Extra Battery

RAMN8TER · 10-22-2014, 09:26 PM

I'm soliciting opinions on the advantages or disadvantages of having two batteries instead of one. Mine came with one but has another container for another.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Jack

johnboytoo · 10-22-2014, 09:31 PM

Whoa - you SHOULD have two and if the residential pkg, you should have three!
Speak to your dealer....

Ian Smith · 10-22-2014, 10:00 PM

Two good 6v batteries will provide more amps than a single 12v. This and many other forums have very detailed explanations and which batteries are the best.

RAMN8TER · 10-22-2014, 10:52 PM

Interesting...I just called my dealer and they swear they put two in there...hmmm
They are going to make it right.
Thanks,
Jack

johnboytoo · 10-22-2014, 11:11 PM

GOOD ! glad they will because ours goes dead in no time with three the way the disconnect is wired to not disconnect

and that's with the fridge off...

atom ant · 10-23-2014, 12:56 AM

Ya, I only had one. RollsRoyce tried to tell me to make sure I got 2 at delivery, but I made the mistake of figuring out I would add 6volt later. the single battery was so underpowered the refrigerator would shutdown if I had the LR lights on and tried to run the slides. We made an emergency stop and got two 27 series and that's what we still have.

usaf1949 · 10-23-2014, 02:16 AM

Interesting, mine only had one also. Guess I'll be talking to my salesman also!

rob_fla · 10-23-2014, 02:39 AM

Since we do not boondock and only move from 50 Amp CG to 50 Amp CG, one battery is ok for us.
I may look at adding a second battery because if there is a power outage a second battery would be nice but with all the LED lighting and such, the 12 volt power consumption for a short power outage will be ok with one battery.
In our case just more to maintain and no real benefit since when we arrive at a CG I hook up to shore power before even leveling the rig and since we are fulltimers our Redwood does not sit in a storage lot.

Rick and Mindy · 10-23-2014, 03:52 AM

Mine only came with one and it was some off brand which didn't hold a charge very well. I purchased an Interstate battery and ever since I got the cutoff switch rewired at the Service Center, it has served its purpose. One battery works fine for me also.

**Dave&Ginny** · 10-23-2014, 04:47 AM

These trailers come from the factory with a "No Name" battery just good enough to operate the emergency breakaway switch during transport. The dealers usually charge a "dealer Prep" fee which usually covers the 2 new batteries. Many dealers take short cuts and try passing the single battery to the buyer.

I was starting to have battery issues and found out at a later date the the dealer didn't put the new batteries in both boxes. I saw 2 new interstate batteries sitting on the ground next to my trailer during the prep and I they had said that they were my batteries. I didn't take the time to open both battery boxes and they had apparently forgotten to make the switch . After finding this problem, I called the dealer and he did the right thing by reimbursing me the money I spent on the new batteries.

These trailers definitely need 2 batteries.

ksaltman · 10-23-2014, 05:17 AM

The "1" battery my 2015 was delivered with is complete rubbish. I called RW and they said that is what I get, yes straight from Redwood, no dealer involved. 1 overnight with my fridge in LP mode I can expect the battery to run flat, how crazy is that?

Well nothing in my 2 decades or so of RV'ng would make me believe a house battery should run flat in 1 night. Add that to the fact that my coach was build in February and sat on the Redwood factory lot covered with snow for 3 months would make me believe the basic, no name, flooded (WHAT, just add water? LOL) brand battery would be worth anything especially running something as critical as the break away EMERGENCY brake system.

I doubled up on the exact generic brand of battery delivered by RW so I could maybe get 2 overnights with the fridge in LP mode, and next spring will replace with either some top of the line lithium drop in replacements that will probably outlive all of us or go with two really good Interstate deep cycle SLA's or AGM's that I don't have to fool with.

