Atchafalaya_man wrote: Most batteries last about 4 years, PERIOD! Use that as a life expectancy figure. Oh, you're going to hear about the one that lasts FOREVER, but that's the exception rather than the rule. Think 4 years.
I am not sure Most batteries last about 4 years. It is my belief most last less, due to the lack of maintenance. That is my experience.
Atchafalaya_man wrote: So, buy an inexpensive lead-acid battery of about 80 to 100 amp hours for about 70 dollar, and you'll have power to spare for about 4 years. Keep water in it, and take care of it.
For me, the trick is my failure "Keep water in it, and take care of it". Too much hassle and drama, especially if you do not use it for long periods of time. My hobby is the use of my TC, not maintaining it's battery. That is my personal experience, realizing it is not true for everyone.
Atchafalaya_man wrote: When it SUDDENLY goes bad after 4 years, spend another 70, and you'll be at full power once again for 4 more years.
If you make four years. Possible, but in my opinion not probable.
Atchafalaya_man wrote: If lead-acid wasn't the work-horse that it is, every application out there would come with the the latest-greatest type of battery.
I do agree lead acid batteries is a work horse in the world of batteries.
Wayne
I bought my camper about 5 years ago and it came with 2 year old group 31 Wal Mart deep cycle batteries. I just changed them out for the SEARS AGMs. The old ones are sitting in my shop waiting to be installed in my brothers camper. The old ones tested nicely with the hydrometer in each cell and both batteries have been holding 12.91 volts for a bit over a week now after I put them on a 10 amp charger at 15.6 volts for about 6 hours. They never got warm but did bubble a bit. My brothers camper batteries were left on by accident and totally drained. If he can get another season out of my old batteries, that would make them about 8 years old and going strong. I always kept shore power on and there is a solar panel putting out 85 watts that does a 15.5 volt charge once a month with not more than 4 amps. I never even added water the entire time they were in the TC and they look to be full now on my work table.
I went with the AGM batteries because we like to go up into the mountains and be with nature so there is no power other than solar and the truck alternator if I must. The AGM will accept a charge something like 4 times faster than a standard flooded battery. That means our solar and alternator are doing their job faster and in a low sun day, it will make a little difference in our favor.
Hopefully the SEARS AGM batteries will prove to be as good as the Wal Mart batteries have been.
My 4 year statement is just an opinion, thank you. It's great that some have long lived batteries. So too have I had them. One even lasted over ten years, and it's listed below and figured into what will follow.
Counting them all up, I currently have TWENTY 12 volt batteries to deal with.
I own the following vehicles/devices that depend on a battery:
two diesel trucks, (changed batteries at 5 years and 5 1/2 years)
one gas truck, (changed battery at 6 years)
one gas automobile, (on 3rd battery in 8 years)
two truck campers, (varying, but about 4 years)
one travel trailer, (on third battery after 8 years)
two boats (these go 3-4 years per boat per battery. Three trolling motors, and two cranking batteries)
one ATV (on 2nd battery in 5 years)
two riding lawnmowers (on second battery in 5 years)
one battery-start generator (on second battery in 5 years)
one diesel farm tractor (This battery lasted OVER TEN YEARS, just changed it)
one battery powered agricultural sprayer (Same battery after 4 years)
In the above fleet, there have been 8 AGM's in service. Three of the AGMs failed at 3, 4 and 5 years of age. Optima Blue Tops AGMs is all I've used.
Ok, so based on my personal experiences, with just these current vehicles listed above, including the 10 year tractor battery, my fleet average is 3.725 years.
It appears to be a waste of time to make a post, and provide a link to support the post. Some of the responses made make it obvious some people prefer to go with misinformation based on their belief system, and not open to perhaps new information or simply something they just do not know. In the spirit of being politically correct, I prefer not do try changing someone's belief system. All anyone can do is offer information, and offer support of the information. If the information and the support is ignored, there nothing to discuss except beliefs, with very little chance of increasing knowledge.
Hey Wayne;
How about 'outside' the camper in Front of the wheel well? Kinda like the old horizontal prop. tanks used to be? Wonder if that space is being used at all, currently?
Just have to strap them down. But it'd be a PITA having to cable them IF the camper had to come off very often. Might have to cut an access door/panel?
Connector: Type “L” (Nut & Bolt)
Length: 7.6875 inch / 19.5263 cm
Width: 5.1875 inch / 13.1783 cm
Height (case): 6.1250 inch / 15.5575 cm
Out to be 6" of wheel well? These are the measurements for the little AGMs.
* This post was
edited 02/24/12 09:34pm by rehoppe *
Hoppe
2011 Dodge 1500 C'boy Caddy
2000 Jayco C 28' Ford chassis w V-10 E450
Doghouse 36' or so Trophy Classic TT
rehoppe wrote: Hey Wayne;
How about 'outside' the camper in Front of the wheel well? Kinda like the old horizontal prop. tanks used to be? Wonder if that space is being used at all, currently?
I am not sure I understand "'outside' the camper". I think you are referring to the area in front of the rear tire, underneath the truck bed. Correct me if I do not understand.
rehoppe wrote: Just have to strap them down. But it'd be a PITA having to cable them IF the camper had to come off very often. Might have to cut an access door/panel?
If they are under the truck bed, you have a couple of options for cables. Bulk head type connectors would be the easiest to disconnect. Still a PITA, but not all bad.
I once had a coworker who mounted batteries on a tray that swung down to be removed or serviced. He was using flooded wet cell batteries. That, in my opinion, would be a real PITA to service the batteries. It would not be too bad with AGMs.
rehoppe wrote: Connector: Type “L” (Nut & Bolt)
Length: 7.6875 inch / 19.5263 cm
Width: 5.1875 inch / 13.1783 cm
Height (case): 6.1250 inch / 15.5575 cm
Out to be 6" of wheel well? These are the measurements for the little AGMs.
I do not understand "Out to be 6" of wheel well?".
thanks again for all the input...camper will be unloaded after every trip as the truck is also my daily driver/hauler.I do have access to the bed via an access door in front side of camper,looking at it last night,I may be able to build a platform on a heavy duty drawer slide that will allow to bring batts in for loading clearance, easy hook-up and maintance,then slide out and lock in place.I have to take some more measurements.thanks again....
dan
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