Batteries - Montana Owners Club

shovelhead86 · 03-07-2011, 01:16 PM

I purchased my Montana 3450 without any batteries in it. I am told that 4-6 volt batteries is the best way to go. My question is where to I purchase a wiring harness to connect the batteries in series and then parallel or do I have to make it myself?

Jolu · 03-07-2011, 01:35 PM

It probably depends on what your power needs are for the type of camping you do. In most cases a single 12 volt deep cycle battery or 2 6 volt golf cart batteries will be sufficient.
Most any RV dealer or automotive repair shop could make up the cables you need. Most solar supply websites will also have the cables you need already made up. Northern Arizona Wind and Sun will have the cables you need already made up: (Link) Cables
I have even found battery cables at WalMart.
Joe

BrokenElbow · 03-07-2011, 01:50 PM

You can probably get some already made 4 gauge battery wires from any auto supply store (i.e. Pep Boys, Kragen, etc.) or make your own. The problem with the already made cables is they tend to be pretty stiff. Making your own is pretty easy to do. I get audio power distribution cable from a local car stereo installation shop because of its flexibility. You can also find it on Amazon or Ebay. Unless you are boondocking quite a bit, 2 x 6v golf cart batteries would probably do nicely. I just put vent tubes on a dual 6v battery box for my unit..took about 3 hours.

HamRad · 03-07-2011, 02:08 PM

ShovelHead86,
You have already gotten some good feedback. Our rig came with a couple of batteries. They were pretty cheap and only lasted one season. Replaced with a couple of true deep cycle 12 volt batteries. That was 4 years ago and they are still holding up well.

The number of batteries you may need is based on just how much dry camping you plan to do. If you do a lot then the recommendation you got for the 4 6 volt batteries would be the way to go. If you do just a little dry camping then one or two deep cycle batteries will suffice.

Good luck and let us know what you end up doing. Welcome to the MOC. Dennis and Mary Kay

7.3Ford · 03-08-2011, 01:29 AM

Like everyone says, it depends on how much dry camping you do. I got my six Trojan T105 Golf Cart batteries from local Golf Cart seller. Lots of places have sales in the spring (I got six for $580 last year). Others have got 6v at Sam's or Costco.

richfaa · 03-08-2011, 02:18 AM

We have two quality 12V deep cycle batteries in parallel. We do not boon dock. They were installed in 2006 and are still going.

Hooker · 03-08-2011, 03:00 AM

You only need four six volt batteries if you are going to do serious dry camping. IMHO, one good 12v deep cycle will work fine...did four us for four plus years.

kdeiss · 03-08-2011, 07:02 AM

For the average camper a quality deep cycle will work fine. I am going to replace mine this spring installed in 2003.

shovelhead86 · 03-08-2011, 11:37 AM

Thanks everyone. I think I will start off with a good 12 volt golf cart battery. If I need to I will add another later. thanks

ols1932 · 03-08-2011, 11:48 AM

Just a thought: AGM batteries, though expensive, are a great investment. Our two Lifeline D8 12-Volt batteries have been in use for eight years now and still going strong.

Orv

exav8tr · 03-08-2011, 12:23 PM

We have been fulltiming for 4 years and have had nothing bigger than one 12 volt marine type battery. Replaced it once at a cost of $79.00 from Wally World. We only boondocked once at Q with a Honda 2000 gen. If you don't plan on boondocking, save your money, one good 12 volt will do fine. I think some folks go overboard with extra batteries because of some comments on this forum. Don't need them if you don't boondock........

washley1 · 03-08-2011, 05:05 PM

What about the AGMs? My original equipment is fast going south, and I have been looking at the Optima 31M to replace it. Best price so far is $199 from the local Interstate Battery distributor. More than twice the price of a typical deep cycle. Will it indeed last twice as long as we have heard? We are not boon dockers, but like value for our dollars. Arfe these things worth the cost??

Ozz · 03-09-2011, 12:49 AM

I went with the AGM but for my truck, I bought 2 from Sears, about the same price, but monster batteries. I went with the Sam's Club GC batteries because I wanted 6 for the Monte, The Optima is a Hybrid, not all starting and not all deep cycle. I was schooled by an engineer at one of the Solar web sites on them.

washley1 · 03-09-2011, 01:20 AM

Ozz, thanks for the reply. The Interstate that came with the trailer is also a hybrid, and I wondered if maybe that was by design by Keystone. If not maybe I should be looking for a true deep cycle only battery, to get the most for my $?

kdeiss · 03-09-2011, 03:06 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by exav8tr

We have been fulltiming for 4 years and have had nothing bigger than one 12 volt marine type battery. Replaced it once at a cost of $79.00 from Wally World. We only boondocked once at Q with a Honda 2000 gen. If you don't plan on boondocking, save your money, one good 12 volt will do fine. I think some folks go overboard with extra batteries because of some comments on this forum. Don't need them if you don't boondock........

I agree My Interstate 12V Deep Cycle has lasted 7 years Golf Cart and multiple batterys are over kill unless you are boondocking my opinion with experience

ols1932 · 03-10-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by washley1

What about the AGMs? My original equipment is fast going south, and I have been looking at the Optima 31M to replace it. Best price so far is $199 from the local Interstate Battery distributor. More than twice the price of a typical deep cycle. Will it indeed last twice as long as we have heard? We are not boon dockers, but like value for our dollars. Arfe these things worth the cost??

It's an individual thing. Where I might feel it's worth the cost, someone else will say save your money. As my post on 3/8 said, they are expensive. Have I mentioned before that you get what you pay for?

Orv

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