Cranking Amps: 550

I hook them up parallel.

Those are starting batteries. He needs deep cycle if he wants to run his heat for a couple days without shore power.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by timfromma

Those are starting batteries. He needs deep cycle if he wants to run his heat for a couple days without shore power.

They are dual purpose according to Interstate. Replaced the pr we used that were 6 yrs old.

SRM-24 Batteries - Marine R/V - Int Marine/RV 12M Free - 550 CCA

MARINE R/V - INT MARINE/RV 12M FREE - 550 CCA
Trust your outdoor power needs to Interstate Batteries #1 Marine/RV Dual-Purpose battery! With both CRANKING and DEEP CYCLE capabilities, these dependable, high-quality batteries are ideal for your time in the great outdoors!

[pgandw]

A starting battery will only last through about 4 or 5 deep cycles (charge drawn down to 50%).

Dual purpose batteries will do maybe 100 deep cycles before they are toast (based on some Sears Marine Diehard charts). They are designed to run a trolling motor on a boat for an hour or two, and then start the main engine. These may work well in many RV scenarios, but will have as long a life as true deep cycle batteries.

True deep cycle batteries can take about 400-500 deep cycles before they are useless. True deep cycles are harder to come by in major stores, except in the 6V golf cart variety. Costco and Walmart sell Interstate GC-2 golf cart batteries for about $80 each, which is cheaper than 12V true deep cycle batteries.

I've been able to get my battery draw (other than heater) down to about 8AH per day, but our fridge uses nothing (continuous run, no control board). On cold nights, I allow 5 hours run time on the heater; the fan draws 4 amps. This means heater is using 20AH per night. We allow 4 nights without recharging - 112AH total. I have 2 GC-2 232AH 5V batteries, so I can just barely do 4 nights and stay above 50% charge. Luckily, water and food begin to run out after 4 days, and an A-frame is super easy to pack up and move on.

Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame (with 2 Interstate GC-2 batteries from Costco after 2 short lived Interstate Group 24 dual purpose batteries)

[hamblinb]

Originally Posted by boondocking

The original battery was more than likely an 80-90 AH. Measure the space and install the largest battery that will fit.
You can use this chart to figure out what group number and AH for the physical size of the battery.

So do i need a flooded battery or a Marine battery with t2 technology?

[timfromma]

Flooded batteries are deep cycle only. Marine batteries are dual purpose meaning they can be used as both deep cycle and starting.

[boondocking]

Originally Posted by hamblinb

So do i need a flooded battery or a Marine battery with t2 technology?

Get yourself a deep cycle flooded or two if you have the room.

[Dakota EV]

I just completed my battery project of replace my factory installed 12 volt starting battery with two 6 volt deep cycle batteries at 215 AH each. We were camping about three weeks ago and the cg lost power. It only took about 45 minutes before I had to turn the lights off in my living room because they were too dim to be of any use. We were only using the lights in the living room and had the fridge on propane, which would also be using some battery amps. Thankfully the power came back on about 30 minutes later and we were ok for the rest of our stay. But that made my mind up to get rid of the 12 volt battery that the factory had installed and it was only 18 months old.