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Old 07-01-2019, 05:25 AM   #1
Bamabox
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Upgrade to 2 batteries...........

Background info first. 2017 XLite 21RBS. Came with one battery in a plastic case on the cross mount area of the tongue. Upon close inspection, the case is just held down with a cheap strap and can slide and jiggle around a bit while going down the road. My bad for not addressing this earlier, this our 3rd season. Come to think of it, addressing it now in the 3rd season is pretty good for me . My normal would probly be about 5. We rarely dry camp, but are considering doing more of it. Sooooooo, that leads me to your suggestions. I have no desire to get involved in 6V golf cart batteries. Seems like overkill for what my needs are. So I’m thinking 2 really good low maintenance true deep cycle 12V’s with lots of ampere hour ratings, in parallel, in one nice case that holds both in the stock location on the tongue rack.

Who you got? Both batteries and case. Thanks.
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Old 07-01-2019, 05:30 AM   #2
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Forgot to add, trailer stays plugged in to 15A cord at home and throughout the winter, so batteries stay charged.
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Old 07-01-2019, 06:11 AM   #3
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Attachment 22545Bama,
I definitely think you are on the right track. We're using a pretty standard group 24 "deep cycle" battery that came with the Cougar at purchase. 4th season and still working well.
When we replace these, we'll be going to a group 27. A little larger, more amp-hour and will still fit in our existing battery boxes. I have not seen a single battery box that can hold both batteries. Probably out there but not a big deal for us.
With LED lights in the new TT's and judicious use of the other accessories, you can expect 2 to 3 nights on well charged batteries. You might want to look into a battery charging system, either an inverter type generator or solar to keep the batteries charged for any extended dry camping.
As for battery brand, my pocketbook is the big delimiter. I plan to go to Costco or Sams and buy our replacements. Consumer reports likes Duracell and I can get those at the big box as well as Interstate. I don't plan to upgrade to AGM type batteries not just because of cost but they may not be compatible with the converter in our Cougar. Hope this helps. Good luck with your search
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Old 07-01-2019, 06:12 AM   #4
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I have a 22RBS and went with two 6 volt batteries.
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Old 07-01-2019, 06:22 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by Steveo57 View Post
I have a 22RBS and went with two 6 volt batteries.
Good looking setup. Never really thought much about people stealing my battery. Raggies are everywhere I guess. Looks like you have an Anderson like I do. I like mine but have never had anything else so no frame of reference. Have you had other types and if so how would you compare the Anderson?
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Old 07-01-2019, 06:24 AM   #6
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You can certainly find "true deep cycle 12 VDC batteries" but they typically cost significantly more than "6 volt golf cart batteries".

Buying "marine/RV deep cycle batteries" is NOT buying a "true deep cycle battery". If the battery has "CCA" listed on the label, it's a "HYBRID" battery with thinner plates and is designed to deliver high amperage to start an engine (and also provides a sustained low level output for RV use)...

As always, no product can be "good at everything".....

A "Car battery" has very thin plates and is designed to provide a "HIGH BURST" to start an engine. But won't survive repeated deep discharge without failure.

A "marine/RV battery" has "slightly thicker plates with holes drilled in them (or a stamped mesh" surface) to increase the surface area" to obtain that "burst power" while having thicker plates that don't warp as easy as automotive batteries, but still can't survive repeated deep discharge without failure, but won't fail quite as fast...

True Deep Cycle batteries have fewer plates, but they are thicker and not as much surface area (they don't need to provide "BURSTS" of power) so the plates are less subject to warping and collecting hydrogen bubbles (which cause corrosion/sulfation which damages the plates rapidly. That means they can survive repeated deep discharges without failure. In other words, they are more "durable and reliable" in an RV environment.

While you can buy 12 volt deep cycle batteries, typically they'll cost much more than golf cart batteries. So essentially, if you're looking to increase the available storage capacity, you can equip your trailer with two "high priced 12 volt batteries or you can accomplish essentially the same thing with two golf cart batteries, usually for around half the price.

Don't get me wrong. You can certainly buy a single deep cycle 12 volt battery and improve your dry camping experience. You can buy two to further improve your dry camping time. Those batteries will usually cost around $175-200 each. With selective (wise) shopping, you can get almost the same energy storage capacity with two 6 VDC GC2 batteries, usually available at Sam's or COSTCO for less than $100 each.

If you're going to go to a "two battery system" the issue isn't "fighting a 6 volt system", it's having more than one battery on the tongue. Whether it's two 6 volt ones or two 12 volt ones, that hassle is exactly the same.
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Old 07-01-2019, 06:44 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post

If you're going to go to a "two battery system" the issue isn't "fighting a 6 volt system", it's having more than one battery on the tongue. Whether it's two 6 volt ones or two 12 volt ones, that hassle is exactly the same.
Is there a “hassle” with having two batteries on the tongue that I am not aware of?
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Old 07-01-2019, 07:16 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Bamabox View Post
Is there a “hassle” with having two batteries on the tongue that I am not aware of?
In your initial post you said, "I have no desire to get involved in 6V golf cart batteries."

