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03-10-2014, 08:23 AM
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#1
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,695
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Dual Batteries - Worthwhile?
When I purchased our new 319RLS bumper pull the dealer included dual batteries in the price but forgot to install them. I am making arrangements to have the second one installed but having read some of the online comments regarding dual batteries I don't know if it is really necessary. We may do some dry camping but don't know. Our hitch weight is pretty high (975) without batteries so it will up that. I guess I'm just not really sure of all the pros/cons of that kind of setup. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences? Thanks!
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03-10-2014, 08:33 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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Sourdough -
If the vast majority of your camping involves full or partial hookups, having a second battery may not be necessary. Even if you do venture out for a couple of days of dry camping, prudent use of 12v demands (water pump, lights, etc.) should get you by for a weekend using a single, fully-charged, good quality battery.
It is possible by being careful and "miserly" to stretch out a single, 12v battery over a weekend of dry camping.
If you don't go ahead with installing a second one perhaps you can work out something with the dealer to compensate you for an already paid for battery ???
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03-10-2014, 10:14 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Frederick, Md
Posts: 202
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We dry camp at a lot of NASCAR weekends.
Over the last 20 years I have always had dual batteries and unless I need to run the a/c or microwave I have never run my generator for 3 - 4 days of camping with 3 - 5 people.
My buddy has a single battery and has to run his generator every day or so to maintain his battery in order to make it through the weekend with 2 - 4 people camping with him.
Dual batteries for me are the way to go.
It depends on if you are going to be dry camping a lot or just campground with hookups.
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03-10-2014, 03:08 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: 4 Corners ..The land God 4 got
Posts: 203
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We do a considerable amount of dry camping, usually 4 to 5 days at a time at Forest Service CG's and have always had only a single group 27 battery. We use a portable 135W solar panel to keep the battery charged, but as a back up we do carry a Honda 2000i gen just in case. We have no problem staying out that amount of time using only one battery. We changed all lights over to LED's We can each take showers to stay semi clean but are very frugal with using the water pump & lights. To my knowledge the battery has never gotten below 12.4 on the voltmeter. It can be done with one battery
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03-10-2014, 03:49 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northern NH
Posts: 191
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The first time you dry camp with 1 battery and it goes dead you'll have your answer! If it was included...get it!
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03-10-2014, 05:33 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: mb
Posts: 5
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hi we have a seasonal site and I run two deep cycle batteries for the just incase we are gone and the power goes out don't want the fridge off for any amount of time.so I say yes to dual batteries.
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03-15-2014, 07:25 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Langdon ,AB ,Canada
Posts: 108
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sourdough
When I purchased our new 319RLS bumper pull the dealer included dual batteries in the price but forgot to install them. I am making arrangements to have the second one installed but having read some of the online comments regarding dual batteries I don't know if it is really necessary. We may do some dry camping but don't know. Our hitch weight is pretty high (975) without batteries so it will up that. I guess I'm just not really sure of all the pros/cons of that kind of setup. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences? Thanks!
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I went with 4 6 volts and 1 12 volt ,the kids don't shut off lights at home why would they out camping.
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2012 avalanche 341 TG
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03-17-2014, 05:12 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: IL
Posts: 352
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If you gottem, use em, if weight is not a problem. We dry camp 1 a year, but 1 battery wouldnt last the whole weekend. So when the original 12v died, I replaced it with 2 6v. Switched all lights to LEDs, installed battery shutoff.
I'm assuming you have 1 12v and the other is a 12v too. Otherwise your system wouldnt run on 1 6v. Anyways I've read if 1 12v dies, it can ruin the other 12v too. So adding a 2nd battery years later is not economical. They both should be new at the same time, roughly.
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2010 Kestone Laredo 291TG
2006 Dodge Megacab CTD
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03-17-2014, 09:52 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fruitland
Posts: 3,357
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I feel the need for 2 batteries, I want to and do dry camp as much as I can and use a genny to charge up each day or two. When RVing many people new to rving leave lights on, watering running just like home either will last long.
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03-18-2014, 09:34 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Arizona
Posts: 42
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We almost always dry-camp so I have 6 12v AGM's for a total of 750 amp. hrs. Works just fine! Chino
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03-19-2014, 06:36 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Southwest Wyoming
Posts: 497
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Two batteries, in my opinion, are a good thing.
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03-19-2014, 11:03 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,695
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Thanks for all the replies and help. We had them install the 2nd battery. Reading all the suggestions sounded like that would probably be the thing for us to do.
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