When to Change the Starting Battery.

[max49]

I always have at first sign of weakness. However my chassis battery is original and 8 years old but still works fine and shows no signs of weakness with cranking the engine, but my engine starts immediately almost like an electric motor.
Doing research it seems like many sites recommend changing it after 5 yrs and some say 3 years. So I called Sams Club to make sure they had the battery I wanted in stock, they did and I took my old battery out, load tested it and decided it was still a good battery and I put it back in.
Does any one else use and trust an 8 year old battery or do you change them before they give you any worries?

[Darrel]

One thing that might ease your mind. On most MHs there is a switch to jumper the start battery to the house batteries if neccessary. (I hate to throw away a good battery too.)

Have a nice day - DArrel

[Hooligan]

Replaced my starting batteries Dec of 2003, Interstate Group 31LHD. Still going strong. My Cummins always starts with just a second or three of cranking so I don't think the batteries are challenged.
I regularly check specific gravity and clean and coat the terminals, cable connections and grounds. As Darrel stated, the emergency start switch will bail you out if the start batteries get reluctant...

[CampDaven]

Call me old school. I dont risk nuthin for something as cheap as a chassis battery.
Just sayin....

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by CampDaven

Call me old school. I dont risk nuthin for something as cheap as a chassis battery.
Just sayin....

Chassis batteries aren't real cheap. After 8+ years I replaced mine, cost was $156 each. Turned out it was a bad starter so the batteries were possibly still good!

[max49]

Originally Posted by CampDaven

Call me old school. I dont risk nuthin for something as cheap as a chassis battery.
Just sayin....

So when do you change it? 1 year, 3 years, 5 years or when it shows signs of weakness. Obviously sometimes batteries last 10 yrs and others maybe only a couple. Seems a shame to throw away a good old battery when you might get a bad new battery.

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by max49

So when do you change it? 1 year, 3 years, 5 years or when it shows signs of weakness. Obviously sometimes batteries last 10 yrs and others maybe only a couple. Seems a shame to throw away a good old battery when you might get a bad new battery.

A "good old battery" or a new one can fry your generator when it dies. Not a cheap fix.
I opt for proper maintenance. I change them at warranty end, or if they test low before that. If it cranks slow, there is a problem with the battery or charging system.

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by max49

So when do you change it? 1 year, 3 years, 5 years or when it shows signs of weakness. Obviously sometimes batteries last 10 yrs and others maybe only a couple. Seems a shame to throw away a good old battery when you might get a bad new battery.

If the warrany is 6 years, $156 for a battery is $26 a year. Chump change

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by CampDaven

A "good old battery" or a new one can fry your generator when it dies. Not a cheap fix.
I opt for proper maintenance. I change them at warranty end, or if they test low before that. If it cranks slow, there is a problem with the battery or charging system.

I said "generator". My bad. That is my old brain. I meant "alternator".

[KSCRUDE]

With a eight year old battery it could start in the morning like new. You could stop for gas and go to start it and it could be dead in the water. But you do have the coach backup. So its not like a one battery show. When one of my semi trucks starts to sound sluggish it is time for a new set of batteries. Some have three, but most have four. I always replace them all. Usually it's just a dead cell in one battery and it starts to draw them all down. Never ever do you want to just change one battery in a multi battery setup. The older batteries will take the new one down with them. Usually get four to five years out of a set of batteries. But I do have a 06 model Pete which will be on year #7 for the original batteries here shortly. Shouldn't be bragging though, as they could crap out any day now. They are living on borrowed time.

[max49]

Well 6 years is not bad, but I've heard of batteries going bad in much less than that. Battery warranties are really only 1 year, the pro rated warranty is hust to get you to buy their battery again, after you figure out how to get it started, IMO of course

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by max49

Well 6 years is not bad, but I've heard of batteries going bad in much less than that. Battery warranties are really only 1 year, the pro rated warranty is hust to get you to buy their battery again, after you figure out how to get it started, IMO of course

Just test them, both running and not. A meter and a hydrometer are not expensive.

[max49]

I test them with volt meter and load tester but I can't get to the water in my chassis battery.

[max49]

Probably the best test is in the morning when it's -10* but nah, I ai'nt playing motorhome at -10 degrees.