Rv Battery?????????????

[KYOUNG]

Whats a good fifth wheel battery that will start an onboard generator and run everything all right?



Kevin

 

[HBarlow]

Regardless of all the brandnames and exaggerated advertising claims there are only about three battery manufacturers in the USA now. Johnson Controls is one of them and is a very large company. Many batteries offered at various retail outlets under various names are actually made by Johnson Controls.

I buy replacement truck and RV batteries from SAM's Club. I think they are selling batteries branded Interstate now. They are good batteries with a good warranty backed by a good company offering good service nationwide.

It is possible to buy prettier batteries with fancier colors and greater hyped claims but I prefer practical at reasonable prices. Your choices may be different.

 

[AH64ID]

What Harvey said is right on the money. There are a couple of batteries outside that realm like the Odyssey and Optima's, but generally a battery is a battery.

Look for one that is deep cycle, and has a good warranty/amp hour rating.

I would honestly consider putting a smaller starting battery in for the gen thou, separate from the house batteries so that it doesn't die when the lights are left on and you can still start the gen. It probably won't have to be a large battery.

 

[LandShark]

Best bang for the buck will be a couple of 6 volt golf cart batteries, if you have the room.

 

[Barry]

Uncle Harvey,



With 210K on my '06 that still has the original OEM batteries... ... ... ... . I am starting to look. My first choice is Interstate... ... ... . hence the intense interest in you saying that Sams Club is now handling Interstate Batteries??

 

[HBarlow]

Barry,

I'm sure you know as well as I do that its not miles but years and the way they have been used that determine battery service life. Your 2006 is probably going to need batteries before long just based on time.

Yes, my local SAM's Club is now selling Interstate batteries. If one club is selling them I'm relatively sure all clubs are selling the same battery. I bought a pair of them for my '08 a few months ago. One of my batteries failed prematurely so I replaced both. That is the first early failure I've experienced with three Dodge Rams.

 

[Barry]

So Uncle Harvey,



Are the batteries private label or does it say Interstate? And yes, I know in the natural it is time for batteries... ..... But they just keep going and going and going and going... ... ... . It's the anointing factor!!

 

[HBarlow]

So Uncle Harvey,

Are the batteries private label or does it say Interstate? And yes, I know in the natural it is time for batteries... ..... But they just keep going and going and going and going... ... ... . It's the anointing factor!!

Barry,

The batteries I bought from SAM's Club for my Ram a few months ago are Interstate batteries. Period. They are the very same battery I could buy from an Interstate Battery dealer. Don't buy the bs from a local Interstate battery retailer. Same battery but probably with a better warranty from SAM's Club.

Ask the Interstate battery guy where the Interstate battery factory is. I think he'll be forced to admit there is no Interstate battery factory! I believe Interstate batteries are actually manufactured by Johnson Controls or one of the other major nationwide battery manufacturers.

Edit: After posting the above I decided to double check to make sure I wasn't posting something incorrect. I googled Interstate Batteries and opened their website. Their is NO mention of their battery manufacturing operation or about the location of their plant. Interstate Batteries is a battery retailer. ALL Interstate batteries are so-called "house brands. " Somebody else makes them in Interstate Battery packaging.

 

[Tractorat]

What Harvey says was admitted to me by the local interstate battery store.



Napa told me their batteries were interstates, and were about $10 less each. But, I didnt believe him. The main reason I didnt believe him was because the warranty at the interstate store was quite a bit longer. But that was my mistake. I went ahead and bought the batteries at the interstate store because I was running out of time that day, and just wanted to get it done. (So my hurry cost me $20)



Now the napas were black like the OEMs. And the interstates from interstate are white. I dont know if they have different qualities that they send to different retail outlets or what. But the bottom line is that the interstate store is just a retail outlet, not the mfg.

 

[Blu-meanie]

I bought the Sam's Club 6V batteries in January. I have only gone to the ocean once, going again this month. So far I am undecided about 6V vs 12V. I don't think it really matters when you have a generator. My old trailer lasted more than a week with only one 12V Sam's Club battery, but those days are over with the newer trailers.

 

[AH64ID]

I went to a pair of 6V this year from a single 12V. I borrow a pair my dad has that he only uses 1 month a year so the cost was right. They are HD marine versions. I have only used them one night but the difference is noticeable. The heater ran most the night and in the am there was still a 75% charge, where my 3 year old 12V would have been tripping the low voltage alarm between 7-9 am, even with a 8pm gen top-off the night before. When the 12V was new it would have needed a charge mid-day the next day.

It's not as big a deal if you camp with a gen, but its is nice for the piece of mind of knowing you will have the power overnight when its really cold out.

 

[zb39]

+ 3 on SAMS