I need new batteries

[superdav]

Hello all...it has been a while since I have been on. Well, it looks like I need to replace my batteries. I have a 2012 Redwood 36fl. currently there are 2 Interstate SRM-27 12 volt. Does anyone have a recommendation on a replacement type?

I am going to Camping World Wednesday to get my black water handle fixed (it broke). They sell Exide batteries. I was thinking of having them replace the Interstate with those while it is there....any issues, concerns, and/or recommendations?

You guys have always steered me in the right direction....hope everyone is still enjoying their Redwood as much as us! Thanks in advance!

[Moland]

Ones I got we're the Exide AGM-65. I've only had them since last summer, so not allot of use.

[spindrift]

Exide is a good battery.

[atom ant]

I put the camping world Exide deep cycle batteries in as soon as we got home from the Dealer. They are going strong.

I think there are only three manufacturers of batteries, two major brands that let a lot of folks put their own names on them, and the third no name brand that Redwood likes. As long as you stick to the brand name batteries, I think they will all perform well.

6-volt is always an alternative, and so are AGM, but if you got good use out of the standard deep cycle, that is probably the most economical path and I know I would just do it again next time.

[BasilFawlty]

We installed two Optima Bluetop (group 31) in our rig with residential package. We never boondock except for an occasional wally-world or truck stop. Two years, no issues and best of all... NO MAINTENANCE! The very first time I tried to open up the battery boxes to test the water level on the factory batteries, I knew maintenance free was for us!

[superdav]

Thanks for all the responses! I'm heading to Camping World right now for some service. I'm going to check out the Exide brand. With your responses and some internet research, they appear to be as good as any for what we need. We really don't boondock at all either, so a basic 12v appears to make the most sense. I agree that a "Maintenance Free" type would be the best....I always hate checking the water levels...and then always wondering if they are too low. I'll let you all know what I decided....thanks again!

[johnboytoo]

We got a group of trojan T-105 6volts for the MH and one of the suggestions for maintenance is a battery fill system like we have - I can't say enough how much it makes it easier !!!
This is the one I have - buy distilled water at Walmart,
stick the fill hose in the water, pump the air out, hook it up to the fill tube, and a few hand pumps while partaking of your favorite beverage and it's done !

the following is the same setup on my old batteries that I transferred to the new trojans:

[atom ant]

Or get one of these - piece of cake

[superdav]

Awesome! I went with the Exide ST27DC180. It looks like they will work fine. Camping World has a $5 install right now...so I saved $22. Not much but something....

I definitely want to get some easy method to fill and check the water....Johnboytoo, how does that work? Hard to tell from the photo...but looks interesting. At least I have Atom Ant's suggestion as a "plan b".

Thanks again!

[BasilFawlty]

Had the Optima in for two years now (see earlier post) checked them two month ago, 105% left of them (!) so great brand and solution. Hate to have to check water level, too hard to get in there.

[johnboytoo]

SD,
it's real hard install it once and done...
Ours came with the setup from the mfg !
once it's primed then filled, you cant pump any more as it auto levels all of them - I could actually hear it filling different ones as I pumped..

This will explain it better than me :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN_QyBo9M7U

[RWJSIM2003]

I have this on our batteries and it works great. I had it on our last MH so I pulled it off and keep the pcs and put on the RW last summer. I cut a small round hole in the battery box and ran tubing through it so I don't have to remove the top to fill.

[superdav]

I was just checking Pro-Fill website. It looks great...but it appears to only work on 6 volt systems.....it is a great idea!

[RWJSIM2003]

I have mine on the 12 volt battery in the RW. I just had to use each cap as a separate pc and run the tubes between.