RAMN8TER · 10-23-2014, 11:06 AM

Dealer said he is going to send me a check rather than making the trip with my RW for them to install. Any suggestions on the type/brand of batteries I should purchase?
Thanks,
Jack

**Dave&Ginny** · 10-23-2014, 01:51 PM

I have 2 interstate group 27 or 29 batteries and have been happy with them. If you want to spend the extra money, go with the dry batteries so you don't have to mess with them.

RAMN8TER · 10-23-2014, 02:27 PM

We just happen to have an Interstate dealer right up the road. Once I get the check, I'll be taking a drive.
Thanks Dave.

**hoosierguy** · 10-23-2014, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny

These trailers come from the factory with a "No Name" battery just good enough to operate the emergency breakaway switch during transport. The dealers usually charge a "dealer Prep" fee which usually covers the 2 new batteries. Many dealers take short cuts and try passing the single battery to the buyer.

I was starting to have battery issues and found out at a later date the the dealer didn't put the new batteries in both boxes. I saw 2 new interstate batteries sitting on the ground next to my trailer during the prep and I they had said that they were my batteries. I didn't take the time to open both battery boxes and they had apparently forgotten to make the switch . After finding this problem, I called the dealer and he did the right thing by reimbursing me the money I spent on the new batteries.

These trailers definitely need 2 batteries.

I agree with you Dave........when we purchased our 2012 36RL in September 2011, during the PDI I asked the dealer service manager to install two batteries. Unfortunately, I wasn't enough at the time to be more specific and also check to make sure what was installed other that to see that there were two batteries. This past summer, I pulled out both batteries and here is what I found.........

1 "Mighty Bruin High Performance" DP-24-85 battery (Anyone every hear of this great battery brand?)

1 "Interstate Marine/RV Deep Cycle" HD24-DP battery

Now that I am a little smarter and have been educated about 5th wheel ownership and such things from this and the other Redwood Forum, I would have preferred that both batteries be the Interstate battery.

They both have similar ratings according to the labels and they have lasted at least the 3 years that I have owned them. I serviced the batteries this past summer for the first time and they seem to check good. I am starting to get suspicious though that one or both may be having a problem. So, I am planning to take to Dodge dealer and have them do a load test on each. If there is a problem with either one, I plan to replace both of them with two Interstate Marine/RV Deep Cycle SRM-29 type battery. That seems to be about the largest I can fit into the space available.

This seems to be the "year of the battery" for me. I have already replaced 5 batteries from garden tractor, utility tractor, car battery (lasted 10 years) and my truck (which has 2) one of which developed shorted cells while sitting in my driveway.

**Dave&Ginny** · 10-23-2014, 04:02 PM

I know what you mean Guy......last year was our tire year. Seemed like every car needed tires. Next year will be battery year I guess

RAMN8TER · 10-27-2014, 08:23 PM

Received the check from the dealer today. Will be going to buy the batteries tomorrow. Happy that they delivered what the promised (the check)!

5th_Time · 10-27-2014, 08:39 PM

Wow... I'm shocked how many of us took delivery with only the cheapo battery from Redwood! Lucky for me, I was able to take advantage of previous owners in '12 and reminded my dealer that they need to install the second battery. Later when I got home from picking it up, I found two Interstate Deep Cycle Group 27s in there, so Leo's did the right thing... Good dealer.

We occasionally Dry Camp at the beach, so even better batteries would keep me from using the Onan as much.

Previously, I replaced all the bulbs with M4 warm white LEDs which really helped.

In the Spring, I'm going to install (2) Trojan T-145+ 6v batteries in a NOCO HM426 battery box.

Rick and Mindy · 10-27-2014, 09:17 PM

I remember the dealer telling me during PDI that "you know you only get one battery with the fifth wheel right?" I wish I would've known about this forum before I purchased I would've fought that issue.

spindrift · 10-28-2014, 05:24 PM

Am I incorrect in saying that the only guarantee of extra batteries is in the residential package? Nowhere in my contract did it say that RW was obligated to provide two batteries. As a matter of customer service, yes, I agree it should be there but if someone is going to put an ST tire on a rig like this they'll certainly install only one battery for the transporter.

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