Travel trailer batteries!

[Quackwhacker]

I am wanting to put duel batteries on my 27' trailer.  Can anyone give me any advise on whether to go with a 12 volt or a 6 volt system? Thanks for the help.

[rasbo]

I am wanting to put duel batteries on my 27' trailer.  Can anyone give me any advise on whether to go with a 12 volt or a 6 volt system? Thanks for the help.

well I have dual 12s and its great,dont know anything about the 6s...

[ICEMAN]

Is Six volt even an option? Seems like all I have seen are 12v systems....

[rasbo]

Is Six volt even an option? Seems like all I have seen are 12v systems....

thinking your right Ice

[cld40]

six volt is an option, you have to wire them in series to produce 12volts...

some say its better,,


"two 12-volt 24 group batteries wired in parallel provide 140 to 170 AH. Parallel wiring increases amp hours but not voltage."


"pairs of 6-volt batteries need to be wired in series to produce the required 12-volts and they will provide 180 to 220 AH. Series wiring increases voltage but not amp hours."

[timberghost72]

six volt is an option, you have to wire them in series to produce 12volts...

some say its better,,


"two 12-volt 24 group batteries wired in parallel provide 140 to 170 AH. Parallel wiring increases amp hours but not voltage."


"pairs of 6-volt batteries need to be wired in series to produce the required 12-volts and they will provide 180 to 220 AH. Series wiring increases voltage but not amp hours."

 

Wiring 4 six volt batteries (2 batteries wired in series together and then wired to each other in parallel) is a good option for trailers. Of course it depend on how much you use your trailer to be worth it although the cost isn't much more. If you use it more in winter and have high loads often (ie furnace, all lights on ect..) then the 6 volt option would work better and batteries will last longer on a charge. If its mostly summer use and once or twice in cold weather then the 2 12v batteries should be just fine and wouldn't be worth the conversion 

[Quackwhacker]

Thanks for the help guys.  I think I will go with the two 12 volt batteries as I dint do a lot of winter camping.  This site rocks!

[300rum]

After going back and forth on this I went with two 12's and bought a solar panel.  My batteries never go dead now, even if the weather is cloudy.  The batteries will draw down and might not be fully charged if I am in a tight forrest canopy but will get through a night even if I have to use the heater most of the night.  In winter when the heater is on most of the night, I may have to run a tank through the generator if the sun doesn't peak out but for the most part the panel will charge them up enough.

[Wenatcheejay]

I believe the 6 volt series last longer and can be drained deeper than 2 12 volt. However I put 2 new Les Swab deep cycles together and had no issues on a 12 day elk hunt. (I did have a generator.) If you can't charge them then they will run lights a long time but it depends on all that you use.

[rasbo]

Thanks for the help guys.  I think I will go with the two 12 volt batteries as I dint do a lot of winter camping.  This site rocks!

better to have a generator also,if ya don't already Tim,

[gasman]

I would put a battery from a Semi in it. Much better then two deepcycle batteries and take up less room.

[6x6in6]

Thanks for the help guys.  I think I will go with the two 12 volt batteries as I dint do a lot of winter camping.  This site rocks!

A pair of group 31 Trojan AGM batteries will keep you powered up for a week, if your careful on what you leave on.  Mine have lasted me 2 weeks in sub-freezing temperatures.
6 volts wired in series are the way to go, clearly.  But a pair of 12v AGM's are the next best choice.

[Quackwhacker]

I do have a generator, but would like to be able to run the lights a little longer without the noise. I dont have one of the nice quiet hondas.

[Quackwhacker]

Wow! Trojan batteries are not cheap. I think Les Schwab might be in my price range.

[Kowsrule30]

Dual 12 v is the only way to go.... You'll spend more money trying to convert back to 6 v......That's why they changed all the old cars over to 12..... Way more reliable..... I get my deep cycles from Westbay..... Decent price.... Great warranty/product/service.........

[rasbo]

Wow! Trojan batteries are not cheap. I think Les Schwab might be in my price range.

those will be fine,I have never had a problem

[300rum]

One of the reasons I went with the 12's versus 6 is that I was concerned about someone else wanting them.  As stated the 12's are much cheaper, the solar panel I have was $100 and I didn't mount it permanently for snow/freezing rain. 

[lee]

One of the reasons I went with the 12's versus 6 is that I was concerned about someone else wanting them.  As stated the 12's are much cheaper, the solar panel I have was $100 and I didn't mount it permanently for snow/freezing rain.

Please tell us more 'bout yer Solar Panel. Where'd ya get it, how big is it, ratings?
thx

[h2ofowlr]

I have the solar panel on my RV.  You can pick them up at Camping world, on-line or other RV facilities.  It works great at keeping the batteries charged up.  The main thing is keep the solar panel clean.  I go and clean the panel about once a month and it does great at trickle charging the batteries.

[Special T]

FYI there are only like 3 battery manufactures... Different brand are marketing... Costco normally has a good deal on batteries... Same kind as everyone else... And the heavier the battery the better.

[MagKarl]

FYI there are only like 3 battery manufactures... Different brand are marketing... Costco normally has a good deal on batteries... Same kind as everyone else... And the heavier the battery the better.

Spot on.  Costco is the place to go for batteries. I've bought a few for my diesel pickup and tractor for less than you'd pay at Walmart and probably half what Les Schwab or a dealer will charge you. 

[7mag.]

For the price, I run Optima and Interstate Megatron deep cycle batteries in my boat and R.V.

6 Volt is by far the best, but takes up a little more room, and can be pricey.

You can buy Optima batteries at Costco, too.

[kirkl]

costco has 6v batts now i see. they had them last week in Yakima costco. i think they were $89 bucks.

[Rick]

6V golf cart batteries are true deep cycle batteries. They'll last (life span) much longer than 12V deep cycles.

The 6V batteries are much more robust than 12V.

I went to two 6s a couple years back in my fifth wheel. Not going back to 12s