Class A House Batteries

[ejm4]

We will need to replace our 4 house batteries in our Berkshire this Spring.

Suggestions on brands / suppliers to purchase?

[All_Mountain]

I replaced mine with 4 Lifeline AGM batteries in September of 16. Now my battery compartment stays nice and clean. I purchased mine through:

Impact Battery
600 Quail Run Rd Irvine, KY

1-866-668-3163

GPL-4CT Lifeline 6V 220 Ah Marine Battery
$319.95 each

Free shipping and when I checked the manufactured date they were dated August 2016 so they were nice and fresh.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Brands are mostly superfluous, since most all of them are made by the same big three battery manufacturers anyway. The operative questions are the amp-hour rating and whether you choose flooded cell or AGM. AGM is pricey but pretty much zero maintenance, while flooded cells want regular TLC and will die young if they don't get it.

Among the flooded cell types, you can get a true deep cycle or a "marine/RV" battery. The price difference is substantial, but the deep cycle will outlast the marine/RV by at least 2x and often 3x or more.

Trojan is the gold standard for flooded cell deep cycles, and also a top brand of AGM. Lifeline is the other top AGM brand for RV use. But you can get darn good private labels brands most anywhere. Just compare the specs and the price within a given type.

I've written an article on Choosing An RV Battery that might help. See it at Choosing a battery

[MisterT]

why do you say that you "will need" to replace your batteries? is something planning to go wrong with them?

[no3putt]

Earl, 1. Check your warrenty on the batteries, 2. If you need to purchase the best price on 6volt we found was at Costco. Take several pictures on how they are connected and label them before you remove them.
You shouldn't need to replace them this soon, ours where 6 years old when replaced.

Skip

[D Lindy]

Is there a reason you're replacing your 4 year old batteries already? Our 2012 still have the originals from the factory (NAPA's) and are still going strong.

[Mac99]

X3 on Lifeline AGM'S. Sure they cost more, but well
worth it if only for zero maintenance, and no corrosion
in the battery compartment. They have many other
advantages.

[ahicks]

I forget the brand, but I replaced some 10 year old batteries (chassis and aux.) a couple of seasons ago. As they had lasted that long without issue, I check into where I would need to go to match them. Turned out they are handled by Tractor Supply - an outfit I've learned I can trust as a rule. Further, I found they were some of the more inexpensive available.

For what it costs to maintain conventional batteries, there's no chance I would spend the money for AGM.

[DAN L]

I got my lifeline AgM batteries from bd batteries online about 9 years ago. Still going strong.

[ejm4]

I am replacing mine as they don't seem to hold a charge too long. They are topped off with water...

I am not sure I will spend the extra $$ for AGM as we will probably trade the coach next year.

[powerboatr]

replaced my 4, 6 volts this past november with two big 12v full river AGMs

clean, neat and tidy. costly yes, but worth the cost. no more water checks or nasty stuff in the battery bay
i squeaked nearly 9 years out of the old flooded batteries.


http://www.fullriverbattery.com/main

[OLYLEN]

If you have a Costco in your area, most have 6volt deep cycle batteries for about $85 each.
Most people don't boondock enough to justify the $1300 set of batteries. Or have the high volume demand for the high end batteries. As a sale item in a year you can say relatively new.

LEN

[MisterT]

Originally Posted by MisterT

why do you say that you "will need" to replace your batteries? is something planning to go wrong with them?

last month it seemed my voltage was not lasting nearly as long as I was accustomed to during the first 2 1/2 years of full time and traveling... but I remember to try EQUALIZING , with the Magnum ME-RC remote: after 4 hours, the batteries were finished.

the next outing the batteries responded as expected and lasted well into the early hours of the morning before the AGS kicked in. Back to normal.

[barmcd]

I've got 4 6V AGM batteries in my coach. This is our first motorhome so I didn't realize how much maintenance was required on a flooded wet cell battery. Ours are 9 years old and don't hold a charge real well now, but there is no way I'm not buying AGM batteries to replace them.