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01-09-2025, 09:53 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Palatine, IL
Posts: 62
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House battery replacement
My 2021 Fleetwood Pace Arrow came with 6v 220ah lead acid batteries and they are a pain to get at to fill the cells with distilled water. I'd like to have them replaced with AGM batteries. Does anyone have any recommendations where (aside from the dealer) to get this done for a reasonable price?
I'm in the Chicago area but will be traveling to Jacksonville in a few weeks. Anywhere along that route would be great.
I don't boondock much so upgrading to Lithium batteries probably would not be worth it unless trading out the 4 lead acids for 1 or 2 Lithiums would price out close to the same.
Appreciate any advice on this.
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01-09-2025, 01:33 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Annapolis
Posts: 706
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A 12V 100 AH LiFepo4 battery will cost about $240 and only weighs just over 20lbs, (a savings of 80 lbs over golf cart batteries).
Lithium batteries are maintenance free and have internal battery management systems to protect the cells. 100 Ah of lithium will provide a similar amount of power as the 220Ah of flooded lead acid (FLA). Lithium holds it output voltage until it's almost completely depleted, unlike FLA output. Lithium also charges way faster.
If your Converter does not have a Lithium charge profile, you might have to change it.
Since Lithium batteries can charge at higher rates, a dc-dc charger would limit the draw from the alternator.
Downside of Lithium - can't charge below freezing
What should it cost - about 240 for a decent LiFePo4 100Ah battery, $50-150 for a DC-DC charger, $20 for a fuse & fuse holder, about $10 for cables. Should only take an hour or so of labor.
__________________
2018 Thor Freedom Elite 24
on 2016 Sprinter Chassis
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01-10-2025, 06:17 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 37,096
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Obtain High
Switching to AGM batteries is a great idea for reducing maintenance, as they don’t require water refilling. Here are your options and recommendations:
AGM Battery Recommendations:
- Duracell AGM Golf Cart Batteries:
- 6V, ~200–230Ah, widely available at Sam’s Club or Batteries Plus.
- Cost: ~$200–$300 per battery.
- Trojan T105-AGM:
- Renowned for durability and high performance.
- Cost: ~$350–$400 per battery.
- Lifeline GPL-4CT:
- Premium AGM batteries with excellent lifespan.
- Cost: ~$450–$500 per battery.
Where to Buy and Install Along Your Route:
- Chicago Area:
- Batteries Plus: Nationwide chain, offers AGM batteries and professional installation.
- RV Service Centers: Call local RV shops for pricing on AGM swaps.
- Jacksonville Area:
- RVers Connection: Known for RV battery installations in Jacksonville.
- Camping World Jacksonville: Offers AGM options and installation services.
- Anywhere Along I-75/I-95 Route:
- Interstate Batteries: Locations throughout your route with AGM options and installation.
- Sam’s Club or Costco: Budget-friendly AGM batteries (installation may need to be outsourced).
Cost Comparison for Lithium:
- Lithium Upgrade:
- A 100Ah lithium battery typically replaces 2x 6V lead-acid batteries.
- Brands: Battle Born, Renogy, or Lion Energy.
- Cost: ~$800–$1,000 per battery, plus a compatible charger (if needed).
- Is It Worth It?
- If you rarely boondock, AGM batteries are a more cost-effective and maintenance-free solution.
Additional Tips:
- Installation: Most battery retailers provide installation for a small fee.
- Battery Size: Ensure new batteries fit in the existing compartment.
- Dispose of Old Batteries: Retailers often recycle old batteries for free.
Switching to AGM will simplify your RV maintenance. Let me know if you need assistance finding specific stops! Safe travels!
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Your estimated costs of lithium batteries are 4 times of what they cost nowdays. It's time to adjust your numbers.
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01-10-2025, 06:51 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: WI Driftlesser
Posts: 2,586
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Battleborn is still pretty close to that $800 figure. There are certainly cheaper Li out there. $150/kwh for the cheapest self contained, to under $100/kwh for DIY cells and BMS.
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01-14-2025, 02:29 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 99
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There’s always a gadget
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01-14-2025, 03:03 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 32
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Batteries
In the Chicago area I recommend Staab in Aurora. For AGM I recommend the US Battery 2200 or 2224. They are 6 volt AGM GC2 batteries. Staabbattery.com
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01-14-2025, 03:46 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: North Texas
Posts: 1,111
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I'm not the expert, but maybe you could drop in a couple of these. They are internally heated so less effected by cold temps.
https://www.vatrerpower.com/products...ithium-battery
With full disclosure, I just bought two of the Group 8D versions of the same battery. I've had them about a month. It did get down into the 20's here in north Texas, but according to the Bluetooth App, the batteries stayed around 42 degrees.
This is what I installed, and I literally dropped them in.
https://www.vatrerpower.com/products...es-2560w-power
The only change I made was to my Inverter/Charger which I set to Absorb Charge at 14.6 and Float Charge at 13.8. (Those settings came from the Vatrer website).
Only been a month, but so far so good!
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02-01-2025, 01:43 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 376
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You may be on the right track with AGM
Based on your quick description of usage... You may be on the right track with AGM.
I say this as a recent convert to Lithium and I am excited to see how my new set up performs. But after a bunch of research my (non-expert) findings were that most Lithium batteries are not designed to handle a couple of core functions in most motorhomes. Namely they are not designed to specifications that allow for generator start up and operation of hydraulic levelers. When you check the instructions/warranty for almost all of the manufactures they state not to be use for any type of engine starting and I have now seen a few reports in this forum of people being denied warranty claims.
I have not seen any 100ah lithium that carries a sufficient peak load to account for starting the generator. In the end even the batteries I chose claim they are not for engine starting but their peak load rating exceeds my needs. I went with Renogy Pro 200ah Self heated batteries, two in parallel will provide a peak load of 512amps for 30 seconds... But their cost was hefty at $2000 CAD.
__________________
"Life is a Misadventure"
2020 Fleetwood Bounder 35P / 2024 Ford Escape PHEV
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