JCat
Big Apple, SoCal, Big D, everywhere USA
Senior Member
Joined: 09/17/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
My coach bateries finally died and ate the cables with acid.
So I need cables and new batteries, 4 total.
I wanted to get new sealed maintenance free batteries, maybe optima.
Has anyone done this swap out and which batteries would you recomend ?
Also what gauge are the battery cables ?
JCat & PCat
2004 Mandalay 40D
CAT C7 350 HP
|
wolfe10
Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 10/08/2000
View Profile
 Offline
|
We have Optimas for chassis batteries. Just put in a new pair-- previous pair lasted 8 years: http://www.optimabatteries.com./battery_selector/
34/78 (8004-003)
Two in parallel. Each battery gives 800 CCA's, 1,000 MCA's (32 degrees F).
They are maintenance free AGM batteries.
Brett Wolfe
1997 Safari Sahara 3540
EX: 1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
FMCA Forum: www.community.fmca.com/index
Diesel RV Club:http://www.dieselrvclub.org/
|
Fishinghat
Western Washington, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/03/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
wolfe10 wrote:We have Optimas for chassis batteries. Just put in a new pair-- previous pair lasted 8 years: http://www.optimabatteries.com./battery_selector/
34/78 (8004-003)
Two in parallel. Each battery gives 800 CCA's, 1,000 MCA's (32 degrees F).
They are maintenance free AGM batteries.
JCat, listen to Brett. He's very experienced and gives excellent advice.
I didn't go with Optama batteries due to the expense, but they are very good. Good luck.
Holiday Rambler Navigator DP, Hummer, and Honda VT1100C Shadow
|
LOG
Austin, TX
New Member
Joined: 09/15/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
JCat asked about replacing coach batteries. Optima batteries are a good choice for chassis batteries. I would recommend Trojan or Lifeline AGM batteries as a better choice for coach batteries. Why? Optima batteries are a combination starting/deep cycle battery or starting battery. Trojan and Lifeline AGM batteries are true deep cycle batteries. For coach batteries it is better to have deep cycle batteries.
|
gswcgi
Wandering
Senior Member
Joined: 08/03/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
JCat:
Suggestion:
Before you take off the cables & remove the Batteries take some pictures of how they are arranged and installed so you have a point of reference for the new ones!
'03 Safari, DP, 36" Nissan 4X4 toad
|
|
|
JCat
Big Apple, SoCal, Big D, everywhere USA
Senior Member
Joined: 09/17/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I thought the coach/chassis batteries are 6v not 12v.
Brett the ones you have selected are 12v correct ?
Jack
|
FIRE UP
Ramona, CA. USA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/08/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
JCat wrote:I thought the coach/chassis batteries are 6v not 12v.
Brett the ones you have selected are 12v correct ?
Jack
Jack,
You originally stated "Coach" batteries. Well, some interpret that as Chassis batteries and some, house batteries. It's terminology thing. No biggie. If, in fact you want to replace the "House" batteries, you've got lots of choices out there. I've had Trojans, Interstates and Costco 6V units in the past. To me, they've all lasted about the same.
So, since my thoughts are if, they all last about the same, then why not go for price. Well, I went for the Costco ones. Others of course will differ and that's perfectly fine. I made my own cables too. I used 1GA wire and so far, all the demand we've placed on those (4) Costco 6V units, dry camping and all, have been taken care of. I'd do it again in a heart beat.
Scott
Scott and Karla
SDFD RETIRED
2004 Itasca Horizon, 36GD Slate Blue 330 CAT
2011 White Honda CRV EX-L,4WD w/NAV Toad
2008 Caliente Red LVL II GL 1800 Goldwing
KI60ND
|
wny_pat
Western NYS
Senior Member
Joined: 08/11/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
JCat
What size voltage batteries do you need. I replaced my wet cell 8d 12 volt house (coach) batteries with 2 Deka AGM 8D 12 volt batteries. With AGM (absorbed glass mat) they come completely factory sealed and are non-spillable and leakproof. They use the same charging voltage as a wet cell and will last many more cycles. They are rated at 245 amp hours. I paid $469 each including tax.
|
Buick_Fan
Indiana
Full Member
Joined: 08/07/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
I just replaced mine this weekend with (2) Interstate deep cycles for $200. I've had good luck with the Interstate brand with all of my other vehicles. They are not maintenace free, I personally wouldn't want one either. Once a year you pop the caps and check the level (which I've never really had to fill). When the battery gets to be about 4-5 years old, its nice to be able to check the specific gravity of each cell to get a true feel of the condition of the battery before you hit the road.
|
Doug and Cassi Glass
Clifton Forge, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/20/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
When I'm out on a long trip like now (6 months) I check my battery levels monthly, give or take a few days.
|
|
|
