Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Community Forums > Odds 'n Ends
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-23-2019, 06:03 PM   #61
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,772
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott902 View Post
Thought I'd follow up and say we did the weekend off the grid, beautiful spot right by the beach. We were pretty conservative with the lights and such, and the 2 6v GC batteries did wonderful. Never dropped below full on the battery monitor. A friend brought a small generator if anyone needed it, but we did not.
That's great! We just got back from a 5 day fishing trip to our "secret hideaway" in the UP. It's a little state forest campground in the middle of nowhere with no hookups, so dry camping only. It was 40F all 5 nights so the furnace ran occasionally. We carry a generator and used it for about 2 hours the 3rd evening. Other than that "quick recharge" we operated the trailer on our two GC2 batteries. As said, it's great to know you can sustain the trailer while dry camping. Enjoy your newfound freedom from the grid !!!!!
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 12:57 AM   #62
Scott902
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: East Coast, Canada
Posts: 79
I probably used more battery checking the battery level than I did with anything else lol.
__________________

15 Sierra SLT 1500 Max Tow 6.2
16 Springdale 27OLE
Scott902 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 05:43 AM   #63
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,772
Yup, GC2 batteries are extremely "durable" and will take a beating and keep on working. Just be sure to keep the electrolyte level topped off and you can expect years of service from them. Mine are going on 6 years old and still seem as "strong" as they did when first installed.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 05:45 AM   #64
Scott902
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: East Coast, Canada
Posts: 79
how often do you check, one a month, each season?
__________________

15 Sierra SLT 1500 Max Tow 6.2
16 Springdale 27OLE
Scott902 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 06:11 AM   #65
Logan X
Senior Member
 
Logan X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,286
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott902 View Post
how often do you check, one a month, each season?
I check mine once a month and add distilled water as needed to make sure the plates are covered.
__________________
Mike
2017 F250 6.7 Powerstroke FX4 crew cab
2016 Hideout 24BHSWE (27 foot TT)
Logan X is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 08:20 AM   #66
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,772
Same here, I check mine monthly during the camping season. They are stored in the garage during the winter and I charge them every month for about 3 or 4 hours.

We towed to the southwest in April/May of this year. While in Las Vegas, because of the dry, arid climate, I checked my batteries weekly. Probably overkill in frequency, but while enjoying the warm (sometimes hot) weather under the awning, it was a simple task to open the battery compartment and do a check.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 08:22 AM   #67
Scott902
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: East Coast, Canada
Posts: 79
how often do you find you need to add distilled water?
__________________

15 Sierra SLT 1500 Max Tow 6.2
16 Springdale 27OLE
Scott902 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 08:33 AM   #68
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,772
I've added water every time. I check mine by using a battery water jug with "automatic fill". I put it in each of the cell cap holes, let it fill until it stops and move to the next cell. I honestly can't tell you from a historical perspective, whether the cells are 1/8" low in one season, 1/4" low in other seasons or if they drop 1/16" every other month. All I can tell you is that the water jug "gurgles at times" and doesn't at other times.

Here's the jug I bought, it sure beats trying to "aim for the hole" with a plastic cup filled with distilled water.....
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	battery filler.jpg
Views:	104
Size:	26.6 KB
ID:	22438  
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 11:28 AM   #69
cookinwitdiesel
Senior Member
 
cookinwitdiesel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Fairfax
Posts: 507
Any thought to using AGM sealed batteries that are maintenance free? Vmaxtanks is a popular brand I have heard good things about that sells a 6v 225 Ah battery for about $275 each.
__________________
2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali Diesel DRW (Crew Cab | 8 Ft bed | OEM Puck System | Curt Gooseneck Ball for OEM Puck)
(OLD) 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Diesel (Crew Cab | 6.6 Ft bed)
2019 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 3740BH-R Fifth Wheel (Onan 5500W LP Generator | MORryde SRE4000 Suspension | 3x Cross Members | Sailun S637 ST | Reese GooseBox 20k 2nd Gen)
(OLD) 2018 Keystone Hideout 28RKS Travel Trailer
cookinwitdiesel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 12:07 PM   #70
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,772
Quote:
Originally Posted by cookinwitdiesel View Post
Any thought to using AGM sealed batteries that are maintenance free? Vmaxtanks is a popular brand I have heard good things about that sells a 6v 225 Ah battery for about $275 each.
That's $550 for a set versus $194 for a set of Interstate GC2's from COSTCO. I'd guess that extra $356 is probably the biggest reason most people don't use AGM batteries. A second reason (based on my personal experience with AGM batteries in snowmobiles and ATV's) is the restricted charging regimen that for the most part, prohibits rapid "high amp" charging which will damage an AGM battery. That limitation makes it "not as good as" when compared to standard GC2 battery use in an RV application where rapid charging on a generator while camped at places that restrict generator use to only a few hours a day.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 12:56 PM   #71
cookinwitdiesel
Senior Member
 
cookinwitdiesel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Fairfax
Posts: 507
I have heard good things about Lithium batteries too but they are like 4x the cost of AGM even.

