Adding House Batteries

[Miramar Owner]

Does anyone know if I can add 2 batteries to my Miramar or should I replace and buy 4. I can't find markings on the existing batteries so I'm not sure of what to match them with. My RV is a 2016 so the existing batteries are still in good shape. I just need more battery life before kicking in the generator when boon docking.
Thank you.

[Techn0]

They are cheap Harris batteries. I would not mix battery types. My recommendation is to replace them with 2 or 4 six volt Trojan 105 or 125 batteries. Better amp hours and reliability.

[bigben]

Techno is spot on. Just for the heck of it, take a 2 battery flashlight with 2 bad batteries. Add 1 new battery and guess what happens. So you can add 2 additional batteries and then in couple of months add 4 new ones as the new batteries get fried.

Similar to Techno, we have some experience with boondocking and living on house batteries. With a residential fridge, a sat dish and TVs running on batteries at night - you just gotta have a good health bank of batteries.

[Miramar Owner]

You guys both confirm my thinking. The 2 batteries I have are still in good shape so I hate to get rid of them so soon but I don't feel comfortable adding to new batteries. I'll probably wait until they go bad or at least get weaker and then by 4 new ones.
Thank You.

[Shawn62]

I was reading the manual for the inverter and it mentions using two banks of batteries with a switch. This would be an option if you had two other deep cell batteries kicking around like I do. You could use one bank of batteries until it got down to around 12 volts them switch over to the other bank of batteries. I bet you would have to recharge them separate. I saw a 4 way switch at autozone in the marine section that might work. This would be cheaper than buying 4 new batteries. Has anyone seen this done?

[rcmark]

In our challenger replacing the stock batteries was the first thing we did. If you do a lot of dry camping
Like we do having good batteries is key. Replaced the stock batteries with 4 lifeline 6ct batteries and 320 watt solar system. Works great knowing I have a fridge that relies on battery only power

[SuperD]

Originally Posted by Miramar Owner

Does anyone know if I can add 2 batteries to my Miramar or should I replace and buy 4. I can't find markings on the existing batteries so I'm not sure of what to match them with. My RV is a 2016 so the existing batteries are still in good shape. I just need more battery life before kicking in the generator when boon docking.
Thank you.

Everyone is spot on with their advice! If you are going to add two more batteries you should ditch the originals and put in four matched batteries, you'll have longer life and better service. Only thing I would add is use deep cycle marine batteries since they are made for the task.

[Laco]

As already said, do not mix battery types. Depending on where you have to mount them, to avoid maintenance you could consider AGM batteries. They will cost more initially, but you will probably get an additional year out of them, then standard flooded cell batteries. Just a thought, I have done ok with hi capacity, deep cycle batteries, and just was careful to check water in them every couple of months or so. Golf cart shops sometimes have some good deals on those deep cycle batteries, if you have one nearby.