What non lithium Batteries do you suggest?

Just bought a travel trailer and looking for non lithium batteries ideas to boondocking for say 4 nights trips. What are you guys running on your 22ft travel trailers? Running the AC is not a issue but we would like to run the furnace, hear the shower water, use outlets to charge phones, use the trailer radio. Would I need a generator inverter or solor to do this or will 2 golf cart 8V batteries run these options for 4 nights?

 

My first suggestion would be to do an audit of your use before doing any upgrades/changes. Is your fridge multi/propane capable? I would imagine the hot water tank is propane capable as well. LED lights? A lot of factors to assess and consider before doing any upgrades. 4 days might really push it depending on your usage regardless of your batteries/solar/generator setup. A good shakedown run or two will be well worth the time/effort before spending any money.

I recently quadrupled my usable battery storage (based on a dual lithium battery upgrade over the 2 flooded AGM batteries) and doubled my solar capabilities yet will still always carry a 2200w generator and a few extra gallons of gas just in case. I am not a big user of the tv and radio in the unit, and rarely need to charge phones because I never camp/boondock in any cell coverage areas and other than an occasional book on tape i dont turn them on/use them. With that i expect to get 5-6 days boondocking with good-better solar conditions.

Lots of factors to consider and look at before starting any upgrades, so I apologize for not making any specific battery recommendations quite yet.

 

No Led lights, no tv for me, radio once in a while but can use a different one, the fridge is multi/propane, water heater is propane as well. I guess my real question would be will 2 golf cart V8 be enough juice to run furnace set at 74 degrees when temps drop to low 40s, outlets for charging phones and have the lights on for a couple of hrs each night? I might just go the Yamaha generator route if need be as the solar can get expensive and have to drill on the roof. I was also looking into 4 golf cart batteries but that can be real heavy on the tongue weight.

 

I think Costco interstate batteries are a great value. I've had them last as long in my truck as a die hard platinum or odyssey yellow top, but much much cheaper than those batteries. I can buy 3 Costco interstate batteries for the price of 1 die hard platninum.

 

Marine Deep Cycle.

Use the Solar to charge. Have a small genny in case. Perhaps a small wind turbine.

Check your usage and conserve.

 

Ours came with Interstate

 

Work on converting all of your lights to led. It makes a huge difference. Also install a proper battery monitor first, so you can watch and get a good idea of your consumption. Start thinking in terms of amp hours. I currently run two group 24 deep cycles on my tongue - theyre light, but they only total 135 AH, about half of which is useable. Even running the radio and furnace I can make them last a weekend. As soon as they crap out I'm converting to a pair of golf cart GC2's to get that sweet spot of ~200 AH.

Like you I wish I could afford LiPos. Theyre stupid expensive.

 

How many of them and are they 12volt or 6volt? How many days do you get dry camping?

 

I think I’m gonna go with 2 golf cart 6v batteries either Trojan or interstate extreme battlers and a generator. Later I’ll get a 600w solar system to charge them. Really just need them to run furnace, charge phones, have some lights on at night.

 

X2 on Trojan.

 

what Trojans 6v do you suggest as I see many option for 6v Trojans

 

One of these. Well, actually two of these.

 

lead or AGM?

 

Lead flooded has the higher AH rating, model for model.

 

Are AGM better on maintenance, recharge and taking them to 80% vs 50% or is that all sales tactics for the AGM batteries vs lead?

 

No that is true. Deeper discharge and they can sit in storage longer without maintenance.

 

Have you heard of crown agm batteries or lifeline brands and if so are they comparable to say a Trojan brand?

 

I dont know much about them to be honest. The one thing about AGMs is that they are expensive. They cost nearly double that of a flooded battery and with no weight advantage. So I'm looking at 600 for a set instead of 300, and for that kind of money I might as well go balls to the wall and get a 200 AH LiPO for $800.

 

that’s exactly what I’m contemplating! this battery game is no joke LOL... I was thinking about going with a AGM over acid batteries but like you said might as well cry once