Hi guys, I'm getting a 1986 Fleetwood Wilderness 25-foot bumper pull in a few weeks. The owner says it "needs its batteries replaced".

I can't determine from what little documentation I have whether it has one or two "main" batteries. Maybe he means the breakaway system needs the batteries replaced too ... don't really know.

Anyway, I was wondering: will the 7-pin connector charge the camper's batteries off the tow vehicle?

And, do you guys have any recommendations for a particularly good deep cycle battery or batteries?

I was looking at the Wal-Mart Everstart Maxx marine batteries, but it seems those might not be true "deep cycle" batteries.

 

Looking at it's "matureness" (LOL) I would assume that is has a single 12v deep cycle in it...or should have had. Your choice looks like a good one to me.

Yes, the 7 pin SHOULD charge the trailer battery but I would remove it for winter and keep it on a float charger plugged in to it. Keep it where it will NOT freeze.

The breakaway is probably already wired into the on board battery you are buying.

 

If you can find them, you want a battery that does not have "start" or "starting" in the lable, just deep cycle. If you have the bucks, Trojans are hard to beat. You can add a second battery without much trouble, if you plan on boondocking where you need extra battery power. If you are going to stay tethered in a campground, one battery should pretty well do it.

Steve

 

Check the water in it upon purchase and check the water fairly often as part of your maintance plan.

without water it will no charge (distilled water that is).

 

Walmart Batteries are mostly made by Johnson Controls. I have had moderate usability over the years using the Everstart brand. RV_Tech is absolute, the Trojan Batteries are made by Trojan and are spot on. Depending on how you use your camper also depends on your battery. If your going to use it as a Hunting cabin, lake, travel, or 2 or 3 times a year locally or boondocking a week at a time, all of these sceneries can use a deep cycle battery, but on the other hand if you are going to be using a genny most of the time or plugged in, then put most anything in as long it matches the voltage, such as 12 volt. This last NASCAR race at Texas, the folks next to us picked up a new battery and it was a 6 volt. Well after a lot od talking and cussing and a couple more beers, they figured out they were sold the wrong voltage battery! To be honest, they went to CostCo. They had a battery called a golf cart battery so they bought one and did not read that they must be installed by the pair and in series..... it was a 6volt.....I have been using seriesed 6 volts for 15 years plus and never a problem. Just make sure when you buy this battery, be it 12v or 2 6v and you let your rig set for a period of time, be it a week or 6 months, disconnect the battery, you will save money and time and also save your battery! BTW, Interstate Batteries have served me well when Trojans were not available in my area. Warranty was never a factor..

 

I'll throw this question at Steve - what is your experience with AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries like those made by Odyssey?

 

I can't speak to this directly as I do not have experience using AGMs in starting applications.

Reading over the literature on their site, I would offer the following comments.

Historically the advantage of AGMs in the house system of RVs has had to do with three things.

First, their tolerance for being discharged almost completely and still recover without apparent damage, something that is simply not possible with standard wet cells.

Secondly, there is not water loss during charging and use so maintenance is nil.

Third, since there is not gassing during normal use they can be mounted anywhere and in any position including on their sides in the dinette seat if one chose.

In starting applications, the standard advice is to go 20% larger than you would with chassis batteries to make up for decreased plate surface area. Odyssey says their batteries increase plate surface area by spiral construction, however, it strikes me that all of the advantages you normally obtain from AGMS in house applications really don't apply in starting applications, other than longevity.

AGMS usually come with a hefty price tag, so I suspect one has to balance need against resources in their checkbook. If someone has direct experience with AGMS in starting applications, perhaps they could post.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve. Guess I was not clear, I was referring to RV use. I have the AGMs in my truck and am going to add a battery (or 2) to the 5er for dry camping. Think I will go with the AGMs despite the price.

 

If you RV is a keeper and you actually use battery power as opposed to always camping with shore power, AGMs are the way to go! Lots of folks are always in a campground tethered to the pedestal in which case no battery or something long past death serves many just as well.

Steve

 

I'm going to have to wait until I have the trailer to measure the battery box -- can't seem to find anything about that on the Internet -- but I'm thinking two Trojan T-105s are probably my best bet. And considering that they'll last maybe eight years if properly maintained, I don't think they're expensive.

That's 225 AH or 447 minutes reserve capacity (at 25 A), which should be sufficient for an overnight boondock. I don't see needing more than that immediately.

 

As I said, I think they are a good investment provided you keep your rig, but despite what folks say, most don't keep their rigs anywhere near seven or eight years (And I have seen Trojans go as long as ten years).

Steve

 

To your point, I had a deep cycle, group 27 wet cell battery for my trailer that just couldn't keep up with the demands where plug in power wasn't available. If I used them too much, I had to use a jumper battery to start my Onan 5500 watt generator.

I know a guy that had several extra data safe/backup AGM batteries and was able to get a couple. These batteries weigh 105#'s each compared to the standard wet cells that weigh about 50#'s each.

Tells you about the amount of lead these guys have in them.

Since they are 12v, I connected them in parallel as shown below. Now, I can literally goes days and probably weeks without issue.

To Steve's point, there are some nice advantages with these and cranking amps isn't an issue. Something to consider if price isn't the top concern.

 

To Bud's point, keeping a float charger will keep from worrying about freezing. A lead acid battery 75% charged will freeze at -35* F, and a 100% charged battery will freeze at about -77*F.
If you live in an area where -77* is a regular issue, you got bigger problems.

 

Coldest we've seen ever is -17 F. In a typical winter we don't get below 5 F the whole winter, and a really cold morning is typically in the teens.

I'll either leave the camper plugged in or bring the battery inside for the winter.

 

hope i'm not too far off topic. what's out there for battery chargers that run off 12 volt.(permanent mount) my truck puts out about 12.8 and by the time it gets to the camper battery i'm lucky if I have 11.8. doesn't really charge it much even running all day