New Battery question

[jlb27537]

Hello All,

This is a brand question not a 12v vs 6v question. In my last SOB pusher I had a 520W solar with 4x6vdc GC2 batteries for the house. The solar kept my house and chassis batteries (2xgp31) up and were operating after 7 years of ownership, so I understand battery maintenance and such.

The question is, I am going to replace the single GP24 with a pair of GC2 batteries to replace my single GP24 Interstate since we are planning on doing some boondocking this next summer. Our Converter is a 90A and has a 3 stage charger in it and I plan on buying either 1 or 2 Honda EU2000i gen sets or a single Yamaha 2400I. I am not going to do solar on this rig as the dry camping will only be for 2-3 months.

So, if you were buying a couple of GC2's for use for a couple of years, what would you buy? The Gp24 was new in 5/13 so with it being 2 years old, I do not want to just add a second Gp 24.

The current crop of Sam's GC2's do not get a very high rating and since there are only a few battery makers, do you just buy something and hope for the best? Trojan's are probably over kill for our use.

Thanks Jim

[DQDick]

I guess that's not enough info for me. These things have very large phantom draws, IMHO, and my wife and I draw a lot even when we think we're conserving. If I was going to do 2-3 months of boondocking with only two batteries, I'd want the Trojan's.

[jlb27537]

Dick,

I am not planning on installing a inverter. The house bank will only be used for the DC loads. If the wife needs 120vac the Honda's will provide that and provide power to the converter for battery charging. I only have a few lights that are not LED and she will have to learn to not use them or use them sparingly.

Presently we only dry camp with no electricity when we are going from the house in Mo to our lot in the RGV and back and then maybe only 1 or 2 nights. This next summer she is wanting to do Wy, Mt, Id like we did in '08 with the pusher. She does not realize, (yet) how much she is going to miss the solar/inverter, and built in generator.

I may opt for a Honda EU3000i with elec start and mount it on the 2" receiver hitch I have on the Montie. As you can see the plans are presently set in Jello.

Jim

[DQDick]

Sorry, didn't understand. I went with the best I could get, but that's because we full time and use them a lot. Not sure how I'd ever wean the wife away from solar and the inverter. Good luck.

[jlb27537]

Yea, When we had the pusher we fulltimmed in it for almost 4 years, thus the solar. Now since we spend most of the time plugged in, batteries are not a issue.

Thanks Jim

[kdeiss]

Trojan makes an excellent quaity batteries I have 6 in my current Golf Cart will 9 years old in a few Months as well as 6 and 8 Volt they make a 12V you might gave some though to 1 12 Volt quality deep cycle again just thought

[Eagleback]

Trojans are the only way to go. DONT hesitate spend the extra money for them.

[Dmcgrew]

Did alot of research and found two Trojan T145's to replace the two deep cycle 12v batteries seemed to make the most sense for my application. I plan on dry camping once in a while for 3- 4 days at a time. Will use Honda 2000 for 110v needs and battery charging. Next year the inverter and two more T145's along with solar system is planned.

[kdeiss]

Crown also makes quality Batteries Mfg in Ohio

[Mel B.]

I just bought 4 interstate 6 volt golf cart batteries 275aph $159 each. I gave up on interstate seemed like they went downhill but I thought I would give them one more try.
Mel

[kdeiss]

Trojan is top of the line I just replaced My Trojans in my Golf Cart 11 1/2 years of service
Trojan makes a 12 V Deep Cycle Golf Cart Battery T1275 you can check spec on their Web Site. It is a large battery.