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Topic: Question: Coach Batteries for U-240? (Read 1198 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Question: Coach Batteries for U-240?

Reply #25 –
I never keep my flooded cell batteries long enough for the terminals to get corroded. I'm a full timer and I do a lot of dry camping. Having new batteries is important to me. I'm careful not to deeply discharge them. I start my genset at least once per day to be sure the batteries are fully charged. I don't use much electric power anyway because I have gas appliances. A 150 pound 8D battery actually costs less than a dollar per pound if you trade in your old battery for the core charge. The lowest price is Parts Plus where you can sometimes buy them for $110 per battery. I bought my last set at NAPA for under $150 per battery and the delivery driver brought them to the campground and helped me install them. There are a lot of car batteries that cost more than $150. According to at least one battery manufacturer who makes both AGM and flooded cell batteries, the flooded cell battery is superior in most situations. Their incentive would be to say the AGM is superior because it costs 2-3 times as much, but they chose to be honest. So in review, I bought a full set of three 8D batteries from NAPA, had them delivered to the campground and the driver helped me install them, for less than $450 installed. Other RV owners pay more than that for one AGM or gel cell battery that even the manufacturer admits is inferior to an ordinary flooded cell battery. I'll stick with what the battery manufacturer said and buy a full set of new batteries any time I notice even the slightest weakness in my batteries. I don't know why I bothered to restate all this stuff. It's all verifiable if you want to. You can have a full set of THREE brand new 8D flooded cell batteries for less than other RV owners spend on ONE admittedly inferior AGM / gel battery. Check it out and see if I'm correct or if all these other people are correct.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Question: Coach Batteries for U-240?

Reply #27 –
Quote from: RRadio –
I never keep my flooded cell batteries long enough for the terminals to get corroded. I'm a full timer and I do a lot of dry camping. Having new batteries is important to me. I'm careful not to deeply discharge them. I start my genset at least once per day to be sure the batteries are fully charged. I don't use much electric power anyway because I have gas appliances. A 150 pound 8D battery actually costs less than a dollar per pound if you trade in your old battery for the core charge. The lowest price is Parts Plus where you can sometimes buy them for $110 per battery. I bought my last set at NAPA for under $150 per battery and the delivery driver brought them to the campground and helped me install them. There are a lot of car batteries that cost more than $150. According to at least one battery manufacturer who makes both AGM and flooded cell batteries, the flooded cell battery is superior in most situations. Their incentive would be to say the AGM is superior because it costs 2-3 times as much, but they chose to be honest. So in review, I bought a full set of three 8D batteries from NAPA, had them delivered to the campground and the driver helped me install them, for less than $450 installed. Other RV owners pay more than that for one AGM or gel cell battery that even the manufacturer admits is inferior to an ordinary flooded cell battery. I'll stick with what the battery manufacturer said and buy a full set of new batteries any time I notice even the slightest weakness in my batteries. I don't know why I bothered to restate all this stuff. It's all verifiable if you want to. You can have a full set of THREE brand new 8D flooded cell batteries for less than other RV owners spend on ONE admittedly inferior AGM / gel battery. Check it out and see if I'm correct or if all these other people are correct.


That works if you have a vented battery compartment and access to check and add distilled water.  Later coaches with sealed non vented compartments and no easy access to check and add water is a different story entirely.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Question: Coach Batteries for U-240?

Reply #28 –
I dealt with a lot of flooded lead acid golf-cart batteries in my electric cars, and it seemed they alway were needing something done, water levels, corrosion, terminal problems etc.  When I switched to AGMs or gels that all went away.  The AGMs and gels required a multistage temperature compensated charger, while the flooded ones just used a more basic ferroresonant unit.  I have occasionally wondered if the real source of the improvement was due to the change in batteries or just the better chargers.  I never tried a modern multi-stage charger with flooded batteries.  I did grow to detest watering batteries though.  (20 golf cart batteries in a Dodge Omni 024!) 
Mike & Lilli
1991 GV U280 36' SBI, 3208 Cat, Build #3825
4320 Watts Solar
Kansas City, MO

Re: Question: Coach Batteries for U-240?

Reply #29 –
Finally found the paperwork for when our house Lifeline batteries were replaced in 2014. The mechanic must have been happy, he wrote: "note one of the batteries is in front of the passenger side front tire and will need to be lowered down by jack!" I have heard of others having to take the tire off. What fun! There is a note that said the removed batteries were 10 years old, not bad!  ^. Having the Truecharge 40 or something like it is a must, I think. The Optimas were replaced in 2012, so I'm not going to worry, for now!
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
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