Essentially, having two 6V golf cart batteries on the tongue is no more "maintenance" (hassle) or "work" (hassle) than having two 12V batteries on the tongue. That leaves 12V golf cart (or other true deep cycle) batteries as the option. Typically, 12V deep cycle batteries cost twice as much as the GC2 6V version but really offer no advantage other than the capacity of operating on one battery. That's "negated" by wanting two batteries for extended camping.
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Old 07-01-2019, 09:16 AM   #9
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Here is a link to Trojan 12v deep cycle batteries.

https://www.trojanbattery.com/markets/mr/12v/

There are several different kinds. I think if you back up to the main page you can find their 6V batteries as well. When replacing keep in mind the physical limitations of the space you have to put them, if any. On mine, 2 group 24 batteries fill the built in bracket to the edges, the extra length of a 27 won't fit. I am also limited by height because the batteries are enclosed back behind a cowl and the LP tanks and have very limited access space. 2 6v might fit but I've not done any in depth research because I just don't need them. We dry camp very seldom.
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Old 07-01-2019, 09:33 AM   #10
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Good looking setup. Never really thought much about people stealing my battery. Raggies are everywhere I guess. Looks like you have an Anderson like I do. I like mine but have never had anything else so no frame of reference. Have you had other types and if so how would you compare the Anderson?
For a few bucks I figured it will keep the batteries from walking. I also locked up the propane tanks for the same reason.

I went with the Anderson hitch solely because of the weight. My back can't handle dragging the heavy head of the other hitches and getting them unhooked and hooked up by myself anymore.

It does the job for me. I've had several other wdh over the years and they all worked well. Many miles without an issue.
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Old 07-01-2019, 09:41 AM   #11
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I know you said you weren’t interested in the 6v batteries...

I thought I would share anyway. Below is a link to the box I used. I also keep mine locked up, I’ve had a battery stolen before.

https://no.co/hm426
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Old 07-01-2019, 09:45 AM   #12
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We have the same setup as Steveo57 with two Trojan T105 batteries.Century plastics makes a box for two GC2 batteries end to end for about $60 and can be found on allbatterysalesandservice,as well as ebay.I purchased a Camco dual GC2 box on Amazon for $18,I haven't installed it yet so I can't speak to how well they fit.I will say that the box is kinda flimsy similar to most standard battery boxes.If you're considering an upgrade I would suggest you consider going to two 6 volt GC2 batteries it made a big difference for us dry camping.
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Old 07-01-2019, 11:25 AM   #13
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I guess the question is why the aversion to 2 6 volts?
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Old 07-01-2019, 12:27 PM   #14
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I agree. If you're going to have 2 batteries (or 4, for that matter) anyway, you can get more bang for the buck using 6v batteries.
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Old 07-01-2019, 03:33 PM   #15
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Well, this is why forums are so good. Lots of great info and starting to convince me to go 2 6V.
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Old 07-01-2019, 03:35 PM   #16
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I know you said you weren’t interested in the 6v batteries...

I thought I would share anyway. Below is a link to the box I used. I also keep mine locked up, I’ve had a battery stolen before.

https://no.co/hm426
Nice setup. That battery box looks like it is much wider than the rails on the tongue. How did you secure it?
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Old 07-01-2019, 04:52 PM   #17
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Nice setup. That battery box looks like it is much wider than the rails on the tongue. How did you secure it?
I used a 2x10 piece of pressure treated lumber and ripped it down to 8 inches to fit snugly in the rails. I screwed the lumber to the rails and then screwed the box onto the lumber using wide washers. It is very secure. I have towed 1000 miles with this set up. The small box next to it houses the shunt for my battery monitor.
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Old 07-07-2019, 07:40 AM   #18
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Batteries plus sells 12v golf cart batteries that are up to 200 amp hours, if you don't want to do the 6v gc batteries. FYI, marine deep cycle batteries are not deep cycle batteries. Most are only about 60ah when new. If a 12v battery has cca on it or weighs less than 100 pounds it most likely isn't deep cycle.
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Old 07-07-2019, 08:01 AM   #19
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Nothing other than added tongue weight, and, as a reminder, don't wire the batteries in series.
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Old 07-07-2019, 08:23 AM   #20
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OK, got my Costco Interstate GC2’s couple days ago, got individual GC2 boxes, everything fit fine on the tongue rack. They are in, and wired. Each battery checked at 6.36V prior to installing. After install and jumpered in series, voltage checked at 12.72V. Love it when math works. After reconnecting the battery breaker, and connecting my 110/15A “shore power” from the barn, batteries were reading 13.41. Here’s the question. While I’m connected to my shore power, is the built in converter/inverter in my 2017 Cougar XLite 21RBS going to maintain a “proper” charge level on these GC2’s? And not OVERCHARGE them?
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