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Old 08-06-2019, 09:49 PM   #1
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Brand: DRV
Model: MS 38RSSA
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THOR #3145
Coach Battery Life

Our DRV is now four years old and the batteries seem like they're getting tired. It takes longer to charge them with the generator than it used to. We have the four 6-volt flooded batteries that came as original equipment, I think they're what some have called "T-105 Knock-Offs" since I can't find any brand info on them. Just seems a little too soon to be replacing them. I installed a Flow-Rite battery watering system shortly after we took delivery and have been very diligent about keeping the batteries topped off. We also keep the coach plugged in to shore power whenever we're at home. We've had the rig in the shop several times for warranty repairs, and they always ran the batteries down to near empty even though we had turned the battery disconnect switch to off and turned the fridge off when we dropped it off, so that probably didn't help.

Anyways, has anyone else had to replace their batteries after only four years? If I do end up replacing them, I'm thinking about going to the maintenance-free gel batteries. Besides the expense, are there any downsides with those? They should last longer, right? Are some brands better than others?

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Old 08-07-2019, 05:02 AM   #2
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Lifeline 6volt AGMs...should do the trick. No more worry about fumes/water levels/corrosion on terminals. Several other brands are good, also. Trojan makes an exact replacement, and offers AGMs.
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Old 08-07-2019, 01:50 PM   #3
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Sent you a PM.
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Old 08-07-2019, 04:52 PM   #4
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DRV puts SH!T batteries in them now, no name on them!!!

Ours would not keep up after 3 years. Have interstates from Costco now.
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Old 08-07-2019, 11:12 PM   #5
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So it looks like others have had their batteries degrade in 3-4 years also. Damn! Guess I'll start looking into replacing them. Thanks for the replies.
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Old 08-07-2019, 11:19 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by cloud william View Post
So it looks like others have had their batteries degrade in 3-4 years also. Damn! Guess I'll start looking into replacing them. Thanks for the replies.
For what it's worth....my last set of Lifeline AGM batteries lasted 10 years. All batteries are not the same! Go with a good brand name (Lifeline, Concord, Trojan, etc) and you will not regret it
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Old 08-08-2019, 02:52 AM   #7
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Batteries

Are the batteries you listed maintenance-free gel batteries? I am a new RV owner. Just learning!
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Old 08-08-2019, 03:07 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by JSmith2018Thor View Post
Are the batteries you listed maintenance-free gel batteries? I am a new RV owner. Just learning!
The Lifeline is and Concord makes an AGM as well.
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Old 08-08-2019, 03:50 AM   #9
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Most battery lines include wet-cell and AGMs, among other types. Just google for AGM batteries and go with a name that has good rep.
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Old 08-08-2019, 02:16 PM   #10
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My first sign was my Residential refrigerator was not 0 and 38 upon arrival.
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Old 08-08-2019, 02:51 PM   #11
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Best luck I’ve ever had on OEM coach batteries was Two years, they tend to self destruct because manufacturers installed cheapest batteries available
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Old 08-10-2019, 04:52 PM   #12
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07.5 DRV replaced September of 2014. Interstates or Trojan. They were OE.
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Old 08-10-2019, 06:49 PM   #13
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Most of the drv's I have had came from the factory without batteries. They were installed by the dealer. Usually not the best, but have had several with Interstates. The one we have now came with NAPA batteries. Purchased this one in Texas. We do not keep a trailer too long so I have never had to buy batteries.

Bill
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Old 08-11-2019, 04:39 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Porkchop View Post
Most of the drv's I have had came from the factory without batteries. They were installed by the dealer. Usually not the best, but have had several with Interstates. The one we have now came with NAPA batteries. Purchased this one in Texas. We do not keep a trailer too long so I have never had to buy batteries.

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Excellent reason to buy a new DRV.
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Old 08-11-2019, 07:21 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by JSmith2018Thor View Post
Are the batteries you listed maintenance-free gel batteries? I am a new RV owner. Just learning!

AGM (absorbed glass mat) are not the same as GEL batteries, with AGM being far more common today than Gel. The common choices today are flooded lead acid that require watering, AGM which are maintenance free, and the newer lithium batteries that are expensive but light and can last much longer under the right care, but have temperature limitations that can affect performance when very cold.

Below is a description of differences between AGM and Gel batteries.

https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/arti...el-vs-agm.html
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Old 08-12-2019, 05:06 AM   #16
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Our batteries are almost 4 years old in our 2016 Atlanta. I think I will be replacing them soon. I am seeing a lot of fluctuation on the info screen inside the RV and the one at the jack control panel.

Joe
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Old 08-12-2019, 11:32 AM   #17
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If your Charger does not have an Equalization mode, then sulfation can occur and hurts battery performance.

Sulfation occurs when a battery does not get a full charge and sulfur builds up and remains on battery plates. When too much sulfation occurs, the chemical to electrical conversion process efficiency is impacted.

Equalization mode allows the battery to be charged periodically at a higher voltage (~14.8 volts) to remove the build-up on the plates and allow the batteries to last longer.
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Old 08-17-2019, 08:18 PM   #18
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Batteries

You are lucky they lasted that long. Nothing wrong.
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Old 08-17-2019, 08:33 PM   #19
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When you replace the house batteries you get True Deep-cycle batteries.
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Old 08-17-2019, 09:59 PM   #20
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AGM 6 volts. I never will use any other battery.
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