anderson750
I'm working on it Rose
- Location
- Price, Utah
I have rented my dump trailer out to a couple of people but I “knew” them and semi trusted them
All things Camp Trailer
- Thread starter Rot Box
- Start date
My parents upgraded their camp trailer and I got a very good deal on their old one since my boys are the favorite grandchildren. Its a 2007 Jayco 23B which is a hybrid with the drop down beds at both ends and a little slide out for the couch. Its got a few issues that will need to be addressed, some immediately and some down the road. The battery they have been using goes to the boat. There is a soft spot in the floor right inside the door that makes me nervous. Apparently one side of the propane tank valve that lets you switch to the other tank doesn't work so they have been manually moving tanks when one empties. Moab wind got the awning probably 10 years ago so while its still attached its not functional. The shade is ripped off the trailer side and something is wrong with the arms although they can open an close with effort. It might be best to just pull it off to save weight, and get rid of the romex my dad used to keep it closed for all these years.
I'm planning to get a couple 6v batteries. I'll be happy to have extra capacity of the single 12v battery they have used since they bought it. I had replaced the lights with LED several years back for them but it seems like they always had to have the generator running to charge because we typically camp where there isn't shore power. It never really made sense to me why the battery was draining as fast as it seemed to be. There is a single battery box on the tongue (14"x8") that I'll need to upgrade. It looks like there are some metal brackets under the box I'll have to figure out too. The double 6v box is 21 1/2" wide. I wonder if it will be a problem to have it stick out on the sides so much. I guess if I can protect the sides of the plastic box with some metal it should help. I know I need to wire the batteries in series.
The internet seems to really like trojan T125 batteries. I've never looked at 6v so I don't have any idea who sells them locally and what I should look for. I might swing by Costco today to see if they have any. Anyone have tips on what or where to look for these?
I've wanted to buy a camp trailer for a while now and haven't had the money so this is unexpected and appreciated despite the issues it has. I'm not going to pimp it out because I plan to upgrade to what I really want (not bigger, just a little different) once we get some stuff paid off/down.
I'm planning to get a couple 6v batteries. I'll be happy to have extra capacity of the single 12v battery they have used since they bought it. I had replaced the lights with LED several years back for them but it seems like they always had to have the generator running to charge because we typically camp where there isn't shore power. It never really made sense to me why the battery was draining as fast as it seemed to be. There is a single battery box on the tongue (14"x8") that I'll need to upgrade. It looks like there are some metal brackets under the box I'll have to figure out too. The double 6v box is 21 1/2" wide. I wonder if it will be a problem to have it stick out on the sides so much. I guess if I can protect the sides of the plastic box with some metal it should help. I know I need to wire the batteries in series.
The internet seems to really like trojan T125 batteries. I've never looked at 6v so I don't have any idea who sells them locally and what I should look for. I might swing by Costco today to see if they have any. Anyone have tips on what or where to look for these?
I've wanted to buy a camp trailer for a while now and haven't had the money so this is unexpected and appreciated despite the issues it has. I'm not going to pimp it out because I plan to upgrade to what I really want (not bigger, just a little different) once we get some stuff paid off/down.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Two Renogy solar panels on the roof are something I refuse to live without on any RV. They’ve made a massive difference in my batteries. They’re always charged to 100%, no matter what I do.
I can leave my fridge running on propane for a month, and it will never drain the batteries. The fridge uses a small fan to circulate air over the cooling fins, and it will drain the battery in a day unless you have solar.
- Location
- The Land Northward (Bountiful), Utah
I had four six volt Energizer batteries on my trailer instead of two 12 volt units and they lasted the same amount of time and cost double.
So 4x spend and equal life.
I'd upgrade to two 12v and not bother with 6v (unless you have a fancier charge controller than I do).
So 4x spend and equal life.
I'd upgrade to two 12v and not bother with 6v (unless you have a fancier charge controller than I do).
How many watts of solar is that? I assume that you leave your fridge stocked at your property so you need it to run between trips. I don't think that is a need for us but I am curious enough about solar to call it a phase 2 project. Something I can move to a future trailer in a few years.
- Location
- The Village of Kay
I have 2 6V batteries on my trailer and I wish I had 2 12V AGM batteries instead. When my 6V's die I am replacing them with 12V AGM's. I will also be adding more solar to my trailer next year before my big yearly trip to reduce how much I have to run my generator to charge. My fridge is only electric, so I have to have power to run it.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
I think the Renogy panels are 150 watts each.
One more vote for solar. Thought it was dumb until I had it.
Also another vote to forgo the 6v batteries. More expensive.. And when they die on a trip, you can't run to walmart and get another.
We have 1 of These from Walmart, and it is more than sufficient with our solar.
