Replacing crappy dealer battery

[Bhrava]

I was hoping to hold off for at least a year or two before upgrading the battery, but thanks to the dealer not disconnecting the battery when it was stored after they replaced the 12v reefer, they killed the battery. They also did some floor repair in the rear which required dropping the nose down. They pulled it outside and left it that way, and there was no way for me to back under it, the gear was fully extended, but the legs were fully up. When I went to the auto level controller I found it dead, and looked at the dc volt inside and it was at 9.5 volts.

Well heres the thing, once they raised it up so I could back under it, I plugged in my truck, and it read 13.6 from the trucks alternator, but when I tried to use the jacks it quickly died. It appears the truck can only supply so much current before it peters out. It's a separate issue I need to deal with, but what I am finding out now is, even though I can run a half dozen load tests clean on the battery, on a trip of say 6 hours, the reefer depletes the battery, even with the truck and 50watt juice pack connected. I don't know what the AH is on it, but it's not great.

What I want to do for short term is put in a decent high AH battery, but not go LiFe just yet. It is not in the budget for $500+ batteries and having to replace the convertor to charge them properly.

Looking for suggestions on a decent high AH battery thats hopefully under $300. The last DC AGM I bought was from Farm & Fleet, an Exide 31MAGMDC. It lasted a year before a cell dropped out, now its a 10v battery. It was $194 5 years ago. Needless to say, I don't trust Exide makes a good battery for this purpose. I believe Exide also makes the Expedition batteries in a lot of the RV's sold.

A year or two down the line I plan to upgrade to twin Lithiums and solar on the roof since there is so much real estate up there.

[lazyjj]

So not sure what brand you are calling crappy, however most dealers install interstate batteries which are pretty reputable in RV's and Boats. I own both so I have experience. Batteries must be kept charged and maintained. Your post is so allover the place it was hard to follow. I have the luxury of keeping my rig at home and plugged into 50amp shore power and alas it helps to keep all systems from black, grey tanks to batteries maintained. If you don't drive your car or truck for weeks or months batteries will die in them as well. I recommend that you check the water levels in your battery every other month or so but by all means charge it.

[Bhrava]

I WISH mine installed Interstate, but no. I don't have a picture handy of the battery, but this is the battery installed,


Mine is not corroded, its new. It is not the battery that is supposed to come with the Juice Pack, but I have no way to prove it to take back to the dealer since FR is no longer responding to emails. It is not a 100AH battery. I also am connected to shore power 24x7.

The other battery that I have is an AGM and lasted all of 2 years before dropping a cell. https://www.farmandfleet.com/product...e-battery.html

Both are made by Exide. so looking for suggestions on a good 105-110 AH conventional battery to tide me over for a while until I can afford to put a full solar kit in with lithium.

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by Bhrava

so looking for suggestions on a good 105-110 AH conventional battery to tide me over for a while until I can afford to put a full solar kit in with lithium.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart...-MCA/164242687

[D W]

I have always used Interstates. As a rule I can get 5 years out of them, and I'm okay with that.

[NJKris]

I put in a pair of Deka (East Penn) GC batteries, they look like new 3 years later. 230 Ah battery. Was under 300 bucks for the pair at Lowes.

[Bhrava]

Originally Posted by NJKris

I put in a pair of Deka (East Penn) GC batteries, they look like new 3 years later. 230 Ah battery. Was under 300 bucks for the pair at Lowes.

Wouldn't happen to have a model number for it? Sounds like 115 AH each, which is ideal. I mainly, for now, only need it for when traveling since we travel with my 81 YO mother, and boondocking is out of the question.

[NJKris]

They are 230 Ah EACH. They are connected in series to give 12v output, so amp hours stays same. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Deka-6-Volt...ttery/50183775


Amp hours in top of description is incorrect, it is a 230 Ah batt.

[herbike]

Our dealer installed Centennial batteries in our Shockwave when it was new.

They lasted for four years, might have lasted longer if my wife hadn't turned the power off to the camper a year ago last winter. When I discovered it they wouldn't even light a LED light. I got them to take a charge but they wouldn't last over night after that. We bought a new set from him, I don't know what the AH's are but it does say something about 900 cold cranking amps. They do as good or better than the originals.

