So, we had our trailer in for servicing over the winter. Looks like they just left it sitting out, and the battery is, by all indications, completely dead. It was only about 1.5 years old. B-|
I'd like to replace it with a fresh one - what would people recommend I purchase?
[font size="3"]Depends on how you use the camper. If you go to CGs with electrical hookups a Group 24 or 27 deep cycle battery is adequate. Do not go for marine or dual purpose starting batteries. If you go off the grid the best solution is two 6V Golf Cart batteries in series. Trojan batteries are the best, but Interstate are more available. Duracells are OK and they are available at Batteries Plus Bulbs and Sams.
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Thanks! Typically we do sites with hookups, but we do occasionally go without, usually for no more than a couple days at a time.
I maybe in the minority, but it I've learned to go without the battery. It saves a ton of weight, and it's one less thing to worry about or pay for.
I second what Charlie said. Even off the grid for a couple days you'll be fine with one good deep cycle battery in a Quicksilver.
Just camped three nights with an Energizer 29HM (says "deep cycle" but it is a standard Marine/RV battery) purchased at Sam's Club ($95). Used it for LED lights, frdige electronics (propane), water pump, and some light Fantastik fan use. Cheapo LL battery monitor still showed it at 2/3 full when we pulled up stakes on the 4th day.
I think it is important to have a battery, even a small Group 24, for no other reason than to supply power to the brakes in a breakaway. I also wonder what the DC voltage from the converter will be with no battery connected. It may shoot up to 15+V which won't be good for some DC components.
A Group 24 battery and box will weigh about 55 lbs and cost about $100.
David
I'm also doing without the battery for now as I camp with hookups. My method for "backing in" is moving the trailer around by hand. Backing up a flyweight trailer on uneven gravel is a skill that escapes me for now. Not having the battery weight helps with my adjustment to trailer-ing.
On a quicksilver the battery doesn't do a lot. Lights and maybe charge a phone.
[quote timestamp="1470688066" source="/post/23712/thread" author="@idlerockfarm"]I'm also doing without the battery for now as I camp with hookups. My method for "backing in" is moving the trailer around by hand. Backing up a flyweight trailer on uneven gravel is a skill that escapes me for now. Not having the battery weight helps with my adjustment to trailer-ing. [/quote]I would like to say it gets better but through personal experience..it doesn't. I have no problems with longer trailers or trucks but I still frequently push by hand.
Michael
[quote timestamp="1470692560" source="/post/23717/thread" author="@kybrowns"]On a quicksilver the battery doesn't do a lot. Lights and maybe charge a phone. [/quote]That's true - we camped for four days in Maine on battery power alone. We ran lights and fans and charged our phones. That was actually all we needed.
We're going to be camping this weekend with electric, so we'll likely need the same.
[span]Michael, thank you.
I'll just plan to get better when I upgrade trailers someday. [/span]
Quote from: @shall001" source="/post/23719/thread" timestamp="1470700997
We're going to be camping this weekend with electric, so we'll likely need the same.
WITHOUT, not with...
Ok. Bringing this back....
I bought a battery and plan to install it. Everything on YouTube seems to be for batteries in parallel.
Out comes the manual. I hope the box is wired correctly. If not, I have a bazillion fuses ready to go as replacements.
I vote for no problems. Since I bought a new one at Sears, I have had no problems. I used Sears so that if there was a problem, the replacement was available almost anywhere in nation.
Michael
I plugged in the 30 A cord to a 15 A pigtail to the plug in my garage.
I didn't test for problems because I just beat the rain getting the trailer stowed again.