Community Forums

jeanicesmith · 03-18-2016, 12:53 PM

We have 2 12V batteries for our TT 25 foot Arctic Fox. Which is better and longer lasting- 6V or 12V? What is the Newer technology??

l1v3fr33ord1 · 03-18-2016, 02:12 PM

jeanicesmith-

You may want to start by reading about batteries at this Web site:

The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

The nub of your question is "which is longer lasting?" You find that almost everyone recommends deep-cycle lead-acid batteries for "house" use, such as your trailer.

Since you already have 12V batteries, you can stick with that voltage. If you decide to go to 6V batteries you will have to cable them differently. It's worth it to some people to replace 12V with 6V, and not to others.

The newest technology uses lithium-based batteries, similar to those used in portable computers. Lithium-based batteries are generally lighter, and have other advantages over lead-acid batteries- but are generally more money than most want to pay.

If you search for posts on "batteries" here on iRV2 you'll find a lot of information, opinions, and some old wives tales. Read as many posts as you can.

Cumminsfan · 03-18-2016, 03:00 PM

I had two 6V Costco batteries in our previous TT. I now have two 12V G24 Interstate batteries in our current 5er. I really can't tell much difference as far as run time. Both are/were about 3 seasons old. I pretty much do everything the same as before. In other words we run the same stuff the same way. I'm not sure that I would get Costco brand batteries again. However I would go the Trojan T105 route. I think they're a better battery and could possibly have a longer run time.
We dry camp 80% of the time so we use our batteries a lot. If I were to up grade I think I would go all out and get 4 Trojan T105s along with solar. That way I wouldn't have to run my gen as much to top off the batteries.
Depending on how much you dry camp two G24 12V my be cheaper and work well enough.
It's not like the 6V Costco batteries gave us an extra day of use over the 12V G24.

ODH · 03-18-2016, 11:11 PM

One advantage of two 12v batteries is that if one dies when you have all five slides out you can disconnect the bad battery and still have 12v to operate your TT. Also if your TV battery dies you can remove one of the 12v batteries and probably be able to start the TV (more of a problem if you have a diesel engine). Disadvantages are that the 12v deep cycle batteries cost more than the 6v and as the plates are thinner they may not last as long or allow you to go below the 50% discharge point as often.

1bigmess · 03-19-2016, 09:34 AM

Unless they are connected in parallel and are both dead.

offthepath · 03-24-2016, 09:52 PM

On our Nash 25r I put Trojan 145s (6v) and could not be happier. We do a lot of winter camping and man these things put out some power. Coming from the standard interstate 12v deep cycle there is no comparison. Before in bellow freezing temps 1 night was the max with out running the generator. Now we can easily go 2-3 nights and not worry about a recharge.

Fells good

JohnBoyToo · 03-25-2016, 10:14 AM

The short answer is.... it depends

on YOUR use and wants... amp-hrs needed, camping type u do...

IMHO, deep cycle batteries SHOULD be 2 6 volts to replace 1 12v

in out apartment on wheels, we went from 4 HUGE L-16 monsters that were original in 2011 to 4 t-105's improving our enjoyment 100 fold !

BUT, who knows what maintenance and what condition those 5 year old batteries were, my guess is that they WEREN'T maintained since the PO never went anywhere in the coach...