Travel Trailer battery question

hbar218 · Jun 10, 2018

My travel trailer needs a new battery, i know 2-6volts are better for dry camping but we usually have a power site or else a generator if needed. I was looking at the Kirkland 27DC 12 volt, it has 845 MCA, 675 CCA and 120 amp hours, i cant find the RC on it. It is a Starting/ Deep Cycle , Marine RV battery. I have done some research and know i need a deep cycle battery. Is this considered a hybrid? Will it work for casual dry camping or should i get a deep cycle specifc battery? I know they need to be properly charged and maintained to last a long time but thats not going to happen so i will replace it every few years. The battery is $140 at costco.

Cdnfireman · Jun 10, 2018

I’m in the same situation, I need to replace my trailer batteries and will be going to Costco for a couple of batteries as well. While it’s true on paper that 2 6 volt batteries give superior draw down time, in practice its marginally better if you get the right 12v batteries, and there is some downside to using 6volt batteries.
IMHO, batteries are consumable items that only last a few years and then need to be replaced. This is particularly true now that it seems it’s impossible to find a really good battery anymore. I’m getting about 4 seasons out of a set of batteries and just budget accordingly. When I’m dry camping I just run the generator every couple of days for an hour or so to supplement the solar panels if necessary.

craggar2011 · Jun 10, 2018

I wouldn't buy a marine battery since they are not a true deep cycle and can't be drained down the same. I do a lot of dry camping with my m/h, I use 2 Trojan T105's and have installed two 100 watt solar panels this year to keep them topped up. This set is in year 5 now and should be good for another year or two.

Caper11 · Jun 10, 2018

I had 6v interstates in my trailer I bought in 2009. I traded that trailer last year with the same batteries in it,and they were still in great condition. My new trailer got interstates again, im hoping for the same life out of these as well.

LBZ · Jun 11, 2018

Caper11 said:
I had 6v interstates in my trailer I bought in 2009. I traded that trailer last year with the same batteries in it,and they were still in great condition. My new trailer got interstates again, im hoping for the same life out of these as well.

I got 7 years out of the same ones. Just went with 2 more 6v from Canada Energy for just over a couple hundred bucks a week ago. I’’’ll sell this trailer and get a new one and take these with me in the next year or so. The difference between 2 12’s and 2 6’s was about $40 so it was a no brainer to me to buy the better batteries.

Teth-Air · Jun 11, 2018

LBZ said:
I got 7 years out of the same ones. Just went with 2 more 6v from Canada Energy for just over a couple hundred bucks a week ago. I’’’ll sell this trailer and get a new one and take these with me in the next year or so. The difference between 2 12’s and 2 6’s was about $40 so it was a no brainer to me to buy the better batteries.

I know deep cycle batteries have their advantages but can someone please explain why 2 x 6 volt batteries are any better than 2 x 12 volt? Assuming they both add up to the same current specifications? I always have found I like 2 x 12 volt because if one goes bad, you can just disconnect the bad battery. Additionally I have one mounted solid on my trailer and the second is portable and Tee's into my trailer/truck plug. This way if I go for a drive it can stay with the truck for a good charge.

the_real_wild1 · Jun 11, 2018

I have a few Kirkland rv batteries and they are decent for the price. Last setup I went with 2 6v batteries from Rocky’s. 300 for the pair. They are much better then the 12v and close to the same price.

Cdnfireman · Jun 11, 2018

Teth-Air said:
I know deep cycle batteries have their advantages but can someone please explain why 2 x 6 volt batteries are any better than 2 x 12 volt? Assuming they both add up to the same current specifications? I always have found I like 2 x 12 volt because if one goes bad, you can just disconnect the bad battery. Additionally I have one mounted solid on my trailer and the second is portable and Tee's into my trailer/truck plug. This way if I go for a drive it can stay with the truck for a good charge.

You’ll have a hard time finding 12v batteries that have the same reserve capacity that a 6v will, primarily because the 6v are designed for industrial deep cycle use. However, 12v battery technology has advanced in the last 10 years or so and the reserve capacity of new12v deep cycle batteries are getting close to the 6v.
Back in the day for dry camping, nobody had solar panels or small, portable, quiet generators, so having the maximum reserve battery capacity was essential. Nowadays, most RVs have solar panels, lots of good small generators that can supplement your batteries. The downside of 6v batteries are if one craps out, you’re screwed. ( like you said), and you have to be careful to buy 6v batteries that are built for mobile equipment use. Many are for standby power and don’t survive well in mobile equipment. Also, buying 12v batteries at Costco makes it easy to return for replacement anywhere in North America should you have a problem. Not so with batteries you buy elsewhere. Costco sometimes has 6v batteries but it’s hit or miss.
I’m going the 12v route with Costco batteries. The difference in capacity with 6v is marginal and for my use, 12v makes more sense.

Ronaha · Jun 11, 2018

After 8 years my 12 volt motormaster marine/RV batteries crapped out,just picked up 2 Kirklands at Costco.

hbar218 · Jun 11, 2018

Ronaha said:
After 8 years my 12 volt motormaster marine/RV batteries crapped out,just picked up 2 Kirklands at Costco.

