The Complete Guide to Choosing the Best RV Battery

The battery of your recreational vehicle is, in essence, the heart of its electrical system. In case something happens to the battery, you would be unable to use appliances like RV air conditioners, televisions, computers,…

Needless to say, without the appliances, it may be tough for you to enjoy yourself while traveling on the road. So if you want to get the most out of your trips, you must ensure that you outfit your rig with the best RV battery on the market before leaving.

Things To Keep In Mind While Buying A RV Battery

Since different RVers use different power setups, you would see contrasting opinions once it comes to the best RV battery for boondocking. That being said, to get your money’s worth, it’s nonetheless strongly recommended that you consider the following criteria.

RV Battery Types

On the market, you should see several types of batteries designed for RV with distinct designs, operations and so on. In order to make informed investments, it’s essential that you get to know them.

• Flooded Batteries: Also known as wet-cell batteries, flooded batteries handle overcharging effectively and efficiently through the hydrogen venting process. In addition to that, batteries of the type have a relatively large power-to-ratio which makes them popular to most RVers. Just as importantly, though they indeed require constant maintenance, flooded batteries possess long life expectancies. Last but not least, thanks to the highly affordable prices, the venerable wet-cell models remain in use alongside the more modern batteries.
• AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat): Unlike flooded batteries, AGM batteries usually don’t demand constant maintenance. Moreover, gas emission is less than an issue in AGM batteries so you have no need to concern yourselves with ventilation while charging them. Being tightly sealed, batteries of the type ensure that you never face spilling incidents. Because of the rugged bodies, AGM batteries tend to boast excellent resistance against vibration, temperatures,…
• Gel: Compared to other types of batteries for RV, Gel batteries utilize strong internal constructions which give them superb endurance. On the downsides, batteries of the type employ narrow charging profiles that often gets damaged. Also, overcharging Gel batteries could lead to the formation of gas pockets on the plates. Over time, the gas pockets would steadily reduce the maximum charging capacity of the batteries. That is why you need to have experiences to put Gel batteries to good use.

Energy Capacity

Since the purpose of the battery is to power the appliances, the value of particular models could be determined through the capacity in most cases. If you often plan your trips around RV parks, campsites, rest stops and so on, feel free to settle for batteries that feature ordinary capacities. On the other hand, if you intend to go off-road with your RV now and then, you must pay attention to RV battery ratings. At all times, remember that running out of power is the last thing you want to experience on the road.

Life Expectancy

Obviously, nothing lasts forever but you should prioritize RV batteries that last a long time. With a quality long-lasting model around, you don’t have to worry about getting replacements in the near future. Of course, many factors influence the life expectancy of your battery on the field such as charging currents, temperatures, usage,… Still, if you truly hope to get the best deal available, you need to think of life expectancy as one of the top shopping criteria.

Weigh And Size

These kinds of days, batteries for RV campers come at a variety of sizes and weights which naturally require consideration. You would be able to decide what model of battery your recreational may use by carefully assessing its battery compartment. Usually, in most modern-day recreational vehicles, the battery compartment is more than capable of accommodating a few additional batteries aside from the default ones. As for the weight, having lightweight batteries facilitate overall handling, inspections, maintenance and so on.

Resistance

All RV owners from novices to veterans know that in the outdoors, things could get quite rough now and then. Because of that, before virtually every purchase, RVers routinely ask themselves: is it tough enough? The same applies to the batteries of RV as you don’t want to waste your money on mediocre models. You better keep an eye for batteries that have the ability to resist shock, vibration,… Just in case, check out the customer reviews to get a general idea about the resistance of your preferred batteries.

Acquisition Cost

After embracing the RV lifestyle, it’s highly likely that you have various expenses to address at any one time. As a result, while searching around for the best RV battery, price is something that you need to think about. You definitely save some money by buying cheap batteries now but due to typically limited lifespans of such models, you actually spend more on replacements. So it’s widely advised that you refrain from purchasing dirt cheap batteries for RV. The ideal approach to price is to find the balance between performance and acquisition cost.