Group 31 batteries

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Group 31 batteries

May 30, 2020, 10:44:36 pm

Will group 31 batteries fit into the standard mount on a 2001 U320 36" or does the mount need to be wider? Group 34 10 inches group 31 12.8 inches long. Both are the same width

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #1 – May 30, 2020, 10:57:11 pm

The 2001 36' U320 (just like mine) came with Optima Yellow Top D31T batteries. Any group 31 battery will fit.

I recently replaced my old Yellow Tops with O'Reilly Super Start AGM batteries.
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/fleet---heavy-duty-5000/battery-accessories-16452/battery---automotive-16864/battery---best-fit-16245/ec27e4e51018/super-start-fleet-heavy-duty-battery-group-size-31/agm31t/4742641?q=Group+31+AGM+battery&pos=0

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #2 – May 30, 2020, 11:29:39 pm

I just put group 34 from Napa in mine. I believe they are 900 amps per battery. Sealed, zero maintenance. Spins the Cummins well also ordered new cables from FT to connect together as the old ones clamps are very stretched

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #3 – May 31, 2020, 10:18:14 am

Was 2001 the dividing year? Our kids 2000 won't take group 31

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #4 – May 31, 2020, 11:17:49 am

Quote from: dans96u295ft – May 30, 2020, 11:29:39 pm

I just put group 34 from Napa in mine. I believe they are 900 amps per battery. Sealed, zero maintenance. Spins the Cummins well also ordered new cables from FT to connect together as the old ones clamps are very stretched

The NAPA Legend Premium 24 series I see at their site is only 725 CCA so a long way from 900 CCA NAPA The Legend Premium Battery BCI No. 24 725 A BAT 8424 | Buy Online -... Plus it's $159.99 plus $18 for a core if you don't have one.

Battery quality is usually equated with weight. NAPA's Legend weights 42.5 lbs and their RV 24 series only 44 lbs and 550 CCA. Our Duralast 31 series weigh in at 60 lbs each and 950 CCA. Buying the necessary three for our coach, I asked for and got a 10% discount so just about $300 for all three. That's 2850 CCA.

Pierce

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #5 – May 31, 2020, 03:00:08 pm

So to make a short story long yesterday I went to Napa ordered three Blue top marine batteries by the recommendation of the the parts clerk. They do have a marine starting battery in a group 27, but after reviewing my Receipt it was not. Call back today and canceled. Rick " Was 2001 the dividing year? Our kids 2000 won't take group 31" Thank you for the possible issue. At this point I will source batteries on location after measure and inspect what I have to work with. At this point I would prefer to go with the dual post 31 batteries. I would eventually change to the post over the battery lug. That's down the road for a different topic. May end up with cheap batteries to return home with. Optimas with my discount were $732. Did order dryer $266 and spare D2 regulators $21.26x 2. The list is getting shorter on one end and there is no end on the other
Thanks for everyone's input. I genuinely appreciate and need it.
Scott

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #6 – May 31, 2020, 03:29:02 pm

Why oh why would you consider Optimas for $732 when you could buy better batteries for less than half the price?

Optima complaints: problems with optima batteries - Penelusuran Google

Pierce

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #7 – May 31, 2020, 04:01:03 pm

In my opinion I would not use Optima Blue Tops.The primary use is starting your ISM11. Lot of brute power needed for that. The Yellow Tops have some deep cycle discharge capacity which apparently was to help with increasing at rest parasitic loads on the start batteries. Blue Tops are for running trolling motors and starting the outboard.

Lots of batteries out there to do the job. Optima Yellow or Red are OK just expensive.

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #8 – May 31, 2020, 04:07:22 pm

Pierce and again you are correct. I had previously fired optima batteries after I derated them from best to worst. I had a home made 19 foot tunnel hull boat and they had the only battery that would survive the abuse. They moved production to Mexico , dropped 20% weight and in one year they were junk. Think I'm just trying to get ahead of this potential new/really old neglected coach. Still trying to source tires within a hundred miles of the coach. Current date codes are unknown, but if aired, watched closely, driven slowly, should be able to get a hundred miles out of them. It will be fully insured for towing if there is a slow speed failure.
Scott

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #9 – May 31, 2020, 04:10:47 pm

Roger I had thought the same till reading about them last night. The color of the lower case represents storage or start combo. The light is storage and the dark case blue top is a marine start combo rating. Either way there off the table for now . Possible a Agm group 31 or just 31 for the return trip. 60 lbs range regardless
Scott