Did you get the Starting/Deep Cycle , Marine RV group 27 from Costco?
I'm getting confused with what some people call deep cycle and Marine RV. I went to RV dealer and asked if i needed a deep cycle or marine rv battery, parts guy said definitely deep cycle and then proceeded to show me a marine rv battery. I asked him again and then he said they are the same. I didnt feel comfortable with his advice after that.

the_real_wild1 · Jun 11, 2018

Not much difference between the two

doorfx · Jun 11, 2018

Go talk to battery world or a similar company. A true deep cycle battery will not list CCA. No battery should ever be dis-charged past 50% (soc). A true deep cycle battery will tolerate the dis-charge, charge cycle much better than a marine type battery

craggar2011 · Jun 11, 2018

This comes up on a RV site I visit a fair bit for info on the never ending maintenance on an older motorhome but that's another story. Here is a link where I learned alot about batteries that someone posted. It's a little long but good reading if you want to learn the differences and how batteries are actually rated and why.
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/deep_cycle_battery

LBZ · Jun 11, 2018

the_real_wild1 said:
Not much difference between the two

Their still not even close. I just did a ton of research on it as I was trying to decide if I wanted a single 4D or dual 12v deep cycle or dual 6v deep cycle. Almost every 6 volt GC group battery was double it’s nearest 12v group 27 deep cycle in the RC category. And the 4D isn’t very much better than a group 27 and expensive if you want a deep cycle.

If you usually camp in powered sites I’d say go with the 12v deep. If you do a lot of backcountry camping then I’d go with the 6v.
http://www.magnacharge.com/trojan-deep-cycle-batteries?limitstart=0

the_real_wild1 · Jun 11, 2018

The plates are def bigger but when using one or the other between a marine/rv battery vs a deep cycle I don’t think you will notice a massive difference. This is 6v vs 6v not 6v vs 12v I am talking about.

any1butjj · Jun 11, 2018

from what i understand the structure of 6volts are much more robust which results in way more charge cycles being available - proper care and maintenance of any battery is really important, don't let them discharge too far. What intrigues me are the lithium RV batteries but they are hugely expensive still

Ronaha · Jun 11, 2018

hbar218 said:
Did you get the Starting/Deep Cycle , Marine RV group 27 from Costco?
I'm getting confused with what some people call deep cycle and Marine RV. I went to RV dealer and asked if i needed a deep cycle or marine rv battery, parts guy said definitely deep cycle and then proceeded to show me a marine rv battery. I asked him again and then he said they are the same. I didnt feel comfortable with his advice after that.

Not exactly sure what batteries look like wife picked them up but I told her they have to say RV/marine, wouldn't that be deep cycle? If your worried maybe get those motormaster ones I had for 8 years all backcountry camping,I brought them inside 6 winters outa 8 and 1amp trickle charged every 2 months in winter

hbar218 · Jun 11, 2018

Ronaha said:
Not exactly sure what batteries look like wife picked them up but I told her they have to say RV/marine, wouldn't that be deep cycle? If your worried maybe get those motormaster ones I had for 8 years all backcountry camping,I brought them inside 6 winters outa 8 and 1amp trickle charged every 2 months in winter

Part of my confusion is the battery says " Starting/Deep Cycle and Marine RV" however my research says to get a Deep Cycle not a Marine RV, anyways i am going to buy the Costco one and if it doesnt work i will return it next year before 1 year warranty is up.

LBZ · Jun 11, 2018

hbar218 said:
Part of my confusion is the battery says " Starting/Deep Cycle and Marine RV" however my research says to get a Deep Cycle not a Marine RV, anyways i am going to buy the Costco one and if it doesnt work i will return it next year before 1 year warranty is up.

It’s likely a lead-sponge hybrid. The hybrid uses a bit of both so it can be used to start and still keep a good RC. Most R.V./Marine batteries are of this design. True deep cycles are a better choice for your R.V. but the hybrid is ok-especially if you don’t usually camp in places that don’t have power for extended periods of time.

Typical true deep cycle batteries are solid lead for slow discharge at low current down to as low as 20% of full charge numerous times while regular batteries are a sponge type for a fast momentary discharge of high current.

Starting batteries begin to fail after about 150 discharge cycles as low as 50% or more. This is what makes them a poor choice for an R.V. as it doesn’t take long to drop a battery to 12.3v (50% charge).

MACHINE · Jun 15, 2018

LBZ said:
It’s likely a lead-sponge hybrid. The hybrid uses a bit of both so it can be used to start and still keep a good RC. Most R.V./Marine batteries are of this design. True deep cycles are a better choice for your R.V. but the hybrid is ok-especially if you don’t usually camp in places that don’t have power for extended periods of time.

Typical true deep cycle batteries are solid lead for slow discharge at low current down to as low as 20% of full charge numerous times while regular batteries are a sponge type for a fast momentary discharge of high current.

Starting batteries begin to fail after about 150 discharge cycles as low as 50% or more. This is what makes them a poor choice for an R.V. as it doesn’t take long to drop a battery to 12.3v (50% charge).

That is really good info.

Travel Trailer battery question

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