Why did Keystone put cranking batteries in my travel trailer?

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by blubuckaroo

Some people age like fine wine. Some others age like milk.
I could easily lift that brute into place by myself if I had to.

I guess I'm trying to figure out if you think you're "fine wine" or "milk". I didn't say I couldn't "lift that brute into place" but more importantly, being smart, why strain yourself lifting a dead weight like that to be "out of the box" with a battery I've never heard of anyone using to accomplish nothing? But then again, I'm a milk guy; never had any use for rotted grapes....

[mcomeaux]

My unit came with grp 24 deka. They were actually dated before mfg of my trailer. I requested grp27 for replacement and when I took delivery sure enough they slipped 24's back in at least they were new.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by mcomeaux

My unit came with grp 24 deka. They were actually dated before mfg of my trailer. I requested grp27 for replacement and when I took delivery sure enough they slipped 24's back in.

That's strictly a dealer function and, at least for me, tells me all I need to know about that dealership. They "proved" what their true bottom line really is with that action..... I'd find another place to spend my money and if I "have no choice but go there", I'd get everything in writing BEFORE I tow the trailer to their lot.

Grandpa uses to say, "Once burned, shame on them, twice burned, shame on you." (or shame on me)......

[chuckster57]

One dealership I worked at installed reconditioned gp 24 batteries. Current dealership installs new Interstate GP 24 in TT’s and since Grand Designs requires GP 27 in fivers that’s what gets installed.

For a short time, Cruiser RV was shipping a line of smaller TTs with a residential fridge and inverter dedicated to it. They had a single GP 24. Last Big Horn delivered here with a residential fridge and dedicated inverter had a GP 27 and 2 battery boxes.

One dealership I worked at for a very short time got big divers delivered with residential fridges and dedicated inverter with no battery and 2 boxes that would fit GP 27’s.

[Old Mustanger]

I'm thinking the dealer I bought from may be better than I thought. My 5r came with 2 group 24 batteries for the coach circuits and 2 group 27's for the residential fridge (connected to the inverter). I am wondering if the different sizes will cause any problems since they all do connect to the same charging circuit from the converter and TV hookup.

[JRTJH]

Jerry,

Many (maybe even most) of the inverters used to power residential refrigerators in RV's have a "built in charger" in the inverter. Actually it's an "inverter/charger" not just an inverter. If your Alpine has that type inverter, then it's likely that you have two separate "charging systems"... One for the two GP24 batteries for the coach that are charged by the WFCO power center/converter/charger and a separate "inverter/charger" for the two GP27 batteries dedicated to the residential refrigerator system. If so, then I'd suspect that the two systems are independent and not inter-connected, so there would be no issue with "different size batteries" that are connected to a single charger.

Your refrigerator inverter should have a product tag that lists it as an "inverter" or as a "inverter/charger".

[Old Mustanger]

Thanks, I'll check tomorrow.
Edit: If that is the case how would it charge when it is in the bypassed mode, which it goes to when connected to shore power, or when it's turned off when connected to shore power? All 4 batteries are receiving the same 13.4 Volts when connected to shore power and inverter is off.

[JRTJH]

If your system has all 4 batteries connected to the WFCO converter/charger, then turning the inverter off when connected to shore power would have no affect on the battery charging (except for having 4 batteries in two different sizes connected to the same charger). There may be some type of "equalizer" between the batteries to compensate for the two different sizes. then again, there may not be, I don't know how your system is wired or connected....

On the other end of that spectrum, if your inverter is an "inverter/charger" and is used to charge the refrigerator batteries, then it would need to remain powered on for that function to work. Again, I don't know what system you have or how it's wired/connected, so I can't give you any details on "what to do or not do with your system."...

I would suggest that you check it out, be sure what charges what, whether it's two independent systems or one "big, integrated system"... That's the only way you're going to know how it works and what needs to remain powered on and what can be turned off without affecting the system.....

[KimNTerry]

When I purcahsed my unit 5 years ago, I was blessed with a great salesperson. He walked me and the DW through the battery decision and explained our options that they offered.

We drove away from the dealer with 2 GC2 batteries installed as we knew we were going to be dry camping more than anything else.

[blubuckaroo]

Originally Posted by KimNTerry

When I purcahsed my unit 5 years ago, I was blessed with a great salesperson. He walked me and the DW through the battery decision and explained our options that they offered.

We drove away from the dealer with 2 GC2 batteries installed as we knew we were going to be dry camping more than anything else.

How long did those batteries last you?

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by blubuckaroo

How long did those batteries last you?

I installed my GC2 battery pair in our Cougar in June 2013. They are still going strong with no signs of weakening. That's 6 years and 3 months from install to present.

[blubuckaroo]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

I installed my GC2 battery pair in our Cougar in June 2013. They are still going strong with no signs of weakening. That's 6 years and 3 months from install to present.

Wow!
That's amazing!
Mine might go three years.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by blubuckaroo

Wow!
That's amazing!
Mine might go three years.

Yours should last significantly longer than 3 years. Are you discharging them too deeply, not checking electrolyte level, using a charger other than your WFCO converter/charger or allowing them to sit, unused for long periods of time?????

[blubuckaroo]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Yours should last significantly longer than 3 years. Are you discharging them too deeply, not checking electrolyte level, using a charger other than your WFCO converter/charger or allowing them to sit, unused for long periods of time?????

This is on my little '71 15' camp trailer.
I don't even know what a WEFCO charger is. I keep it maintained on solar. It has a regulator that keeps it on a float charge.
During the winter I use a Battery Tender on it.
On my new Passport, I maintain the batteries with the on board charger. We'll see how long those last. One problem with those is they're maintenance free batteries. I can't unseal them, to check the electrolyte level, without voiding the warranty.

[KimNTerry]

Originally Posted by blubuckaroo

How long did those batteries last you?

Unfortunately the originals only lasted 3 yrs biut that was my fault not the batteries. When we moved to Colorado we wound up having to put the trailer in storage rather plugged in at home. The first winter (My first time winterizing) I failed to remove the batteries and they froze rupturing the case (What a mess). Talk about learning a lesson the hard way. They should have lasted much longer but they failed due to my lack of knowledge.

The new ones are on their second year and doing great as I remember to remove them for the winter and set them on a trickle charger in my garage.
I expect these batteries to last at least 5 more years with proper care. I am very conscientious at keeping them above 50% charge (12.1 volts) and prefer not to let them go below 70% (12.3 volts).

[Phil Saran]

When I bought my 2019 5th wheel I was asked do I want one or two batteries @ $90.00 each? I said one, it came with one Group 24 battery.

This next month I will upgrade to two Group 27 or 31 batteries and I'll try to sell the one year old group 24 on craigslist.

[BillMc]

I’ve been using Marine Batteries in my 2007 since day one. Never ever had any issues.

[Stevencarl]

Trailers normally don't come with batteries you probably paid extra. I would contact dealer.

[itat]

If you aren't happy with the battery that the dealer is going to install, probably the best thing to do is negotiate a credit (you might get $50 - their wholesale price) for deleting the battery and bring your own when you pick it up. You'd just have to make sure they provide an appropriately-sized battery box.

[Blackrock]

Bought my 5th wheel in May 2016 with the Deka battery and I talked my dealer into one more matching battery at his cost. Made the deal and have had no problems with them so far.