Also another vote to forgo the 6v batteries. More expensive.. And when they die on a trip, you can't run to walmart and get another.
We have 1 of These from Walmart, and it is more than sufficient with our solar.
- Location
- Smithfield Utah
Sweet I really need solar as well. I inherited a camp trailer from my parents this summer for a deal. One weekend out killed my battery to the point I barely got the slide in. I’m not sure why because I didn’t use much of anything??
I'm at Costco now.
Interstate 12v group 24 Marine is $80. 140 AH. 2 @ 140= 280 AH
Interstate 12v group 27 marine is $90. 160 AH. 2 @ 160= 320 AH
Interstate 6v GC2 is $105. 210 AH
2 @ 210 = 12v and 210 AH
You guys aren't helping me very much... I thought this would be pretty unanimous to go for 6v.
Interstate 12v group 24 Marine is $80. 140 AH. 2 @ 140= 280 AH
Interstate 12v group 27 marine is $90. 160 AH. 2 @ 160= 320 AH
Interstate 6v GC2 is $105. 210 AH
2 @ 210 = 12v and 210 AH
You guys aren't helping me very much... I thought this would be pretty unanimous to go for 6v.
Unimog
Eric
- Location
- Stansbury Park, UT
I would go with 6v. They are really different animals and are way more heavy duty than your average 12v deep cycle. IMO.
James K
NO, I'm always like this
- Location
- Taylorsville, Ut
I am running 6V Trojan batteries no complaints(2nd pair). Solar is completely worth it. Went with a 400 watt set up from renogy along with their charge controller with blue tooth option. Getting ready to swap out the 6V's and do three of renogy 12V AGM's along with a 3000w inverter. No real reason to swap other than I want to.
- Location
- The Land Northward (Bountiful), Utah
In my opinion the problem with 6 volt is (unless you have a better charge controller) most solar setups are charging at 13 plus volts and sometimes you don't get equal distribution of voltage with the two 6 volt batteries in series.
And the math doesn't lie. 210 ah is fewer ah than 280 ah or 320ah.
I know the theory is you can draw a 6 volt down lower and run it back up without deteriorating the battery as much (like golf carts) but that came from old thinking with tons of huge heavy lead acid batteries.
Keep it simple: two 12 volts, Nice voltage controller, solar.
I've got a couple plastic battery boxes That were too small from my six volts, you can have one (If it will fit your batteries) so you can put two on the tongue.
And the math doesn't lie. 210 ah is fewer ah than 280 ah or 320ah.
I know the theory is you can draw a 6 volt down lower and run it back up without deteriorating the battery as much (like golf carts) but that came from old thinking with tons of huge heavy lead acid batteries.
Keep it simple: two 12 volts, Nice voltage controller, solar.
I've got a couple plastic battery boxes That were too small from my six volts, you can have one (If it will fit your batteries) so you can put two on the tongue.
I didn't buy anything so I guess I'll keep reading.
I do want to have 2 batteries regardless of whether they are 6v or 12v.
I do wonder if these interstate 6v batteries are built to a higher quality standard as the Trojans. I haven't been able to find a price for the other ones but if Costco has them for half price I'm sure that means something.
I do want to have 2 batteries regardless of whether they are 6v or 12v.
I do wonder if these interstate 6v batteries are built to a higher quality standard as the Trojans. I haven't been able to find a price for the other ones but if Costco has them for half price I'm sure that means something.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
It’s my experience that all batteries won’t last more than 5-7 years. You will need to replace them no matter what. I bought my last pair at Autozone in Ephraim last year and I’ve been kicking myself for waiting as long as I did (they started boiling). The old batteries were not always maintenance with solar, as I added that halfway thru their life span. The old batteries wouldn’t hold the charge through winter with snow on the solar panels. New batts made it all the way thru winter and stayed at full charge.
I just never worry about the batteries now, and that’s exactly what’s great about the solar on an RV.
I just never worry about the batteries now, and that’s exactly what’s great about the solar on an RV.
ID Bronco
Registered User
- Location
- Idaho Falls, ID
Are the hard mounted solar panels way better than the set them up at camp and point them toward the sun options? I'm leery about drilling holes in my roof.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
I Personally think so. When I first bought my panels, I just leaned them up against the hill side. I figured they got a ton of sun where I placed them, but they didn’t perform too awesome except during the longest days of the year. The shadows get so long in the evenings that it significantly lowers their efficiency, and rainstorms would splash dirt/mud up onto them. I saw a dramatic increase in performance after mounting them on the roof. I used copious amounts of sealant under the brackets that I mounted to the roof.
I did the same on campers, 2x now. Zero issues having a panel up there, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE never worrying about power.