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #10 – May 31, 2020, 07:08:28 pm

Quote from: dsd – May 31, 2020, 04:07:22 pm

Pierce and again you are correct. I had previously fired optima batteries after I derated them from best to worst. I had a home made 19 foot tunnel hull boat and they had the only battery that would survive the abuse. They moved production to Mexico , dropped 20% weight and in one year they were junk. Think I'm just trying to get ahead of this potential new/really old neglected coach. Still trying to source tires within a hundred miles of the coach. Current date codes are unknown, but if aired, watched closely, driven slowly, should be able to get a hundred miles out of them. It will be fully insured for towing if there is a slow speed failure.
Scott

Unless they have a bulge, I would not worry that much but then, I do a lot of stupid things.

Old story but we bought a 27 year old SOB that had been sitting for 20 years as the owner's girlfriend died and he could not bring himself to use it anymore. $500 bought it and a Moped to go with it. His sister put new batteries in it, fueled it and aired the old tires. It bounced like a pogo stick for a half an hour so we took the river road at 40 mph to get home. Tires stopped bouncing part way home and were fine. Did get rid of the old bias ply a short time later.

I don't blame the Mexicans as they only built the batteries to the specs they were given and do it in a Optima owned shop not Mexican owned. When you put profits first, quality is going to suffer.

All of our Duralasts have gone 10 years but plenty of other good brands that don't break the bank. The other mistake a big percentage of RV owners make it to buy really expensive batteries and then don't understand that you can't park and forget. Others have a power failure, etc, etc and all the $$ goes down the drain and they have to pull their wallets again.

The guy that I work with a is the top Grumman AA-5 specialist for the U.S. I've heard him tell many customers that their new aircraft AGM will only last about 3 years. Sure, if you don't fly the plane but once a month, they won't. But if you keep a trickle charger on it with 13+ volts, it will last and last.

Pierce

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #11 – May 31, 2020, 07:37:02 pm

Red tops are desert race stuff. Vibrations and heat. Specifically made to output instant amps. The boom boom stereo guys use them to power their sound systems for the rapid power output. And a capacitor

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #12 – May 31, 2020, 07:48:28 pm

Had to get 2 new red tops since 1 of my 10 year old one got a shorted cell. The other one checked out good. From O'Reilly got 2 new for $400+tax

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #13 – May 31, 2020, 08:44:17 pm

I looked at Napa's website and your right I'll get the numbers off these. They are 900's.

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #14 – June 01, 2020, 11:12:09 pm

I'm wrong. They are 800's. I was stranded and bought their best rated batteries. I guess I wanted 900's. Ha. They do however spin it good and a full 2 year replacement warranty, 5 years prorated. $136 each.

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #15 – June 01, 2020, 11:19:32 pm

Autozone Duralast 31-950, $139 list price 950 CCA https://www.autozone.com/miscellaneous-non-automotive/lawn-garden-battery/duralast-battery-31-950-group-size-31-950-cca/97512_0_0

P

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #16 – June 01, 2020, 11:37:52 pm

Just so you know, the batteries Pierce referenced above are wet batteries, you have to maintain water levels. OK if you can do that. If you want maintenance free batteries look for AGM batteries.

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #17 – June 01, 2020, 11:45:48 pm

Pierce that is looking better and better. Spoke with the owner who up to now has been on the fence about selling and got some more information out of him. Said his grandfather last drove in 2012. All batteries have been removed and thinks cables are cut. I ordered a 4/0 crimper from Amazon and have a bunch of 4/0 In my scrap pile. Still am going to hold off till I can measure the battery tray. Rebuilding the tray is no problem at home but it ain't. Will buy onsite and there is a autozone several miles away. Those may be what I end up going with. Thanks
Scott

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #18 – June 01, 2020, 11:49:41 pm

Roger yes I was understanding that the are simple lead acid batteries. Lived in the desert forever and know the needs of battery maintenance. Difficult to properly service. Have used the semi automatic servicing vent with decent luck. Would install and use hand pump for distilled water.
Scott

Re: Group 31 batteries

Reply #19 – June 02, 2020, 12:10:28 pm

I put 2 Group 31 maintenance free batteries in my now sold 2001 U270- purchased from a truck shop. $100/each with 950 cold cranking amps. I understand if you catch them right similar batteries can be purchased around $80/ each. That is what I did, but I didn't want the wet cells so the maintenance free batteries worked for me. Just another opinion.

Best of luck

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