We do have a GO Solar panel on the roof that keeps us charged when the sun is out. Really enjoy that!!! We do a lot of boon docking.

[onetonford]

Well the dealer batteries they put in mine lasted from 2011 when I bought my trailer until they finally died in Oct of 2020 so that wasn't to bad 9 years. But I have kept my trailer plugged in when stored and also on a timer to cycle power to the charger 12 on 12 off daily this lets the batteries to drain and recharge I have found this has worked for two different trailers and I have usually gotten between 7 - 10 years on most batteries.

[Tiggerdad]

Can't help you with the battery but if I understood you correctly you said it is dead after towing.
My first truck, a 2006 Duramax, came without a specific fuse to to allow a charge while driving. Same on my buddies 2007 Duramax. Might check to see if your Ford needs a fuse.

[rsdata]

onetonford

The fridge section needs to have stuff in it to cool correctly.
Remember it takes away heat to make them cooler. If nothing is in there then there is nothing to cool.
Load it up with your favorite beverage and check it in 12 hours.

sounds like a great idea...

[BM Welder]

I have 4 Interstate 6 volt battery's that were installed new by my dealer when I bought my Cedar Creek in April 2014 and there still good.

[Bhrava]

Those Lowes batteries spec at 230 CCA according to the Lowes site, so I dug deeper. They are misleading the specs, everywhere else I do see it as 230 AH. If you believe Lowes, it is only a 32AH battery.

Trust, but verify. Giving them consideration, so very much appreciate the reply.


Last year I ran a test with the 12v Furrion. It maintained temps for around 8 hours on this battery before it cutout at 10.5 volts, with the juice pack in full sun all that time. Now it doesn't last more than 4, and that is with trickle from the truck, which is on my list to troubleshoot, and the solar panel helping. Even though it will take a load for six 10 second tests, stay in green and recover, with the service leaving the batter connected while it sat, did not help it, and weakened it, but not enough I can warranty it since it still holds a load. I can still use it in my Hanger trailer, and core return the one in there since it is shot. Better than having to replace 2 12v DC batteries.

[NJKris]

The Lowe's site description is messed up. You can look up that model on the East Penn website, gives all the specs.

[FishRich]

Academy sports sell Interstate batteries for right at $100. Never knew that till a friend told me about it.And do not believe the web site as it said our store didn't have them and the shelves were full. The manager said that is an item you have to personally check in the store for. Just a poor excuse to me but none the less they sell them.

[Bhrava]

Well, I took a look at the Walmart link above, and found those batteries are also made by Penn. I would have to order the two 6v and would not get them in time for our next trip so picked up the 29 series from Walmart for $89. Rated at 115 AH which is good enough to get me through to Iowa, unless I can figure out how to get some current from the truck into the trailer for power. I am going to do a full load test Wednesday when its a little cooler out and see how long it will support the 12v Reefer. I would need a new battery box for the 6v ones though, so I may order a pair next month and add them all in. Can never have too much battery.

[D W]

Originally Posted by onetonford

Well the dealer batteries they put in mine lasted from 2011 when I bought my trailer until they finally died in Oct of 2020 so that wasn't to bad 9 years. But I have kept my trailer plugged in when stored and also on a timer to cycle power to the charger 12 on 12 off daily this lets the batteries to drain and recharge I have found this has worked for two different trailers and I have usually gotten between 7 - 10 years on most batteries.

If you got 9 nine years out of a lead acid battery, you have nothing to complain about!

[Bhrava]

Originally Posted by D W

If you got 9 nine years out of a lead acid battery, you have nothing to complain about!

I got 16 out of the one that came on my Kubota B2410.

The battery that was in the 5th wheel is now in my RC trailer, and the solar charger has it fully charged now, so next time out at the field I will bring my electric stuff and charge up some batteries and fly my Twin Otter and see how well the battery does. At least it saves me some money since the big AGM I had in there died after 3 years.

[NJKris]

Keep 'em watered, keep 'em charged, try not to over discharge and they will serve you many years. Only drawback is their weight. 140 lbs of lead and acid. One day I'll modernize.