I was under the impression that AGM could actually charge faster due to how it works in absorption mode?
__________________
2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali Diesel DRW (Crew Cab | 8 Ft bed | OEM Puck System | Curt Gooseneck Ball for OEM Puck)
(OLD) 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Diesel (Crew Cab | 6.6 Ft bed)
2019 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 3740BH-R Fifth Wheel (Onan 5500W LP Generator | MORryde SRE4000 Suspension | 3x Cross Members | Sailun S637 ST | Reese GooseBox 20k 2nd Gen)
(OLD) 2018 Keystone Hideout 28RKS Travel Trailer
cookinwitdiesel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 02:12 PM   #72
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,772
I bought a $175 Optima AGM battery for my RZR. Installed it, went riding, got stuck, depleted the battery using the winch to get out. When we got home I put the RZR on my battery charger to recharge the battery. Next morning, it started with no problem. We went for a short ride and wound up having to get help to jump the battery to get home. I called Optima to get a replacement for my 3 day old battery. I was quickly told that I voided the warranty by using a "conventional battery charger" and they wouldn't replace the battery.

That was my "lesson learned" about buying "high tech/high priced equipment to use in "conventional applications".... For me, it's just not worth the expense to buy batteries that cost 150% more than "proven reliable" golf cart batteries, and that require a specialized charger that increases the cost to more than 250% more than those two GC2 golf cart batteries and that don't provide any more stored power than the GC2's. It's easier for me to check the batteries monthly (you still need to check the battery compartment for water leaks, corrosion and other issues anyway) and keep that extra $500+ for other things....

As for lithium batteries, at this point, if they cause concern in leaving my laptop plugged in or in being in an airplane cabin, I surely don't want 2 or more "big ones" in my RV if I'm going to be 20 miles down a dirt road from the nearest fire department.....

That's just my perspective, I'm sure if there's 50 people, you'll get 50 opinions.....

ADDED: I nearly forgot: When Optima wouldn't replace the battery (that was 4 years ago) I bought a 12 volt "lawn tractor" battery to put in the RZR. It's still in it, still starts every time and total cost was $22.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 02:27 PM   #73
cookinwitdiesel
Senior Member
 
cookinwitdiesel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Fairfax
Posts: 507
As for the special charger need, my understanding is that most modern RV converters are rated for use with AGM batteries now? The lack of need for vents and topping off the battery are part of what made AGM interesting to me. Supposedly more durable too?
__________________
2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali Diesel DRW (Crew Cab | 8 Ft bed | OEM Puck System | Curt Gooseneck Ball for OEM Puck)
(OLD) 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Diesel (Crew Cab | 6.6 Ft bed)
2019 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 3740BH-R Fifth Wheel (Onan 5500W LP Generator | MORryde SRE4000 Suspension | 3x Cross Members | Sailun S637 ST | Reese GooseBox 20k 2nd Gen)
(OLD) 2018 Keystone Hideout 28RKS Travel Trailer
cookinwitdiesel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 02:35 PM   #74
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,772
My current GC2 batteries are 6 years old, cost $100 each, still have the storage capacity very similar to when they were new. If I were to buy two AGM batteries at $550, replace my "aging converter/charger" in 6 years, would I have benefitted enough to "justify the $500+ cost" ??? For some, maybe, for me, even if in a year or two I have to replace the current batteries, I'll still be almost $800 ahead of where I'd be if I had bought AGM batteries in 2014 when my Cougar was new and had to replace them at 8 or 9 years of use instead of the 7 or 8 years for lead acid batteries.

For me, "new and improved" is not always mean "wise investment and best for conventional use"....

But, as I said, ask 50 people, you'll get 50 opinions.... I wouldn't say any of them are "absolutely right" or "absolutely wrong"....
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2019, 02:50 PM   #75
cookinwitdiesel
Senior Member
 
cookinwitdiesel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Fairfax
Posts: 507
Fair enough. I will have to broaden my search and learn more about battery maintenance.
__________________
2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali Diesel DRW (Crew Cab | 8 Ft bed | OEM Puck System | Curt Gooseneck Ball for OEM Puck)
(OLD) 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Diesel (Crew Cab | 6.6 Ft bed)
2019 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 3740BH-R Fifth Wheel (Onan 5500W LP Generator | MORryde SRE4000 Suspension | 3x Cross Members | Sailun S637 ST | Reese GooseBox 20k 2nd Gen)
(OLD) 2018 Keystone Hideout 28RKS Travel Trailer
cookinwitdiesel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2019, 07:17 PM   #76
CaptnJohn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Ocean Isle Beach
Posts: 1,431
There is enough light to see the water level in my batteries. I use a turkey baster.
__________________

2022.Montana 3855 BR
2019 F350 6.7 4X4 DRW
CaptnJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
boondocking

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.