Optima Batteries in 5th Wheel?

[barkerdl]

Anyone using Optima marine batteries in their trailer? Do you think they are worth the extra money? It's time to buy new batteries and I hope to beenfit from TDR experience.



Seems the advantages would be longer battery life and no need to remove them from a cramped compartment for periodic service.



Dennis

 

[Loren]

Dennis,



Here’s my philosophy on batteries:



I buy the best I can and install two of them in my newest truck (the 2000). The two batteries that are removed from that truck get installed in the older truck (1995). Those two get installed as a set in the travel trailer or split up and installed in other equipment we own (an Aerostar van, Toyota farm truck, Ford tractor).



This system keeps my best truck running the best and newest batteries. Less critical applications, like the tractor, get the oldest batteries. If the tractor won’t start, it’s easy to jump it, or charge the battery, or change the battery. If my truck or my wife’s van won’t start it’s a much bigger deal.



I have Optima’s in almost everything right now, although the two original batteries from the 2000 Dodge are still in use. I buy the deep-cycle, blue-top Optimas because they have the additional post for RV use.



The two I have been using in our Holiday Rambler have worked well for several years. I baby batteries, though. I remove the batteries from the RV, lawnmower, and motorcycle and bring them inside over the winter. I keep them conditioned with an expensive, smart, battery charger as well as a BatteryMINDER de-sulphation device.



I can’t say whether my regimen works or not, since I have not kept any batteries separate to serve as a control group. I do know that the factory batteries from my 2000 truck were placed in service in December 1999 and I have two Optimas that were new in January 1999. All of them still seem to have lots of life left. Indiana’s battery problems are caused by cold. I’m sure that Las Vegas residents are more concerned with heat. I don’t know how well Optimas will last in the heat.



Regarding your original question: I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by the Optimas. Not only will they last longer (in my opinion), but they are much cleaner – no corrosion on the terminals. Except for checking the water level (impossible), you should still service them as you do regular batteries, that is, you should keep them charged as much as possible.



One last thing: If you put Optimas in your truck be sure to either put a spacer on top of the battery or shorten the battery hold-down bolts. The Optima batteries are not as tall as the factory batteries and the extra length of the bolts will screw down into a wire bundle on some trucks.



Loren

 

[Bob H]

Battery Math



The Sears, Interstate and the Wal-mart Everstart are about the same grade of battery.



Make Life/Warranty Cost Per Year



Sears 3 1/2 70 each $ 20



Delco Freedom 5 100 each $ 20



Optima 7 140 $ 20



I have two size 27 in my Airstream and I have two in the truck. When you are traveling and one goes bad you need a pair. Trying to find two Optima's with out waiting three of four days doesn't work. Same with the Delco Freedoms. Same with Interstate which usually are at a gas station, service station. Don't really care for Wal-mart. Never had a problem getting them at Sears, in stock and ready. Salesman usually don't ask a lot of questions. Just present the original sales slip, pay the difference and go. Works for me

 

[MLee]

Originally posted by Bob H

Battery Math



The Sears, Interstate and the Wal-mart Everstart are about the same grade of battery.



Make Life/Warranty Cost Per Year



Sears 3 1/2 70 each $ 20



Delco Freedom 5 100 each $ 20



Optima 7 140 $ 20



I have two size 27 in my Airstream and I have two in the truck. When you are traveling and one goes bad you need a pair. Trying to find two Optima's with out waiting three of four days doesn't work. Same with the Delco Freedoms. Same with Interstate which usually are at a gas station, service station. Don't really care for Wal-mart. Never had a problem getting them at Sears, in stock and ready. Salesman usually don't ask a lot of questions. Just present the original sales slip, pay the difference and go. Works for me

They should be ---, they are made by Johnson Controls as is the Optima's. Go to there web site, it will amaze you who they custom make for.

just my penny's worth

Marv.

 

[Buffalo]

Another option for your RV is going to two, 6-volt, golf cart batteries. They, apparently, hold more "juice" and are heavier-duty than traditional batteries. A lot of RV'ers are changing over to them and a lot of the solar power stores highly recommend them. I heard the Trojan's are the best. My friends and I have been using the Sam's Club brand and have been happy, so far. About $47. 00/ea. Hope this helps! Joe.

 

[Dkevdog]

I second Joe's suggestion for the 6v deep cycle. I have had the sams club batteries in place for only about 5 months, but have dry camped with them often since then. The difference in amp hour capacity is amazing between the interstate deep cycle's I had. I have a fairly high end inverter and monitoring system (all Trace) so It's easy to see how well they are performing. If you can afford the space, drop four of them in there- 4 will allow me to go 3-4 nights without a worry. And that includes running heater/lights/tv/ and some micro.



