Chassis Batteries Size

[HighDesert]

Trying to get ahead of the curve here and replace the chassis batteries on my 2017 RED 33AA. I think they are group 31, sealed batteries, but wanted to confirm before I pulled them out. Also, recommended replacements - Interstate, Alliance, Duracell ???

Thx

[d23haynes57]

For battery brands the three you mentioned are all lower end offerings.
Are you staying with conventional lead acid or considering AGM? Are you considering Lithium for the House batteries? If yes consider AGM as they are really compatible for shared charging. Something like this is best bang for the buck.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BAT7236

This is a maintenance free battery that is somewhat tolerant of always being on float charge.

[SafariBen]

Group 31 are fresh and cheap at your local truck dealer, usually the best value if you're doing it yourself, but maybe not if you're paying somebody to do the work.

[660catman]

Personally I’d stick with the SLA batteries. AGM’s are expensive and don’t last any longer. I tried in my boat for trolling motor batteries. With this experience I’ve only used SLA’s in my camper and have gone back to SLA’s in my boat.

[DAJO]

Freightliner had great prices the last time looked.

[garykk]

Originally Posted by d23haynes57

For battery brands the three you mentioned are all lower end offerings.
Are you staying with conventional lead acid or considering AGM? Are you considering Lithium for the House batteries? If yes consider AGM as they are really compatible for shared charging. Something like this is best bang for the buck.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BAT7236

This is a maintenance free battery that is somewhat tolerant of always being on float charge.

Hate to tell you but Napa batteries are made by Deka aka East Penn, maker of Duracell and many others.

[d23haynes57]

Originally Posted by garykk

Hate to tell you but Napa batteries are made by Deka aka East Penn, maker of Duracell and many others.

I stand corrected for the Duracell and Alliance brands.
Yes NAPA is mostly DEKA and good stuff.
I don't know who is making batteries for Aliance. They are very popular with Fleets.
Interstate does not make batteries. Johnson controls.
Same for many of the store brands.

[garykk]

I recently changed out our standard batteries with AGM. Reasoning was to eliminate the outgassing and the mess of corrosion it causes and the need to regularly check the water levels. Yes they’re more $$ but a lot less work and a lot cleaner. I went with Duracell, I got them when they were on sale.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by garykk

I recently changed out our standard batteries with AGM. Reasoning was to eliminate the outgassing and the mess of corrosion it causes and the need to regularly check the water levels. Yes they’re more $$ but a lot less work and a lot cleaner. I went with Duracell, I got them when they were on sale.

That's not a starting battery, it's a 6 volt deep cycle house battery.

[garykk]

Originally Posted by twinboat

That's not a starting battery, it's a 6 volt deep cycle house battery.

Oops, my bad, for some reason my mind went to house batteries.
Actually I recently changed those out too.
https://www.batteriesplus.com/produc...-ultra/sli31sa

[HighDesert]

Thanks for the replies. I’m staying with SLA batteries and will probably go with either Duracell(from Batteries Plus) or NAPA. Both are close and have the 900 or more CCA at a reasonable price.

[jandcr]

Originally Posted by HighDesert

Thanks for the replies. I’m staying with SLA batteries and will probably go with either Duracell(from Batteries Plus) or NAPA. Both are close and have the 900 or more CCA at a reasonable price.

Yeah. Let's face it, whether or not any of those brands are "better" or not, you have a 2017 coach - so yours have lasted about 8 years already!! And frankly, conditions of use have as much to do with it as anything else. Anything that lasts 1 1/2 time as long but costs twice as much (at today's dollars, too) is not good economics. I replaced our house batteries with Duracells from Batteries Plus and have been very pleased with them. (See if they will throw in one of their nifty battery carrying handles too.) The only thing to watch - with any supposedly standard type - is that the terminals can be in slightly different locations. All within spec, but slightly different. Remember that some of the cables are "exact length", so you may need to get a couple of longer - or shorter - ones. But getting them on line, it's still cheaper over all.

[d23haynes57]

Look for battery pricing from the Frieghtliner dealers and FleetPride. Form the Frieghtliner dealer I was offered the standard maintenance free group 31, 900 CCA for $129. I also inquired AGM and they offered the Odyssey Extreme Series AGM Battery BCI No. 31 1150 CCA for $358.