12 volt deep cycle choice

[leadpusher]

Just bought a new Keystone Cougar 5er.
Looking for battery brand recommendations for (2) 12 volt deep cycle batteries to support camper Boondocking 1 or 2 days as we travel. Camper has solar power, and generator.

[chuckster57]

Welcome to the forum

Congrats on your new purchase. When boondocking Amp Hours is key. A pair of 6V Golf Cart batteries would serve you better.

[leadpusher]

Thanks, do you have a recommendation?

[chuckster57]

Interstate makes nice ones.

[leadpusher]

Thank you, I will look into them.

[NH_Bulldog]

With a generator, solar power is a little more flexible. With solar and no generator, I would suggest lithium, but like Chuck said, Interstate GC batteries are a good choice. I have Interstate and they are a good brand in my opinion. I would suggest making sure your converter is suitable for whatever battery type you use if anything other than “standard” lead acid or AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries. You want to shoot for a target of 100 AH (amp-hours) per battery. But with both generator and solar you have a lot of flexibility in battery capacity and may not need to get too deep into specialty batteries. I can boondock up to 3 days with no solar and no generator running off two Interstate Group 27 batteries as long as I stay plugged into the truck while I level and extend the slides.

YMMV

[leadpusher]

Thanks, I’ve always ran interstate group 31’s in my old camper and boat has 4, thats what I’m leaning towards.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by leadpusher

Just bought a new Keystone Cougar 5er.
Looking for battery brand recommendations for (2) 12 volt deep cycle batteries to support camper Boondocking 1 or 2 days as we travel. Camper has solar power, and generator.

While traveling run the fridge on gas, if equipped. If needed pre heat the rv while traveling by running the furnace.

[leadpusher]

Thanks, unfortunately the fridge is electric only and the furnace is gas only. I’m just looking to power things up in between camp grounds. Live in nw Pa. Heading to glacier when the weather permits.

[chuckster57]

Furnace will have a 12V fan that is a power hungry monster and LP for that matter. I might be inclned to start looking for maybe a 4 six volt array.

[leadpusher]

Yes, fans definitely eat power. Did a test yesterday with the batteries that came with it. Lasted about 4 hours, simulating a layover in a parking lot. Appreciate your ideas, will look into that set up.
Dan

[leadpusher]

The dealer also offers this battery.
Ultra power group 24 600amp 120 reserve.
I can have 2 of these , thoughts?
D

[chuckster57]

if the 660 is CCA that is not a true RV deep cycle battery but rather a dual purpose battery.

[leadpusher]

That is correct, short of a golf cart battery most are just that. I’ll probably just go to my comfort zone with a pair of interstate 31’s unless something better shows up. Still winter here I have time .
Thank you. Very much for your pointers!
D

[JRTJH]

Not to get into a "brand war", but many (maybe most) batteries are manufactured by the same two battery companies. There are some "minor differences" in some batteries, but typically they're all built to the same standards with the same materials.

That said, in 2013 when we bought our Cougar fifth wheel, I went to Sam's and bought two Duracell GC2 "golf cart batteries". We almost exclusively boondock towing a boat behind the fifth wheel. Eight years after installing those batteries, 2 years ago, Sam's had a "can't beat the price" special sale on the same Duracell GC2's. The ones in use were still working well, but I knew they were 8 years old and was considering replacements before they did start failing.

So, with 8 years of use, storage in "sub zero winters" and no solar system to "top them off", I replaced them with new ones at nearly half the price I'd paid for the originals.

My new batteries are identical to the old ones, just without those 8 years of use. I'm expecting these to "go to the grave with the Cougar when it's 16 years old, but.....

The "moral to my story": You might consider Duracells from Sam's if they're cheaper. Mine have performed as well or better than the Interstates in the boat.

[peanut]

True deep cycle 12V batteries are actually rather hard to find. Often expensive. If any battery you look at mentions CCA (cold cranking amps) in ANY way, it is most likely a dual-purpose battery and NOT a true deep cycle.

All golf cart 6V batteries are, AFAIK, true deep cycle batteries. You would, IMO, be better off with 2 or 4 of these.

If you want to stay with 12V lead acid batteries, here a few to look at:
https://www.renogy.com/deep-cycle-ba...agm-batteries/
https://www.amazon.com/WEIZE/dp/B07S..._t3_B004OA25PU
https://www.amazon.com/Lifeline-Mari...ct_top?ie=UTF8

You didn't mention a battery monitor. If you don't have one and plan on any boondocking you should consider one. Seriously consider one. Get one with the largest shunt. It will future-proof your rig.
There are expensive ones but this cheapy will do the job.
https://www.amazon.com/AiLi-Battery-.../dp/B07CTKYFTG

[leadpusher]

Looking at the Duracell gc2 the numbers are incredible!!! I will ask my Rv center on Monday if anything is going to void my warranty.
That’s the ticket there!
Thank you all!
D

[chuckster57]

Your RV was probably shipped from the factory without ANY battery in it. As long as the converter is compatible your good to go. If the dealer installed a lead acid battery then your golden with a single 12V or multiple 6V lead acid batteries.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by peanut

True deep cycle 12V batteries are actually rather hard to find. Often expensive. If any battery you look at mentions CCA (cold cranking amps) in ANY way, it is most likely a dual-purpose battery and NOT a true deep cycle.

All golf cart 6V batteries are, AFAIK, true deep cycle batteries. You would, IMO, be better off with 2 or 4 of these.

If you want to stay with 12V lead acid batteries, here a few to look at:
https://www.renogy.com/deep-cycle-ba...agm-batteries/
https://www.amazon.com/WEIZE/dp/B07S..._t3_B004OA25PU
https://www.amazon.com/Lifeline-Mari...ct_top?ie=UTF8

You didn't mention a battery monitor. If you don't have one and plan on any boondocking you should consider one. Seriously consider one. Get one with the largest shunt. It will future-proof your rig.
There are expensive ones but this cheapy will do the job.
https://www.amazon.com/AiLi-Battery-.../dp/B07CTKYFTG

None of your links to batteries worked, only the link to the monitor.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by leadpusher

Just bought a new Keystone Cougar 5er.
Looking for battery brand recommendations for (2) 12 volt deep cycle batteries to support camper Boondocking 1 or 2 days as we travel. Camper has solar power, and generator.

If you are talking summer time when you will not be using the heater, just operating the fridge and lights, two 12 volt deep cycle will likey do you fine.

We run two Interstate SRM 27 batteries, a single would run the furnace over night with temps in the mid to lower 30's. We added a second in parallel and easily went two days without power during the summer.