Kev

 

[fyrescott]

According to most RV techs that I have spoken to on Optima batteries. All said stay away they are not worth it dollar wise and longevity. I had two in my fiver when I bought it, both fairly new. Both went bad in no time at all. Even after removing and charging before and after every trip. I ran dual Optimas for years in my 4wheeler with no issues at all. So this kinda shocked me to hear this negative info on Optimas.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Lifeline Battery

If you are looking for a top of the line sealed AGM battery, this is it:



http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/rvbattery.asp



These batteries last a long time and will take lots of abuse. You will find these in the battery banks of high end motor homes that use large inverters to power all kinds on board AC equipment. However, they are expensive!



Bill

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Usually, RV batteries are all about ability to draw moderate current over LONG periods of time - frequently running the battery charge well down on the scale - golf car batteries are MADE for that sort of service, and will take MANY MANY full discharges/recharges without damage or deteroration, wheras auto starting batteries and cheap so-called deep-cycle batteries will NOT!



Optima type batteries are STARTING batteries, and no more suited for RV service than any other starting battery - sure, they will work, but the amount of reserve power - current that can be safely drawn over longer periods of time will not compare to a pair of 6 volt golf car batteries run in series...

 

[y-knot]

I use the Optima batteries and so far no problems. I know they make Starting batteries, in both red and yellow tops. I have the red ones in the truck and trailer. The better scenario would have been to use the Yellow or Blue deep cycle batteries, but I got the new red tops free, after a weird mix up, so I went with them.

 

[slo-ryde]

Only real advantage to using Optima batteries is they are sealed and can be used inside the trailer where the typical lead-acid batteries can't.



If you have to place the batteries inside the trailer (where people are going to be) then the Optima battery would be one of the few that would work.



Six volt deep cycle (golf cart) batteries will provide more usable current and out last everything else that's available. I picked up a set at Interstate for around $100 on sale. You'll need to take care of them and check the water level at regular intervals.



Batteries designed to start our trucks won't last as long in an RV application, they just aren't designed to be discharged at the levels seen in most dry-camping environments.

 

[K5IP]

I like the two golf cart batteries in series set up. They can be had for less than $50 each and provide 220 AH capacity. This is quite a bit better than you can get with a set of optimas. I seem to get about 5 years of service out of the cart batteries before the amp hour capacity starts to decrease. I keep track of capacity by load testing them each spring, and when they don't measure up,(less than 150AH) they get changed. I use a 100A 50MV shunt in series with the batteries to accurately measure the current and I check them with a 20A load provided by trailer lamps.

The optimas do however have the size/weight advantage and not having to add water is a nice feature.

Rog

 

[KMeek]

I have two 6 volt Trojans connected in series for my 5th wheel. So far they appear to be much longer lasting than two 12 volt deep cycle batteries. I read quite a bit about this setup and spoke with several who had such a setup before trying it. I do not know of anyone who has gone to this configuration that has been unhappy with it.

 

[klenger]

Or you could get a pair of floor machine batteries. About 350 AH and the price isn't too bad from what I saw at Batteries Plus.



#ad

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Whatinhell is a "floor machine" - you mean like a battery powered floor buffer?



Looks promising...

 

[klenger]

That's my understanding of a floor machine.



Here are the specs on the battery:



http://www.trojanbattery.com/GeneralDC.asp?Product=125

 

[barkerdl]

Battery Ideas

Gentlemen,



You have given me some new thoughts to deal with! I will be out measuring tomorrow to see how much space there actually is in my 5er battery box. It has about 2-3 inches left in height and about 2 inches left in width and maybe one left in depth after putting two group 27 so-called deep cycle batteries inside. With that in mind, I can't go much larger than the group 27s.



I was hoping the Optimas would be a "favorite" for several people so I could just swallow hard and pay the tarrif to get a great battery. Looks like the best batteries may be the 6 volt with two in series. Need to get some measurements to be sure they will go inside the box.



Will be buying in the next month as my old batteries are getting too weak to trust for more than overnight with only lights and furnace. If I try any of the 6 volters I will let you know how they work for me.



Hope the thread keeps going as the information is very worthwhile - at least to me. Lots of good points to consider. I will be visiting serveral of those web sites for more information.



Thanks to all!





Dennis

 

[Glen]

I have two Interstate U2400 golf cart batteries--6v, 245AH. I couldn't find a battery box to fit so I made a simple enclosure of 1/4 inch plywood. I installed them in January 1997, that 's 8 years. I don't know if they will ever fail!



I do a lot of boondocking. I run my Honda EU2000 about 30 minutes each night to recharge.

 

[tgbol]

This just a word of caution. The other day I tried to jump start a truck with 2 Optimas. They were completely dead. I left the cable on them to charge them up a little before trying to start the truck. Smoked the cables, complete melt down. THEY WERE CONNECTED PROPERLY! Optima batteries will take huge amounts of power when charging. What caused my problem was the availablity of 1600 amps being drawn through 600 amp cables.

If you really discarge your Optimas they could pull more than your wiring can supply when recharging

 

[KMeek]

My access to the 5th wheel batteries was through an exterior door and a sliding tray which the batteries set on. The Trojans were too tall for the tray so I had a friend rebuild the tray so that it set lower to accomodate the Trojan height.