Battery System
Travel trailers and motorhomes need different amounts of power depending on their size and what is on board. Understanding your own power needs is what decides the right battery system.
5 key questions to ask
1. Are your batteries deep cycle batteries optimized for RVs?
Automotive-style batteries used for engine starting are not designed to support the sustained power draws of fridges, microwaves, TVs, satellite dishes, electric pumps, cell phone chargers and everything else that plugs in and turns on inside your RV. Deep cycle batteries built for RVs are far more reliable here, and AGM and gel batteries are the premium answer for a larger RV carrying a lot of electronics.
2. Does your battery system have enough capacity?
Your battery system should have enough capacity to provide at least twice the expected power draw required before the batteries will be recharged. To get the most life out of them, avoid discharging more than 50% between recharges, and recharge fully after every trip.
3. Do your batteries pass a visual inspection?
Terminals clean, tops free of dust and grime, cases undamaged and not leaking, and no sign of bulging. Clean connections are what keep a system at peak efficiency.
4. Is your battery maintenance up to date?
Flooded batteries lose water through evaporation while recharging, so check the levels regularly and top up with distilled water — after the battery has fully recharged and cooled, never before. AGM and gel batteries are maintenance-free and need no watering.
5. How old are your batteries?
A well-maintained battery typically lasts two to three years. At two years or older, ask for a professional state-of-health check at the start of each season.
Battery recycling
Lead batteries are the most recycled consumer good on the planet, and are virtually 100% recyclable. Return your used RV batteries to us for a $15 credit toward new ones.
Winter storage
Storage done properly prevents plate sulfation — lead sulfate crystallising on the plates and losing its power-generating capability. Clean off corrosion, disconnect the battery if it is stored in the vehicle, charge it fully before storage, keep it above a 75% state of charge, and store it somewhere cool and dry between 32°F and 80°F. Never charge a frozen battery.