Best Value Lead Acid Golf Cart Batteries for RV Use

[tanglemoose]

We have had 2 six volt golf cart batteries, for 5 years... we have solar, so batteries are never drawn down, guessing that's why they lasted so long.

Thinking our rv life is on a shorter thread, as we approach the late 70s.. but guessing we should invest in a couple new batteries now for our 2026 snowbird trip.

With cost in mind, I know AGM are better, but thinking we will just go with another round of lead acid, deep cycle. Lots of brands out there... any better than others? Wondering if Costco sells a deep cycle golf cart?
Thanks!

 

[Trivet]

You didn't say--have you tested them to see if they need replacing? Five years isn't all that long. We've been fulltiming in a 40-foot motorhome with six golf cart batteries since 2003, with solar on it since 2005, and we get about 8 years out of our batteries.

Costco does sell a a golf cart battery. AFAIK you have to go to the store to see the price, but it's always a competitive and maybe very good price for decent batteries. If you're near one and already have a membership, it could be the path of least resistance.

 

[tanglemoose]

You didn't say--have you tested them to see if they need replacing? Five years isn't all that long. We've been fulltiming in a 40-foot motorhome with six golf cart batteries since 2003, with solar on it since 2005, and we get about 8 years out of our batteries.

Costco does sell a a golf cart battery. AFAIK you have to go to the store to see the price, but it's always a competitive and maybe very good price for decent batteries. If you're near one and already have a membership, it could be the path of least resistance.

We do not own battery tester, which one is good one to own?

 

[Wmlunt-WO]

Bring them to a AutoZone or other car parts store, they will test them for free!

 

[Tom_M1]

Costco sells Interstate brand batteries. Batteries Plus sells Duracell brand. I have purchased 6 volt batteries from both places. I don't recall pricing.

 

[tanglemoose]

Bring them to a AutoZone or other car parts store, they will test them for free!

Not super easy now, to remove?? we are camping!

 

[Larry N.]

We have had 2 six volt golf cart batteries, for 5 years... we have solar, so batteries are never drawn down, guessing that's why they lasted so long.

We still had the original 8 6V batteries in our Newmar Ventana when we sold it after 7+ years, and they still let us run well over 8 hours overnight without hookups- in other words they were still in good condition, and I suspect they're still going two years later.

I'd not replace those batteries unless you see definite signs of aging or of other problem(s).

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

An auto parts store battery test will NOT give you the merit of a storage (house) battery. You probably already have the tools you need to learn the health of your batteries - a basic multimeter and a clock. I can describe the process if you're interested.

My costco/interstate GC2's are on their 7th season and test well north of 90% of new. I wouldn't say AGM's are "better", per Ah they're nominally 2x the cost of flooded for the same capacity. So their selection is based on how and where they'll be used.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[tanglemoose]

We still had the original 8 6V batteries in our Newmar Ventana when we sold it after 7+ years, and they still let us run well over 8 hours overnight without hookups- in other words they were still in good condition, and I suspect they're still going two years later.

I'd not replace those batteries unless you see definite signs of aging or of other problem(s).

We have us2200

 

[Utclmjmpr]

I always buy Interstate batteries from NAPA and get 7 years of reliable use each cycle..>>>Dan

 

[Lou Schneider]

The best bang for the buck is replacing your lead acid batteries with lithium-ion batteries from a place like Amazon. They're now commodity items and even the least expensive ones are built well and reliable. They'll drop right in, keeping in mind you'll have to connect the 12 volt lithium batteries in parallel instead of in series like the 6 volt golf cart batteries.

Unless you boondock a lot and use 100% of the battery's rated capacity your existing converter/charger will work just fine with lithium batteries.

 

[tanglemoose]

The best bang for the buck is replacing your lead acid batteries with lithium-ion batteries from a place like Amazon. They're now commodity items and even the least expensive ones are built well and reliable. They'll drop right in, keeping in mind you'll have to connect the 12 volt lithium batteries in parallel instead of in series like the 6 volt golf cart batteries.

Unless you boondock a lot and use 100% of the battery's rated capacity your existing converter/charger will work just fine with lithium batteries.

Can't do lithium with our inverter, and not changing it out.. so either lead acid or agm are my choices

 

[Jackiemac]

Do you have anything to measure battery voltage? We have a cheap thing we plug into a 12v cigarette lighter output in bedroom which we could plug a tv into.

 

[Jackiemac]

Looks like this one (not sure thats what you'd buy) it tells us how well battery is charging.

Amazon.com

 

[John From Detroit]

Can't do lithium with our inverter, and not changing it out.. so either lead acid or agm are my choices

Why can you not do LI with your inverter> (And today Id' not suggest LI but next week .. (weather releated not technology related)

If your inverter is set for Lead acid.

Google AI says "LiFePO4 batteries charge to a higher voltage and use a precise, multi-stage algorithm (CC-CV) ending around 14.4-14.6V for a 12V pack, while lead-acid (SLA) batteries use a profile with bulk, absorption, and float stages, typically charging between 13.8V (float) and 14.7V (absorption)"

And that fits with what I recall. also with how I treat my LIFePO4's
My inverter is adjustable but since I like to limit to 80-90% charge.. LA settings actually worked out well. I think I might have changed oner setting 0.1 volt.

 

[tanglemoose]

We have xantrex 2000, lithium is not a choice and I am understanding that our power supply would also be need to be changed out... so lead battery it is..

 

[Lou Schneider]

We have xantrex 2000, lithium is not a choice and I am understanding that our power supply would also be need to be changed out... so lead battery it is..

Check your manual, if you can choose Custom battery settings you can optimize it to charge a lithium battery. If not, it will charge a lithium to about 90% of capacity using the standard lead acid settings.

 

[John From Detroit]

We have xantrex 2000, lithium is not a choice and I am understanding that our power supply would also be need to be changed out... so lead battery it is..

The XANTREX 2000's both the prosine no longer made and the freecom that I have are programmagble. The new ones have a pre-set for LI but the old ones you can do it manually.,
And so I did.

Also with my old prosine I used the progressive dymanics to keep batteies filled due to an issue with the charge system on the prosine.

But with the freedom XC It works fine so you can drop the other converter (Just turn off or unplug)_ and use the Xantrex as the charger (Assuming it offers that feature)

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Can't do lithium with our inverter, and not changing it out.. so either lead acid or agm are my choices

That's OK; not everybody needs the benefits of lithium.
AGM is a lead acid battery too. The choice you would be making is flooded cell vs AGM. AGM is a sealed type of lead acid battery that requires no owner maintenance and doesn't release corrosive acid fumes. That's a plus, but if you haven't been overly burdened by taking care of your flooded cell batteries, there is no need to spend extra money on AGM.

I agree with the others that 5 years is just middle aged for a 6V deep cycle battery. 7 years is typical and 10 or more years is not unusual. If you usually camp with electric hookups, I see no reason to replace yours early. However, if you sometimes camp off-grid (no electric hook-up), I'd suggest a trial run to see how well they hold up. Doesn't need to be a formal measurement - just try running normal power uses for 24 hours without the RV plugged in.

Brand names mean almost nothing on lead-acid batteries - nearly all are made in the same factories by the same 4-5 manufacturers with different labels pasted on. That includes the well known Interstate brand, NAPA, Everstart and others. In other words, they are a commodity. Buy on the basis of the amp-hour rating and price. Yes, Costco sells 6V GC2 deep cycles. So does Sams' Club and Walmart.

 

[TonyL]

As far as I'm aware, lithium is not a drop in option for a travel trailer without modifying the wiring from the tow vehicle to prevent alternator damage from excessive current draw.
I stand to be corrected.