Information needed on a new Battery

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   I have a dead battery,,, three years old... is stored in garage in Winter.

The hubby is thinking about an Interstate battery. Any other suggestions?

If you order off the internet, do they ship them? 

I boon docked this past week with almost dead battery and then Dead one. It gets DARK in the National Park with no lights anywhere! Had to run home (close by) and get a large ice chest since the fridge did not last long. Was not the best first trip of the year since  we had enough rain to get the river rising. and a 13 yr. old dog has to go out a LOT... Came home early,muttering that I was going to put it on the market, but going to have full hookups next month so will at least give it a chance. One good thing was my 13 month old puppy enjoyed the heck out of all of it!

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mountain mist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 May 2010 Location: Gatlinburg Tenn Online Status: Offline Posts: 426	Topic: Information needed on a new Battery Posted: 20 May 2013 at 5:18pm
	I have a dead battery,,, three years old... is stored in garage in Winter. The hubby is thinking about an Interstate battery. Any other suggestions? If you order off the internet, do they ship them? I boon docked this past week with almost dead battery and then Dead one. It gets DARK in the National Park with no lights anywhere! Had to run home (close by) and get a large ice chest since the fridge did not last long. Was not the best first trip of the year since we had enough rain to get the river rising. and a 13 yr. old dog has to go out a LOT... Came home early,muttering that I was going to put it on the market, but going to have full hookups next month so will at least give it a chance. One good thing was my 13 month old puppy enjoyed the heck out of all of it!
	'11 Forest River r.pod 171 '10 Ford Edge ESCAPE POD Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

Outbound Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767	Posted: 20 May 2013 at 6:29pm
	Over the years, I've had good luck with Kirkland (Costco) deep-cycle batteries. I've found them to be good value for money. You may want to consider buying a group 27 for a bit more battery power, or if you're boondocking regularly for more than two nights, consider two group 24s. If you're a die-hard boondocker, then nothing beats a pair of golf cart batteries. Remember to follow good battery maintenance tips: Always fully charge the battery at the end of your trip Always disconnect the battery from the trailer between trips Try to never let the battery drop below 50% charge (it reduces the battery life dramatically); after four full discharges, a battery is pretty much useless in my experience Only run the fridge on battery while travelling. When stopped for more than two hours, switch over to propane Check the electrolyte level regularly and top up with distilled water if necessary; mind you, if you need to top up with distilled water, there's probably something else wrong with your battery, the charging system or with rapid discharges (e.g. shorting), so make sure that you check everything During winter, store the battery someplace warm and charge it once a month
	Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150

CharlieM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797	Posted: 20 May 2013 at 6:36pm
	If you can afford them I would suggest two six volt GC2 golf cart batteries wired in series. Interstate has a heavy duty version (see link). The pair will give you 290% of a single group 24 twelve volt battery's capacity and they fit in the space FR provides for two batteries. That's a great improvement for dry camping. Also, if you do much dry camping, you might consider adding a second propane tank. Running the fridge on propane, and without A/C and microwave, you should be good for a much longer spell of the grid, even if you have to run the furnace. Even the dog will like it . http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_eStore/content/product_info/marine_f.asp
	Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 20 May 2013 at 6:37pm
	Your battery still needs topping off during the winter.. (self discharge) It sounds as if you ran the fridge on battery? if so.. well... a brand new fully charged battery will only run the fridge for 8 hours or so. If you are going to boondock.. you need to learn as much as possible about how the off grid sytems on any camper works.. but also, if you do need a new battery, think about going with dual 6v's instead.

Camper Bob Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 26 Sep 2011 Location: Portland Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 913	Posted: 20 May 2013 at 7:13pm
	We bought a type 27 AGM battery when we took delivery of our Pod. My understanding is that they do not require any maintenance. Heavier internal plates. Can be discharged deeper without shortening the battery life. We keep it on our trailer parked in the front of our house. When we aren't camping the Pod is connected via a 30 amp dedicated plug on the side of the garage, with the battery trickle charged by our Pod inverter. Not too much additional weight on the hitch. Good luck. Safe Travels.
	Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder

hogone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1060	Posted: 20 May 2013 at 7:19pm
	if dry camping would definitely recommend double set-up; brand pretty much preference; have two interstates(only year old) but so far keep me charged for 5 days w/o issues;run fridge on gas however and am conservative on lights
	Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD

Keith-N-Dar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 03 Apr 2011 Location: Mayville, WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447	Posted: 20 May 2013 at 7:59pm
	My interstate battery was kept in the basement and regularly charged over winter. I put it in the pod when I took it to the dealer for having the risers installed. when I got home it was dead and would not take a charge. I disconnected it at the dealers and that is how it was when I picked it up. It is in its 24th month of a 30 month warranty. I have a new one coming, but I have to pay most of the cost. I would love to know what happened to it at the dealer.
	Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 20 May 2013 at 9:23pm
	Best to store the battery over the winter outside where it will stay cold - like food, it lasts longer the colder it is, but goes bad faster the warmer it is. Doesn't explain a battery going bad in 2 years if its been kept charged, though. Sounds to me like the battery was left hooked up to the pod and someone left a light on at the dealer, taking it completely dead. Camper Bob, you still want to stick with the 50% depth-of-discharge rule no matter what lead acid battery you have. You can occasionally go to 70% (30% state-of-charge) but not often.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual