best rv travel trailer battery

RV Batteries

Last updated on: March 8, 2022

The 15 Best RV Batteries (Deep Cycle) in 2022

by Chris Coleman

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The battery of your recreational vehicle is, in essence, the heart of its electrical system. Without a fully functioning battery, you would not be able to use appliances like the lights, air conditioners and stove, which not only provide comfort but also safety when you’re camping in the wild . RV batteries are trickier than your regular vehicle batteries, thus to get the best RV battery for your precious rig, there are certain things you need to know before making a purchase.

Worry not, as we have done the hard work so that you can make an informed decision and the best investment for your money. In this comprehensive guide, you will learn everything any RV owner needs to know about RV batteries, including the basics, battery’s different applications, followed by our handpicked list of the very best RV battery products and brands on the market based on RV battery reviews by professionals and full-time RVers.

Each product will come with highlighted features as well as pros and cons so that you can easily compare among different options.

In order for you to really pick out the best travel trailer battery for your needs and budget, after the best RV battery reviews, you will find more important information, including top buying factors, a list of prestigious brands, handy usage and maintenance tips so that you get the best out of your battery.

Quick Recommendations For The Best RV Batteries

1. odyssey pc680 rv battery – best overall, 2. upg ub121000 rv battery – best value, 3. battle born lifepo4 bb10012 – editor’s choice, 4. optima batteries 8004-003 – longest lasting, 5. vmaxtanks mb6-225 6 volt battery, 6. gli lithium-ion deep cycle battery, 7. vmax v35-857, 8. expertpower exp12330, 9. acdelco 94ragm, 10. optima batteries d34m rv battery, 11. upg ub12350 rv battery, 12. renogy rng-batt-agm12-100 rv battery, 13. windynation battamax rv battery, 14. diehard group 49 rv battery, 15. renogy rng-batt-gel12-100, house battery, how does it work, starting batteries, deep cycle batteries, dual purpose or marine, 12 volt vs. 6 volt rv batteries, voltage , charging manner, the depth of discharge , weight and size , life expectancy .

• Vibration Resistance 

Power at low and high temperatures 

Rv battery for dry camping, rv battery for boondocking, rv battery for travel trailer, 1. diehard batteries, 4. upg , 5. kirkland, 6. ac delco, 7. duralast, 8. everstart  , rv battery size: get the right fit, with generators, with solar panels, with jumper cables/ battery charger, with converter charger, while driving, check the electrolyte levels periodically, charge in a timely manner , don’t forget parasitic loads , consider using three-stage chargers , only add water after recharges , 1. how much does a typical rv battery cost, 2. how long do rv batteries last, 3. how to install an rv battery, 4. how many batteries does an rv have, 5. 6-volt vs. 12-volt rv batteries: what’s the difference, 6. is it bad for me to leave my rv plugged in all the time, 7. does an rv battery charge while plugged in, 8. why is my rv battery draining so fast, 9. can you plug your rv into the house outlet, 10. does rv battery charge while driving, 11. how to charge an rv battery while driving on the road , 12. how often should i charge the batteries of my rv, 13. how long should you charge an rv battery on average, 14. how long is an rv battery’s runtimes.

• BEST OVERALL RV BATTERY : Odyssey PC680
• BEST VALUE : UPG Solar Wind VRLA
• EDITOR’S CHOICE : Battle Born LiFePO4
• LONGEST LASTING DEEP CYCLE BATTERY FOR RV: Optima 8004-003 34/78
• BEST 6 VOLT RV BATTERY: VMAXTANKS MB6-225
• BEST LITHIUM ION BATTERY FOR RV: GLI Lithium-ion GLIBATT12050
• BEST AGM BATTERY: Weize 12V100-1

Reviews Of Best RV Batteries

Even after you have grasped all the basics, picking out the best RV battery for your needs for power is still a huge challenge, considering how vast the market is and of course, how complicated battery-related businesses are. 

As an excellent starting point, you could refer to our handpicked list of the best batteries for RV in order to make a wise purchase. All of these products receive raving reviews from professionals and full-time RVers, and are offered by major manufacturers that have earned their reputation over the years. 

For easy comparison, each product is outlined with its pros and cons, plus notable features.

Why This Is The Best :

Featuring excellent ruggedness, Odyssey PC680 is able to take on pretty much every challenge in the outdoors without much difficulty. Things such as shocks, heat, vibrations and so on shall have negligible effects on the performance of the Odyssey battery. Moreover, as it packs a fairly long cycle life, the runtime of the battery is much longer than its competitor. Once you finally have to recharge it, the battery gets back to full charge in a blink of an eye. Naturally, RVers that like to go off-grid often view PC680 to be the best RV battery on the market. 

Being a non-spillable design that features tightly-packed pure lead plates, the battery of Odyssey could be readily mounted in a variety of positions. As a result, it’s going to be a breeze for you to find a good spot for the battery.  In addition to that, PC680 only requires basic maintenance, a major plus for novice RVers. Regarding lifespan, Odyssey PC680 would last up to 10 years assuming that you look after it. All in all, if you want a solid high quality 12-volt deep cycle RV battery , PC680 is definitely for you. 

Aside from recreational vehicles, Odyssey PC680 is also capable of supporting other applications like boats and trucks in times of need. Hence, by stocking up PC680, you have the ability to power a lot of things.

Hands down the best battery I have ever purchased. I went through 3 other batteries before finally purchasing the odyssey and I can honestly say I need to replace all of my other batteries for these. I even left my jet ski key in all night (which usually kills the battery) and I woke up in the morning very angry that I had to drop more $$ on yet another battery but sure enough this thing still had power. Just put it on a trickle charger and it was good to go the next day. I go riding in the salt water quite often and it has stood up to the salt and still works great. I went to batteries plus to pick up another one like this but saw they were 20-30$ more expensive there than here on amazon so I ordered 2 more from this site. Shared by Amazon Customer

• Well-built and tough
• User-friendly operation 
• Undemanding maintenance
• Barely acceptable customer service 
• Quality control needs improvements 

Why It’s The Best Value:

While it’s a bit on the heavy side, UPG UB121000 remains a powerful battery which numerous RVers around the globe hold in high regard. Boasting outstanding voltage, the battery of UPG could run a wide range of appliances at the same time without trouble. Since UB121000 is a sealed AGM battery, you don’t have to worry too much about spilling while using it. Thanks to its flexible and versatile nature, UPG UB121000 is able to work fine in almost every RV setup regardless of how it’s mounted.     

In terms of resistance, the UPG battery would be able to withstand shocks as well as vibrations in most cases. Additionally, unlike the average RV batteries, UPG UB121000 never needs electrolyte refills throughout its lifetime. That means by installing UB121000 on your recreational vehicle, you have nothing else to do besides enjoying your outdoor experience. For RVers that desire straightforward, no-nonsense batteries, the battery of UPG is by all accounts the best AGM battery.

If the RV is put into storage during off-seasons, UPG UB121000 is particularly good at preserving its power charge. Usually, once left idle, UB121000 discharges a few percentages of its power in a month.

I purchased 4 of these for a small, rarely used solar kit. I am pleasantly surprised by their reliability and consistent power. Four of these can run 100 watts all day, and I’ve pushed them up to over 1500 watts for 30 minutes without significant voltage drop. (After the 30 minutes at 1500 watts, the unloaded voltage returned to 12.9V, indicating surprisingly little drain from this activity.) They are large and heavy, but they are an excellent value for an AGM battery! Shared by John H.

This thing seems to last forever in my camper. Had a radio on most of the day and some lights intermittently and it shows still full at the end of the day. Should be able to get a week of boondocking out of this. Shared by F. Watermolen

• Multipurpose 
• Highly adaptable
• Top of the line resistance
• A bit cumbersome  
• Somewhat short stainless steel hardware

Why It’s An Editor’s Choice:

With exceptional longevity, unlimited mounting options and lightweight body, Battle Born BB10012 is recognized by multiple experts and experienced RVers as a premium grade battery. Although BB10012 indeed comes at a rather high price, its marvelous utilities justify the cost. Incorporating Lithium-Ion technology, the Battle Born battery proves itself to be well suited for most off-grid settings nowadays. As proof of confidence, Battle Born offers BB10012 along with a robust 10-year warranty which gives RVers peace of mind.

Made completely from non-toxic, renewable materials, Battle Born BB10012 lasts for a lot of cycles and recharges relatively fast. Furthermore, the battery of Battle Born contains an integrated BMS ( short for Battery Management System ). Due to the presence of BMS, BB10012 is reasonably safe from common causes of RV battery failures including ground faults, temperature volatilities and so on. If something happens, BMS would cut off power transfer to protect you and the battery.

As for installation, the intuitive setup of Battle Born BB10012 makes sure that even first-time RVers could get it up and running within moments. So if all you need is a battery that works without requiring complicated preparation, the Battle Born battery is going to be the best RV deep cycle battery for you.

Performance, reliability, convenience. Excellent product! I am very pleased with this battery. I have had it for 6 months and it is great. Very reliable, zero maintenance. I have it hooked up to 300w solar system on my camper van/RV and it charges very fast. I even hooked it up to a 450/900 watt space heater and ran it for 1.5hr on the lower 450 watt setting via a 600w (1200 surge) inverter. It raised the temperate of the RV interior from 55F to 67F in 1 hour (outside temp was 52F with @ 50% humidity in the evening). This was just a test I ran to see what it was capable of. While it did discharge the battery, it performed flawlessly during that time and helped me to learn about how the battery reacts to large loads. The next day I checked on the battery @ noon and it was at full charge from the morning sun. The battery also performed perfectly on a 3k mile, 1 week road trip. It powered the inverter, which fed to 6 LED ceiling lights, a water pump, USB outlets keeping two cell phones, two laptops, one SLR camera, one Dometic fridge running 24/7 without any drop in temperature. Food was always cold. Cold beer in the middle of the desert anytime you wanted. I plan on adding to my solar bank soon with another Battle Horn battery and a more powerful inverter so I can run a 1200w water boiler and improve the space heater’s performance (only as backup in case of extreme cold). I have not contacted customer support yet for any reason but based on other reviews I am confident that area is just as good as the battery itself. I highly recommend this product. Shared by Wojciech Wolinski

• Long-lasting 
• Compact and light
• Brilliant protection 
• Inconsistent performance between batteries 
• The price is high 

Why We Love It:

Manufactured to be the ultimate starting battery, Optima Batteries 8004-003 is what everyone looks to if they need strong bursts of ignition power for recreational vehicles. As it’s marked to be 15 times more vibration-resistant than ordinary batteries, 8004-003 would be able to face considerable bumps and bounce without breaking apart. Also, being spill proof, the battery of Optima Batteries could be set up at pretty much whatever location you see fit. As for maintenance, Optima Batteries 8004-003 is completely maintenance-free so don’t worry about upkeep. 

In terms of recharge, 8004-003 charges fairly fast which means you only need some time to bring it to full charge. Featuring up to 4 standard 1.125- inch posts, the battery is going to match the electrical systems of all common recreational vehicles. If you perform proper recharges, the battery from Optima Batteries should be able to support your recreational vehicle for years. Because of its integrated handles, many RVers deem Optima Batteries 8004-003 to be the best RV battery if handling is concerned. 

Regarding runtime, the reserve capacity of Optima Batteries 8004-003 is considered to be enough to sustain constant power for 100 minutes. Once you buy 8004-003, Optima Batteries would give you a 36-month warranty, adequate for a starting battery.

• Great capacity
• Outstanding reliability
• Flexible and versatile 
• Warranty coverage is mediocre
• Certain batteries seem defective on arrival 

Utilizing an electrolyte suspension system that absorbs and contains electrolytes, Vmaxtanks MB6-225 would minimize the risk of leakage in use. Moreover, thanks to the presence of heavy-duty lead-tin alloys, MB6-225 performs consistently even after multiple discharge/recharge cycles. As a result, the battery made by Vmax is well-received by RVers who wish to create a leak-free battery bank with extended lifespans. The maintenance of MB6-225 of Vmaxtanks is simple as well so enthusiasts of RVing just need to check up on it from time to time.

With a small build, the battery from Vmax occupies little space and that permits it to squeeze in the battery compartment of typical recreational vehicles. Though MB6-225 is indeed kind of heavy compared to its contemporaries, people rarely have to spend much time and time moving it into their rig. When Vmaxtanks MB6-225 is in position, RVers could begin wiring it to the power grid of RV and associated appliances. Since the battery from Vmax carries user-friendly terminals, the wiring process is going to wrap up in a flash. 

As it’s introduced to the market at a reasonable price, Vmaxtanks MB6-225 suits a wide range of shopping budgets. Also, Vmax backs its battery with a one-year warranty that brings peace of mind.

• Inexpensive 
• Space-saving
• Dependable and reliable
• RVers sometimes complain about batteries being incapable of holding charge
• A number of batteries arrive dead

Why We Love It :

Put together with a fantastic onboard management system, Green Light Innovation GLIBATT12050 remains uncompromised following a series of incomplete recharges. In addition to that, with an estimated lifespan of 5,000 cycles, it would be a while before RVers have to replace the Green Light Innovation battery. During discharge, GLIBATT12050 delivers full power without fluctuations so owners of recreational vehicles could say goodbye to dimming lights, slow-running air conditioners and alike. GLIBATT12050 battery recharges quickly too so enthusiasts of RVing don’t have to wait all day to get it to max capacity. 

Rated at IP54, the battery from Green Light Innovation easily handles challenges of RVing from outdoor elements to physical impacts. GLIBATT12050 excels at resisting accumulations of dirt over time as well, thus, people don’t have to clean it regularly. Aside from that, it’s possible to store GLI GLIBATT12050 for a year without having to recharge it. Because of that, the battery made by Green Light Innovation is prized by RVers who only hit the road occasionally. 

Upon purchase, Green Light Innovation GLIBATT12050 is backed with a one-year warranty that covers failures caused by manufacturing defects. Hence, in the case that your battery of Green Light Innovation experiences unexpected problems, you have something to count on. 

• High endurance 
• Quick delivery service 
• Easy maintenance
• Price is steep
• Packaging could use some work

Why We Love It: 

Assembled using high endurance lead-tin alloys, Vmax V35-857 is markedly superior to most other batteries in its price range once it comes to durability. From heavy snow to torrential rain, nothing could impair the operation of the Vmax battery. In use, V35-857 is able to endure rapid recharge and discharge for years without failure. Despite its rock-solid values, the battery still remains affordable. As one would expect, quite a few RVers these days often think of Vmax V35-857 as the best RV battery regarding cost-effectiveness.

In order to optimize the battery field performance, Vmax lets the plates of V35-857 undergo a special treatment that boosts strength as well as reliability. Because the plates and the electrolyte sit in a sealed tank, spilling is less than an issue in usual applications. Such a setup also makes the Vmax V35-857, in essence, immune to vibrations and shocks, important traits in RV travels. In case you don’t pull anything drastic with it, the battery of Vmax should easily last between 3,000 and 5,000 cycles.

At just 25 pounds, Vmax V35-857 is fairly light so you would have an easy time hauling it to the battery compartment of your recreational vehicle. As the Vmax battery happens to be maintenance-free, you don’t have to check up on it now and then after the installation concludes.

• Fantastic plates and rugged body 
• Tolerate repeated discharge/recharge 
• Non-toxic and non-spillable
• Unable to hold charges for long 
• A couple of users complain about overheating

Due to the use of AGM technology as well as premium-grade materials, ExpertPower EXP12330 features a superb temperature tolerance. If you intend to visit locations with considerable fluctuations in temperature, EXP12330 would be among the batteries for RV available for purchase on the market. In addition to that, the battery of ExpertPower is built to have a high endurance so usual vibrations have insignificant influence on its field performance. As for installation, every RVers with basic electricity knowledge should be able to set up the battery in no time.

Since EXP12330 is a sealed battery, it’s unnecessary to perform maintenance which saves a lot of time and effort. It’s also notable that the ExpertPower battery is valve-regulated so you could technically tweak various aspects of its operations to match immediate needs. Aside from that, because the ExpertPower EXP12330 is both compact and light, it’s capable of fitting in the battery compartment of modern-day RV. Depending on the dimensions of the compartment, it’s a good idea to use something to keep the battery secured.     

About the posts, EXP12330 employs 0.325 inches bolts, you would need to get a 3/8th socket in order to tighten them. The battery accepts standard automobile battery chargers so you may use what you already have instead of buying new ones.

• Highly affordable 
• Modest profile 
• Lightweight  
• Less than ideal lifespan 
• Unresponsive customer service 

Boasting innovative negative paste, ACDelco 94RAGM is unmatched once it comes to life cycle and performance these kinds of days. The conductivity of the ACDelco battery is greatly enhanced by its calcium-lead positive as well which keeps the current resistance low in most cases. As the electrolyte of 94RAGM is completely contained within the glass mat separator that prevents free-flowing across cells, the risk of spilling is nonexistent. The separator itself happens to be puncture-resistant too so integrity is truly top-notch.

By maintaining constant pressure on all of its plates, the battery of ACDelco manages to slow down the loss of active mass from the grid. Hence, 94RAGM is able to last much longer in use than many similar market options. The outstanding life expectancy of ACDelco 94RAGM is clearly reflected through the post-purchase supports: the free replacement warranty period is available in 18, 30, 36 and 42 months. If your battery fails within the warranty period, ACDelco is going to give you a replacement at no charge.

As for the setup, ACDelco 94RAGM packs convenient built-in handles so you could effortlessly get it into the battery compartment of your recreational vehicle. The presence of standard posts should allow you to quickly hook the battery to the electrical system on your rig.

• Competitive price
• OEM compatible 
• Excellent post purchase support
• Some customers notice several inconsistencies 
• Quality control need overhauls 

Like Optima Batteries 34/78 but you want a deep-cycle battery? If that is the case, Optima Batteries D34M is the perfect battery for you. Able to function as a starting battery and a deep-cycle one, the multipurpose battery of Optima Batteries is highly sought-after by outdoor enthusiasts. Since D34M is specifically engineered for adverse operating conditions, it delivers optimum performance in all sorts of envelopments from hot deserts to cold winters. Thanks to the stringent manufacturing standards, Optima Batteries D34M possesses a marvelous life expectancy. 

Packing advanced spiral-wound cells with pure coated lead plates, the battery of Optima Batteries offer brilliant outputs without variations. Because of the tight tolerance, the vibration-resistant Optima Batteries D34M proves superior to many of its competitors. As the battery is sealed, you could mount it at whatever position you like without having to worry about spilling. Moreover, the battery of Optima Batteries requires no maintenance from the day you install it to the day it fails.

With a weight of 43.5 pounds, D34M is not exactly light but you should be able to move it around on your own during setup. Once you make the purchase, the battery is going to arrive at your doorstep in just a couple of days. 

• Rock-solid 
• Manageable price
• Unhelpful instructions 
• Complicated warranty claim 

Capable of holding its charge for a long time, UPG UB12350 is considered to be the best travel trailer battery for RVer that only hit the road now and then. Despite its rather humble size, the reserve capacity of UB12350 is sufficient to support a wide range of appliances simultaneously. The compact body of the UPG battery also makes it simple for you to move it from spot to spot. Unlike the average batteries for RV, UPG UB12350 arrives fully charged so you would be able to head out right after you finish installing it

Due to the fact that the electrolyte is fixed in an absorptive fiberglass mat, UB12350 eliminates the risk of spilling. Additionally, the battery of UPG releases practically zero corrosive gas in use which means it’s safe to use UB12350 around people, pets, sensitive appliances,… In terms of resistance, UPG UB12350 withstands vibration effectively and efficiently so you should have peace of mind while driving. The rugged terminals of the battery could work in most arrangements without causing compatibility issues. 

About post-purchase support, UPG UB12350 is accompanied by a 1-year warranty, unimpressive but passable. In case you experience issues while using UB12350, feel free to get in touch with the customer service of UPG.

• Great power capacity
• Nice handling
• Unavailable in certain regions 
• Some batteries come with damages parts 

Maintenance-free, spill-proof, and leak-proof, Renogy RNG-BATT-AGM12-100 is a battery that RVers from novices to veterans could put to good use. Featuring a tough case, the battery of Renogy is able to take a couple of hits and bumps without trouble. Depending on what you need at the moment, RNG-BATT-AGM12-100 may be used to power appliances on your RV, cabins, boats and so on. Due to the inclusion of safety features, the  Renogy battery is fairly safe to use in a variety of applications.

As Renogy is a prominent manufacturer of goods for solar systems, RNG-BATT-AGM12-100 is naturally best RV deep cycle battery for RVers that like to draw power from sunlight. Though a single battery is barely sufficient, it’s generally a breeze for you to connect multiple batteries together to create a capable energy bank. All you need to make that happen is get yourself a couple of interconnect cables. The length of such cables varies from case to case so you have to take your RV setup into account. 

Regarding life expectancy, the life cycle of Renogy RNG-BATT-AGM12-100 is usually dictated by depth for discharge, ambient temperature, discharge rate and so on. Nonetheless, if you take good care of it, the Renogy battery is going to perform admirably for quite some time.

• Hold charge well 
• Well built and powerful
• Marvelous customer support 
• Pretty cumbersome 
• Shoddy delivery service 

By making use of 99.995% pure lead plates, WindyNation BattaMax offers one of the lowest self-discharge rates for RV batteries. As one would expect from it, BattaMax duly retains charge for extended periods of time. Furthermore, at 25 degrees Celsius, the float life of the WindyNation battery reaches up to 10 years which makes it a wicked choice for those that don’t want to spend too much money on battery replacements. WindyNation BattaMax could be charged and discharged thousands of times in most cases without issue. 

In order to facilitate handling and servicing, WindyNation design BattaMax as a tightly sealed battery. That is why if you decide to buy BattaMax for your recreational vehicle, you have no need to concern yourself with acid spills on the road. Besides that, the adaptable construction of the battery also allows it to function perfectly in lots of mounting positions. Assuming that you find the space for BattaMax and keep it securely connected to the electrical system of your RV, everything should work out fine.

As for applications, WindyNation BattaMax excels at powering off-grid setups so RVers tend to call it the best RV deep cycle battery for boondocking . Want to get away from the cities for some time? Then you must consider adding BattaMax to your travel inventory.

• Splendid compatibility 
• Minimum self-discharge rate
• Plenty of values for the price
• A bit heavy 
• Several batteries fail soon after being delivered 

Packing heat-sealed polypropylene case, demineralized battery acid, thru-partition connectors, … DieHard Group 49 is truly second to none once it comes to cold weather settings. Since it utilizes a spill-proof design, Group 49 possesses unmatched protection for sophisticated internal electronics. The sound setup also allows the battery of DieHard to last up to twice as long as regular acid batteries in most of the cases. By employing flame-retardant safety vents, DieHard Group 49 keeps fire hazards to the bare minimum. 

Thanks to the incorporation of Enhanced Electronic Suspension System, the DieHard battery absorbs more electrolyte than other batteries around which help to secure internal components. In addition, the AGM-style flat plates of Group 49 let RVers get most of its power capacity in use. Engineered to be maintenance-free,   DieHard Group 49 requires no special care throughout its entire lifetime. To reassure the customers, DieHard offers customers a free of charge 36-month replacement warranty once they make the purchase. 

About compatibility, DieHard Group 49 would work well in virtually every vehicle from domestic to import. Therefore, the battery of DieHard is often called the best RV battery for those that want to replace the OEM battery.  

• Maintenance-free 
• Excellent life expectancy 
• Match a lot of vehicles 
• A few batteries arrive in incorrect specs 
• Quality control is sub-par  

Equipped with PE compound separator, Renogy RNG-BATT-GEL12-100 is able to ensure that its gel electrolyte is distributed equally which preserves the evenness of the battery at all times. Additionally, with the integration of robust lead-calcium grids, the battery of Renogy experiences mild corrosion so it’s able to stay in top shape for more than a decade. In terms of safety features, RNG-BATT-GEL12-100 employs explosion-proof safety valves to deal with redundant gas and eliminate potential fire hazards from sparkles.

During storage, the Renogy battery packs a self-discharge rate of 3% per month at room temperature so its ability to retain charge is top-notch. Boasting a combination of valve regulated construction and triplex strengthened sealing, RNG-BATT-GEL12-100 is good at preventing leakage of electrolyte and infiltration of air. Because of that, the battery of Renogy is regarded as the best deep cycle battery for RV on the market once it comes to integrity. RNG-BATT-GEL12-100 is capable of performing in demanding setups without experiencing drops in performance.

Like many deep cycle batteries available for purchase these days, Renogy RNG-BATT-GEL12-100 is essentially maintenance-free. That means once you finish installing the Renogy battery, you don’t have to pay special attention to it afterward.

• Stable and rugged 
• High level of safety 
• Retain charge well 
• Slightly inconstant lifespan 
• Mediocre manual

RV Battery Basics

RV batteries are usually much more powerful than regular vehicle batteries. Some RV batteries can even be used for marine applications, such as in boats. This is why RV batteries will most likely be deep cycle batteries that can be a little bit pricier than your regular vehicle batteries for a car or van. 

With the aid of such a battery, you have the chance of using your devices and appliances off-grid without the need for a 110-volt power supply. It’s worthy to take note that a recreational vehicle requires house batteries to power everything electrical in your rig and a starting battery for its engine.

In this guide of “the best RV battery”, we are essentially referring to “ the best RV house battery ”.

House batteries are different from the RV’s engine batteries as the house batteries are a “deep cycle” battery mainly designed to store substantial amounts of power. Such ability allows the battery to supply energy for a prolonged period of time, enabling long off-road trips. Engine batteries, on the other hand, supply a quick energy burst to start the engine or keep the engine going.

The house batteries could be a few cells wired together in a series as a means of supplying sufficient power required by your rig. Each cell produces approximately 2.1 volts, so a 12-volt battery with six cells in series produces a total output voltage of 12.6 volts.

Meanwhile, the battery that is needed for starting your engine is similar to your car’s battery. The only difference is that the starting battery for an RV is larger, which also signifies the need for a bigger Cold Cranking Amps ( CCA) rating. 

Cold Cranking Amps ( CCA ) CCA is a rating used to define a battery’s ability to start an engine in cold temperatures. The rating refers to the number of amps a 12-volt battery can deliver at 0°F for 30 seconds while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2 volts.

The house batteries of an RV often undergo what is called “deep cycling” since they are often discharged completely before recharging again. The advantage of the best RV deep cycle battery is that it is capable of lasting four times longer compared to normal starting batteries.

The battery is the vital component that gets your vehicle running. Without it, you’re not going anywhere. Batteries are composed of “cells”. These cells are what contain the actual energy needed to start and run your car.

When you turn the key, a chemical reaction occurs inside the battery. The battery converts this chemical energy into the electrical energy and it delivers this electrical energy to the starter to power your car.

Power to run the car is stored in the battery and is measured in voltage. A battery is fully charged when it holds 12.6 volts or above. When a battery goes down to 12.2 it is only 50% charged, and when it is below 12 volts the battery is “dead” and needs to be replaced. 

As a whole, RV batteries and electrical systems are quite complex. To make it easier for you to understand RV battery charging, learning more about voltages is highly advisable. The first thing you should know is that RV batteries operate at 12-volt direct current ( DC ) deep cycle electrical energy.

In most cases, this level of power is sufficient to run small RV appliances and systems. However, it cannot run the whole electrical system of your RV. In case you do not rely on the battery for power, your RV must be plugged to a shore power, which often has 120-volt alternating current ( AC ) power.

Each time the battery loses its power or discharges, it will not recharge itself just like a regular automotive battery. Therefore, a basic RV battery maintenance is keeping track of your battery levels to ensure that the charge does not fall too high nor too low. Once it is time for you to charge the battery, look for an outlet that runs at 120 volts AC, and plug the battery there.

Note, however, that such outlet supplies AC power, instead of the 12-volt DC power often required by the battery. Therefore, you will need to own a power converter to charge your RV battery.

This converter can minimize the risk of dealing with unwanted electrical issues. However, take note that using both the converter and shore power at the same time takes a long time to function, especially if your RV battery has a low charge or is already depleted. 

Types Of RV Battery

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

There are three main types of RV batteries. Under deep cycle batteries, you will find four types, each with their own characteristics as well as pros and cons. Before buying one, find out what makes each unique so that you can find the best RV battery that specifically suits your RV’s power requirement.

What makes starting batteries unique is that they work using a number of thinner plates, which are able to maximize the surface area being exposed to the electrolytes, providing high amounts of energy working in short bursts. They’re rated based on Cold Cranking Amps. 

In this case, these batteries must not be used in substitution for RV deep cycle battery uses for the purpose of running your RV’s electrical systems. 

The majority of recreational vehicles today depend on deep cycle batteries to work. They supply a specific amount of current steadily over a long period. 

A deep cycle battery is a lead-acid type that is specifically designed for deep discharging by using most of its intended and specific capacity. A deep cycle battery for an RV can discharge 50 to 70 percent of its full capacity. Each time you recharge the batteries, you can expect them to redeposit energy into the bank, allowing the cycle and process to begin. This battery also features thick plates with less surface area.

Deep cycle cells or batteries have varying sizes, with generally larger ones supplying more amps to your rig in most cases. So when it comes to choosing one, you must determine your power requirements as well as space available in your RV to select and install the right one.

Deep cycle types are subdivided into several groups or types that we’ll discuss in the following sections:

1. Flooded Lead Acid Batteries

• Can be used for utility purposes and applications.
• Can be used for backup power.
• It is also dependable for grid energy storage.
• Maintenance: leak is possible, which can be harmful and toxic.
• Not resistant to extreme weather conditions.

Also known as wet-cell batteries, this type of deep cycle battery is the most widely used deep cycle battery used for RV’s today. It is based on the lead-acid chemistry for operation, mainly composed of lead-oxide and lead plates and has an electrolyte that surrounds them.  It is named “flooded” since it comes with electrolyte fluid, allowing the plates to be fully submerged.

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. While this battery requires constant maintenance through watering, maintaining the cleanliness of the terminals, and equalizing charges, an hour annually will do just fine in keeping its good condition.

Last but not least, thanks to the highly affordable prices, the venerable wet-cell models remain in use alongside the more modern batteries. 

2. AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)

• Charge 5 times faster than a flooded battery.
• The depth of discharge is better than the flooded types at 80%.
• The best for use for solar panels and wind energy.
• Can be used for recreational vehicles or motor homes.
• High price.
• Discharge rate is not as good as lead acid batteries.
• No overcharging protection.

This is another type of deep cycle battery that is ideal for RV applications. In fact, it works well for the majority of applications. It is compatible not only with RVs but also with trucks, boats, and trolling motors. In comparison to the flooded battery, AGM is often tougher and stronger.

It has a lower internal resistance than flooded cells and is capable of handling high temperatures. AGM is also known to self-discharge slower than other batteries. It is different from flooded batteries considering the fact that glass mats are used in holding the electrolyte instead of freely allowing the plates to flood.

Unlike flooded batteries, AGM batteries usually don’t demand constant maintenance while the flooded lead-acid battery actually needs regular maintenance as well as a topping charge semi-annually to minimize the risk of accumulating sulfation.

AGM, on the other hand, is not that vulnerable to sulfation. With that, you have an assurance that you can easily store it for a longer period without worrying about potential damage. You can even expect it to maintain its good condition for up to a year, provided that you take care of them proper. Even after such a long period of sitting idle, you can recharge it and expect it to perform its job again without any damage.

Moreover, hydrogen or 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. 

You can expect them to stay in good condition even during extremely low temperatures. They do not freeze in such a case. Because of their sandwich construction, AGM batteries tend to boast excellent resistance against vibration.

• Leak-free design.
• Easy installation.
• Easy maintenance.
• Can be generally mounted in any way possible.
• Less likely to discharge death.
• It is still a new technology.
• Charging capacity can diminish if you overcharge it.
• Not resistant to high temperatures.

Gel batteries have some of the advantages offered by the flooded lead-acid battery, such as being easy to transform. The only difference is that it comes with gelled electrolyte, which is highly viscous.

Compared to other types of batteries for RV, Gel batteries utilize strong internal constructions which give them superb endurance. 

A downside is with gel batteries, charging it too high might cause the formation of gas pockets on the plates. This might decrease its capacity as it forces the electrolyte away from the plates. Over time, the gas pockets would steadily reduce the maximum charging capacity of the batteries.

Another thing to take note of about deep cycle gel batteries is that they come with narrow charging profiles. This is the main reason why they get easily damaged through inappropriate charging.

4. Lithium-ion Deep Cycle Batteries

• Lightweight
• High usable capacity
• Extreme temperature resistance
• Highly sustainable voltage levels
• Eco-friendly

Lithium-ion batteries are popular among campers that prioritize supreme performance. For one, they are far better than AGM or flooded lead-acid batteries, which only lets you utilize approximately 50 percent of its rated capacity. 

It also features highly sustainable voltage levels, making it possible for it to provide up to 99 percent usable capacity. This means lithium-ion batteries are more ideal when you prefer extended dry camping. 

This type is also advantageous for those looking to use a lighter battery type offering a charging efficiency reaching up to 5000 life cycles.

The lithium battery type is also favoured because of its steady performance under extreme temperature conditions, such as cold and heat. It has a built-in safety measure against overheating. Once the battery is already close to overheating temperatures, it shuts down automatically, thereby preventing explosion or fire.

In addition, the deep cycle battery is very efficient even when running at low temperature. In fact, it can also operate safely in a place where the temperature is up to 149 degrees Fahrenheit. 

In addition, it offers versatile mounting, providing consistent energy flow in any direction throughout its use.

Related : Best Lithium Battery For RV

A dual-purpose battery can offer supreme starting power and in addition, cycling capabilities. It is also used with a switch system or an isolator to function as a backup for a deep cycle house battery or starting battery. 

Dual purpose or marine batteries can handle starting and cycling, but then, most of them will not be able to start an engine, as opposed to a true cranking battery. When compared to a real deep cycle battery, it might not also be able to handle numerous discharges and recharges. 

Take such pros and cons before deciding to buy a marine battery for your rig or deciding the purpose you intend for it.

Essentially, voltage is what makes electric charges move. It is the ‘push’ that causes charges to move in a wire or other electrical conductor.

When choosing an RV battery, know what voltage rating is available and consider the amount of power you need for your rig.

12 Volt Deep Cycle RV Battery

This RV battery system lets you operate all electrical appliances in your rig, including TV, microwave, lighting and stove . It is also used in charging other systems present in your recreational vehicle that are using 12V power. 

A 12V system also works in a parallel connection in order to maintain a continued 12V connection. In most cases, you will see them with two jumper connections. 

Why might you want to use a 12 volt deep cycle RV battery ? Compared with the other option around, which is the 6 volt deep cycle RV battery , it gives out double the amp hours, consistent 12 volts power, easy to buy in auto parts stores, and less expensive. The drawback, however, is much less amp-hour rating for each battery.

6 Volt Deep Cycle RV Battery

In summary, 6 volt deep cycle RV battery vs 12 volt models:

• Larger amp-hour rating
• Larger discharge and recharge capacity
• Longer lifespan
• Half the amp-hours and voltage

Generally, the 6 volt is a golf cart battery, one of the most versatile and useful batteries for campers living off the grid. One key noteworthy difference from the 12 volt battery is that a 6V battery operates in a series connection to achieve a 12 volt system required for your recreational vehicle. The 6 volt deep cycle RV battery is also widely used in small home or cabin owners. 

For their advantages, 6 volt batteries have greater discharge and recharge capacity, larger amp-hour rating and longer lifespan with good maintenance. The only problem is that it is much more expensive than the 12 volt models.

Another difference is that 6 volt types are larger but lighter. It is only about 45lbs versus a 12 volt type weighing about 100lbs.

In recent years, many RV owners are upgrading the 6 volt systems using parallel series connection for a single power source. The series connection of 6 volt batteries tends to last longer while at the same time supplying double the voltage. Also, 6 volt batteries systems tend to last longer because of more space for each cell and thicker plates. 

Definitely, both types have their pros and cons. Which type of the two is the best RV battery all boils down to your personal preference and power needs.

Check out the best 6 volt RV batteries here!

RV Battery Buying Guide

Choosing the best RV battery is essential in making sure that you can enjoy comfort while being off-road as well as ensuring safety while driving and camping. You must be familiar with the following criteria in order to select the optimal RV battery for your power needs:

An RV battery’s capacity can be measured or rated in Ah, which means Ampere hours. Such indicates the specified amount of current the battery is capable of delivering over a certain period of time. For instance, a battery model with a 200Ah capacity is capable of delivering 200A for one hour.

A high-capacity battery is desirable because it means that it has the ability to store more power and supply power for longer. The higher, the better. However, you also have to check the weight and the size of the battery, as batteries with higher Ah will generally be larger. Remember that you will be needing some room for storing your batteries in your vehicle.

When figuring out the ideal capacity for your vehicle, it would be best to compute your specific daily energy requirements. Provide some adjustments by adding a bit of extra or room. 

You should then choose a battery which can supply such power without going down to sixty to fifty percent of its total capacity. The good news is that it is possible for you to recharge the battery based on how much power you consumed with the help of a generator, solar power, or a campground’s electric hookup.

Having that said, if you often plan your trips around RV parks, campsites, or rest stops with electrical outlets, 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 for several days without any chance for a recharge, you must pay attention to RV battery ratings . You should look for a battery that can supply your needs for power without getting depleted. At all times, remember that running out of power is the last thing you want to experience in the middle of nowhere. 

Voltage is what makes electric charges move. It is the ‘push’ that causes charges to move in a wire or other electrical conductor. RV deep cycle and starting batteries are typically designed to have 12-volt DC ( direct current ). While 12-volt batteries can serve you well in the majority of cases, RV owners that need more power decide to put together or combine 6-volt batteries by wiring them in a series as a means of building 12-volt batteries for their RV.

Another thing to remember is that solar power kits are capable of working with 24-volt batteries. In such cases, you will need a power inverter to convert DC to AC current.

Another thing to consider when shopping for the best RV battery is the way you will often charge the battery. Determine whether you will mostly be using a generator, solar power, or shore power when charging the battery you plan to use.

While it is possible to combine the three, in case you do not have one of the three options yet, a smart charger or charge controller is necessary. This device will make it possible for you to supply the correct charge at the perfect time.

Even in the case that you are charging your battery using solar panels, generator, outlet or a combination of the three, the controller is also handy in adjusting the voltage and current automatically, thereby offering protection to your battery. Such is possible regardless of whether the power is delivered from.

Another aspect you have to consider when shopping for the best RV battery is the depth of discharge, a term you will come across a lot when talking about batteries. It is usually expressed in the form of percentage indicating the fraction or percentage of the battery’s capacity which has been removed from the fully charged battery. 

In other words, depth of discharge is an alternative method to indicate a battery’s state of charge. The state of charge is the fraction or percentage of the capacity that is still available in the battery. The depth of discharge is the complement of state of charge: as one increases, the other decreases. 

If you are planning to get a lead-acid battery, note that the cycle life and the depth of discharge are correlated. For example, a battery that is discharged only by 20% of its full energy capacity has a much greater cycle life than a battery that is discharged more deeply by 80% of its capacity. 

The cycle life is the number of complete charge/discharge cycles that the battery is able to support before losing performance, or in other words, before its capacity falls under 80% of its original capacity. A complete cycle is when a battery is totally depleted and has no power left, then is recharged to 100%. So if the battery is discharged to 60% and then charged to 80% it isn’t a complete cycle.

Generally, deeper discharge or deeper cycles also means that the battery will provide fewer cycles overall. It is generally recommended that you look for a deep cycle battery with a depth of discharge that can optimize its life cycle.

Batteries for RV campers come at a variety of sizes and weights. In general, the larger the battery, the larger the amp hour and reserve capacity. When shopping for the best RV battery for your specific camper, you must carefully assess 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 and maintenance.

With a quality long-lasting model around, you don’t have to worry about getting replacements in the near future. You can expect the best RV battery to last you close to 5 years with proper maintenance. Of course, many factors influence the life expectancy of your battery on the field such as charging currents, temperatures, usage and maintenance.  

Typically, longer warranty periods signify that the RV battery is high quality and will provide consistently good service for many years down the road.

Vibration Resistance  

Another vital consideration is the overall build quality of your chosen RV battery. Note that you need a solid and sturdy build quality as this makes the battery capable of withstanding shocks and vibrations that it might encounter.

It should be shock-resistant and should be able to handle vibrations; otherwise, you might end up spending more on repairs because of the damage that the mentioned scenarios can do to the battery. Just in case, check out the customer reviews to get a general idea about the resistance of your preferred batteries.  

It is also advisable to check the ability of the battery to provide consistent power at low and high temperatures, as not every model can reliably offer such assurance. In case you will be camping during the winter, you will need a battery that can efficiently supply power in very low temperature.

Of equal importance, you also need to find out whether the battery is compatible for use at high temperature. Choose a battery that can sustain a temperature of at least 35 degrees.

RV Battery Type for Different Applications

When deciding for which RV battery is best, you have to choose based on the application for which you intend to use one. As there are many types of them, such as AGM or flooded types, you must check for which type will meet your needs. 

For example, in the following, we’ll talk about certain types of deep cycle batteries intended for dry camping, boondocking, and best battery for travel trailer . Based on your purpose, find a guide on what to look for and what makes each battery ideal for your specific application.

The best RV battery for dry camping should supply consistent power supply to your rig and its appliances. A good battery for dry camping is a lithium-ion deep cycle battery meant for off grid systems and other applications. It is versatile enough that you can use it from any position. 

A lithium-ion deep cycle battery is also lighter than a lead acid cell and offers low voltage sag even during a high discharge. It is also quick to recharge due to high charge acceptance. The best RV battery for dry camping should also be able to support large inverters. 

If you’re planning to go boondocking, you will need a substantial amount of energy stored. In this case, you might want to use up to six units of 6 volt deep cycle RV batteries . 

For the best results, you should make sure that your house batteries are fully charged. When you reach the campsite, you must monitor how they’re doing to ensure they’re not draining too much and too quickly.

As recreational vehicles consume much more power than a typical passenger car or smaller vans, the best battery for travel trailer should be a deep cycle battery specifically made for travel trailers or motorhomes. It must be designed for repeated charging and recharging.

A travel trailer battery is a good source of backup power for solar applications and portable generators. It is compact and lightweight yet it packs much power enough to handle your electrical needs. The best ones . The best camper battery can last up to 70 times longer than other common car batteries and should be sealed with a leak-proof and spill-free design.

RV Battery Brands for Lasting Performance

If you’re not awfully familiar with RV batteries and would like to take the safest bet when shopping for the best RV battery, it is generally recommended that you start with batteries by prestigious manufacturers. Of course, browsing through customer reviews will help you identify the superstar among good options by these big brands.

Recognized by many RVers as the leading brand of automotive battery, DieHard Batteries from Sears Holdings is fairly well-known for its high-quality products. If you know nothing about batteries for recreational vehicles, consider grabbing models of DieHard Batteries.

Employing the latest technologies, Odyssey is able to provide batteries for virtually every kind of vehicle as well as weather. Furthermore, compared to models of other brands, Odyssey’s batteries have markedly superior life expectancies.  

Need the best AGM battery for RV money can buy? In that case, you must check out batteries of Optima.  Packing fast recharge time, outstanding capacity, … these fine batteries shall bring you peace of mind.

Universal Power Group ( UPG ) is a prominent supplier of energy-related goods such as solar panels, charging cables, jumping jacks, …. and of course, RV batteries. If field performance is your main concern then UPG should have sublime options for you. 

Capable of delivering first-class batteries at affordable prices, Kirkland is held in high regard by people that treat cost-effectiveness as the top criterion. If batteries of the brand fall short regardless of the cause, Kirkland proves more than willing to offer full refunds. 

Due to the introduction of vigorous quality control, AC Delco manages to ensure that only flawless products could reach customers. Additionally, the reasonable costs of AC Delco’s batteries earn appreciation from budget-minded RVers

Featuring a brilliant combination of quality and endurance, batteries of Duralast receive a lot of praises from countless RV battery reviews . Unsurprisingly, Duralast is a favorite of people that want to have straightforward and reliable batteries. 

One major advantage of EverStart’s batteries is availability: you should be able to find some at your local supermarkets. Aside from that, batteries from the brand don’t excel at any particular but they would still give a good account of themselves in use.

Deep-cycle batteries come in a variety of sizes and have varying AH ratings. In most cases, the larger the size of a house battery, the greater the Amp Hour and Reserve Capacity. 

Often, they’re measured in group sizes, including 24, 27 and 31. The group size is simply the physical dimensions of the battery housing as set by the BCI ( Battery Council International ). Common BCI group sizes for RV batteries and dual purpose marine batteries:

Depending on your needs and the space available in your RV, there are a number of options, with the most common ones including:

• One 12-volt group 24 deep cycle battery that provides 70 – 85 AH.
• Two 12-volt group 24 wired in parallel that will provide 140 – 170 AH. Parallel wiring increases amp hours but not voltage.
• Two 6-volt golf cart batteries: when these are wired in a parallel series, they provide 180 – 220 AH. Series wiring increases voltage but not amp hours. In recent years, many RVers have switched from standard 12-volt batteries to exercise this option. Since the 6 volt batteries are larger, opt for this option only if you have enough room in your RV.
• Lastly, if the above options still don’t satisfy your requirements, you can build larger battery banks. Four 6-volt golf cart batteries wired in a parallel series will give you 12-volts and double your AH capacity. This is the largest battery bank available for travel trailers and motorhomes.

How to Charge an RV Battery

One of the best ways to charge the RV battery is to use your generator. Just make sure it is fully charged. You might also want to check if it is plugged into your AC outlet.  

When using a generator, the battery’s charging time is dependent on the weather. Do note that you might not get full capacity if the temperature is below 40 degrees. 

To avoid accidents, you should check that the RV is turned off with your emergency brake engaged. In addition, to maximize charging, you should also turn off the RV appliances. 

When using this method, make sure you equip a good quality RV generator for safety and better charging experience.

An efficient, environmentally friendly and money saving way of charging the battery is to use RV solar panels. 

If you have the solar panel, it is already connected to the battery and charging unit or inverter for a continued power source. For maximum charging, you must check that the solar panels are directly facing the sun all the time.

Another method to charge your RV battery is to use a deep cycle battery charger . This charger is a portable device, which has both negative and positive clamps that you must connect to the battery directly. You should disconnect the battery in order to charge using a battery charger.

To ensure that charging is done, check the indicator light that turns on when the battery is fully charged. Turn off the charger and detach the connection from the black clamp.

You can also charge your RV battery using a converter. In most cases, the converter charger used for RV batteries is combined with the primary power distribution panel. 

This device works by converting a 120V alternating power from an outlet into a 12V DC required by the battery. This is necessary in ensuring that your RV battery no longer has to supply DC in case you are plugged in.

Another function of this battery charging option is to charge your battery during those instances when it has an excess capacity. Rated in amps, it is capable of supplying the circuit boards of your RV’s lighting and appliances with enough power. 

Alternatively, you may also choose the inverter charger, which is capable of delivering similar functions as the converter charger. It is usually used in Modern Class A motorhomes, besides a few other models of travel trailers and vehicles.

The only problem with an inverter charger is that it might not be the efficient means of charging the RV battery because such charging can only supply an average of 40 amps. It also only charges the battery at up to 5 amps. This means that if your battery is drained or depleted, you need a lot of time to charge it. 

In case you need to charge your RV battery when you are driving, rest assured that you can do that safely using simple steps. The only things that you need are Anderson plugs, high-quality and high-amp cables, and VCR or the voltage controlled relay. 

The VCR will disconnect automatically and parallel the auxiliary. It also works in starting the batteries. This will close the relay and cause your truck and its batteries to be parallel based on the preset level. When you turn on the vehicle, it opens the relay. You can also expect the two batteries to be disconnected in case the vehicle is off.

It will then bring the voltage to a preset level. The next step is using the high-amp cables in combining the batteries to minimize the drop in voltage. You should use the Anderson plugs as these are designed to provide an excellent connection while minimizing the loss of voltage. The plugs can also carry a high amp.

Ensure that the cables are easy to detach at the tow bar. It is also possible to get rid of any fire hazard using the circuit protection that usually comes in a 50-amp auto reset circuit breaker form. Several rubber boots can also be slipped on into the breakers as a means of insulating them, thereby preventing them from shorting. You can check out the full guide here !

RV Battery Maintenance: Pro Tips to Follow

Generally speaking, automobile batteries could last for many years assuming that they receive appropriate maintenance. Unfortunately, soon after purchasing new batteries, various RVers need to find replacements again because they fail to take proper precautions. 

RV batteries can be sensitive and also pricey, and therefore, they must be taken care of properly. So if you don’t want to wreck your batteries by mistake, have to deal with premature replacement and waste your money in the process, follow the recommendations below.

Keeping the electrolyte acceptable levels is the key to extending the lifespan of RV batteries so pay attention to that. If you find the electrolyte to be low then proceed to add more distilled water. 

Don’t have distilled water? Well, mineral-free water could work as an adequate alternative. But whatever you do, refrain from adding tap water since that is going to cause calcium sulfation and kill your RV batteries in no time.

Once the charge in the batteries runs low, crystals start forming on the plates, a process that is called sulfation. This is when the sulfate material crystallizes on the discharged portions of the battery plates and therefore become effectively useless. In case you fail to recharge the batteries in time, which lets the sulfation progress pretty much unchecked, the batteries would be ruined before long. 

Hence, in order to maximize the lifespan of the batteries, it’s of utmost importance that you perform recharge in a timely manner. If possible, get yourself a voltmeter to determine the ideal time to recharge the batteries. This handy and cheap tool is used to determine how much voltage your battery is currently holding.  

Do not Undercharge or Overcharge

The battery’s lifespan is affected by undercharging as well, wherein a battery isn’t recharged to 100 percent before being unplugged and put into action again. Undercharging will further age your house battery prematurely, as it causes sulfation. The same phenomenon occurs when a battery is discharged for long periods of time. 

Just as undercharging can contribute to battery failure, so can overcharging. Overcharging causes greater water loss and corrosion of the plates. 

The Right Way To Discharging

To extend the battery’s lifespan, you should cycle the battery down to 50 percent discharge before recharging it every time. Recharging the battery as soon as it has lost only 20 percent of its charge will actually burn out the battery quicker than if it’s allowed to discharge more before being replenished. 

Effectively, this means you’ll never want to make use of a battery’s full amp-hours. Essentially, if you want to maximize the battery’s lifespan, do the math and cut this rating in half. 

Even if you turn off all the appliances in your recreational vehicle, certain things would continue to deplete the batteries such as gas leak detectors, antenna power booster, clocks, stereos,… To prevent the parasitic loads from discharging the batteries, it’s necessary that you set the battery disconnect switch to the “off” position if you don’t use the RV.

Your RV batteries should be best charged in three stages: bulk charge, abortion charge and float charge. The first stage brings the charge of the batteries back to 90 % then the second stage charges the remaining 10% and the third stage maintains the full charge.  

Compared to an integrated or built-in charger, a 3-stage charger is more effective, especially if used during storage. The market these days offers a variety of three-stage chargers so it’s a good idea that you pick up one. 

Unless the plates seem to be exposed, you must add water after charging the batteries. If the electrolyte runs so low that plates of the batteries are exposed, you need to add water to cover the plates first before performing recharges. By leaving the vent caps on batteries while charging, you could limit losses of water. 

Some other important maintenance tips:

• Clean terminals regularly and coat them with a battery terminal spray to avoid corrosion.
• When preparing the battery for use after winter storage, recharge the battery to its full charge state.
• When storing a battery for the winter, check and fill it with distilled water as needed, recharge the battery to its full charge state, and store in a cool dry place.
• Keep yourself protected with the use of safety goggles and rubber gloves when checking, refilling or replacing RV batteries.
• Your trunk should have the jumper cables in case of emergencies.
• Familiarize yourself with the physical signs of RV batteries failure, such as dim lights.
• Don’t ever forget to turn off the lights when you leave your rig.
• Don’t let your batteries run out: always check it periodically or at least 2 times in a year.
• Don’t forget that the negative cable comes out first when removing an RV battery to avoid a short circuit.
• Don’t neglect your vehicle outside of a garage, as bad weather might cause difficult starting.
• Don’t put excessive stress on the battery during idle times when waiting: turn the engine on to support it.

FAQs About RV Battery

• Unit price: About $100Low priced electric storage cell: $50 to $120Higher quality electric storage cell: $90 to $200Lead acid type electric storage cell: $125 to $135Batteries from service providers: $75 to $120AGM batteries: About $200 Installation: $10 to $100

RV batteries have varying lifespans, and this is dependent on the way you use and maintain it. Car batteries last, on average, three to five years . Once your battery is over three years old, it is time for close monitoring. One important maintenance duty is to monitor the battery’s electrolyte level. The main reason your battery might fail prematurely is that it has a low level of electrolyte. Overfilling it is equally detrimental. To know how old your battery is, you can check the four- or five-digit date code on the cover of your battery case. The first part of the code is key and consists of a letter and a digit, for instance D11. A letter is assigned to each month: A for January, B for February and so on.  The number that follows denotes the year: for instance, 8 for 2008, 9 for 2009, 0 for 2010, 11 for 2011, 12 for 2012 and so on. So “D11” means in April 2011, the battery was shipped from the factory to local battery wholesale distributors.

To install an RV battery, start by turning off all of the accessories that draw power from the battery, including minor appliances like overhead lights and radio. Make a note of where the current battery is located, and then disconnect the cables — negative first, then positive. Clean the cables and the new battery’s terminals if necessary while wearing rubber gloves for protection, and then insert the battery and reattach the cables. Install any hold-down hardware that accompanies the battery, and then give it a test run to ensure you’ve done everything correctly.

Your RV has two separate battery systems, a 12-volt DC system and a 120-volt AC system. There’s also an automotive 12-volt system for starting the engine and running basic automotive functions, just like in your car.

In essence, the 12 volt batteries are widely used in travel trailers and motorhomes. The 6 volt batteries are more versatile; they are used for RVs and are also used in cabins and small homes. Which one is the best deep cycle battery for RV depends on your preference and your rig’s electrical needs. For a summarized comparison, compared to a 12voltdeep cycle RV battery, a 6 volt deep cycle RV battery has the following pros and cons: Pros: + Larger amp-hour rating + Larger discharge and recharge capacity + More lightweight + Longer lifespan Cons: – Pricier – Half the amp-hours and voltage

Every now and then, it’s just convenient for RV owners to leave the vehicles plugged in to power sources. That is not going to harm the batteries but as constant charges go through them, the electrolyte levels fall steadily.  Therefore, if you plan to leave your rig plugged in, remember to check the electrolyte levels on your batteries at least once a month to make sure that they are not low or have gone dry. If the electrolytes on the batteries are low you need to top them off with distilled water. If you do not monitor and top off your batteries, there is a chance that they can get damaged. Another thing you should check is to make sure that none of your 120 volt appliances are on, such as the fridge and water heater.

Whenever your recreational vehicle is plugged in, the house battery is charged. Also, when your recreational vehicle is connected to an outlet, your batteries are charging. The RV charger/converter converts the power from the grid into the 12V DC and then channels the power to an adapter. This charger/converter is integrated into your RV. Compared to an integrated or built-in charger, a 3-stage charger is more effective, especially if used during storage. As the name implies, a 3-stage charger charges your battery in three stages: Bulk charging is what the inbuilt charger will give, covering usually up to 90% of the charge. The acceptance charge is the second charging stage, slowly tapering off as your battery becomes fully charged. The final stage allows trickle charging until your batteries are fully charged. It works by keeping the trickle coming to maintain battery topping off. This means that when your RV is plugged in, it is receiving a trickle charge. While it’s only a trickle charge, it can deplete the battery cells’ electrolyte levels. For this reason, you should maintain and check the battery monthly when your camper or recreational vehicle is plugged in while in storage.

When you notice that your RV battery is draining fast, it’s more likely happening when your RV is not plugged into shore power and that you are not running your generator.  First, inspect to see whether there is a problem with your house batteries. You need to make sure that all battery connections are clean and tight and that the batteries have the proper amount of electrolytes. If this is not the case, it’s best that you take your RV in and have a Certified RV Technician check out the 12 volt DC system in your RV. They will load test the batteries to make sure that they can take and hold a charge, then check the charging system on the RV to make sure that batteries are receiving a proper charge. Last and not least, they might check for any 12-volt electrical item that might be sucking a lot of power from the batteries.

Yes, you can – sort of. An RV can be hooked up to a home’s electrical system, but there are some things you must know. Since your RV will need at least a 30/50 Amp hookup to power the rig, you’ll be limited in what you can run connected to a home’s 15/20 Amp electrical outlet. To hook up your rig to your home outlet within safe parameters, in most cases, you will only be able to use one appliance at a time. If you use more than one at a time, you’ll risk damaging both your RV and home’s electrical system. The following RV appliances consume a large amount of power, so be cautious when running them for long periods of time or trying to run them with other appliances at the same time: Heater Air conditioning Microwave Oven Toaster Hairdryer If you are hooking up to a home’s standard outlet, you can do this via an outdoor, all-weather extension cord and 15/20 Amp adapter for your RV’s electrical hookups. Look for an extension cord that is as short as possible going from your home to your RV to prevent it from overheating. Follow these steps to hook an RV up to your home’s electrical system: Ensure all electrical appliances are turned off in your rig. Turn off the breakers to your home. Plug the extension cord into your RV’s electrical hookups, if necessary via an adapter. Then, reset your home’s breakers.

Numerous towing vehicles charge the batteries of the recreational vehicles they tow on the road. That being said, such charge tends to insufficient to bring the nearly depleted batteries of RV back to full charge.  The mechanism behind it is straightforward: at first, the towing vehicles charge the batteries of the RV at high rates. but as the batteries of the vehicles reach full charge, the charging rates drop dramatically. That is why if you intend to charge the batteries of your rig on the move, you need to tweak your electrical system a bit.

In the beginning, you have to connect the batteries of your rig using high-quality and high-amp cables to minimize voltage drops, and VCR or the voltage controlled relay. It’s strongly recommended that you consider using Anderson plus here because they carry massive amperage while ensuring excellent connections.   Next, the VCR relay is going to close, the batteries of your RV would get paralleled to the preset levels. If the truck is back on the move then the relay should open once again.

In the case you actively use your RV then you have to recharge the batteries as often as possible to minimize troubles due to depletion. On the other hand, if your rig is in storage then you must charge the batteries at least 8 hours a month to top them off.

To put it plainly, the charging time of RV batteries varies greatly from case to case as multiple factors come into play during the process. That means you likely need to use your voltmeter in order to decide the charging time of your batteries based on a couple of recharges. Keep in mind that things don’t exactly work in scale here: It may take 4 hours to take charge of the batteries from 50% to 80% . To get the charge from 80% to 90%, you sometimes have to wait for around 4 more hours to as long as 8 hours .

Like the time it takes to recharge them, RV batteries don’t have consistent runtimes. Usually, the time that batteries of recreational vehicles would last is dictated by storage, usage, maintenance, recharge and so on. If you prove to be good at battery preservations, a regular 12-volt battery should keep your appliances powered for 48 hours . To be on the safe side, it’s widely advised that you prepare backup powers in case your batteries run out of juice easier than expected.

You can also find our guides on how to choose the best lithium battery for RV , best AGM battery , best 6 volt RV battery , best deep cycle battery chargers , best trickle chargers with detailed reviews in RV Electrical category. In these reviews, we only include and recommend the best products with the highest ratings among highly sold products on the market.

About Chris Coleman

Chris Coleman is an interesting travel blogger and outdoor photographer with a great sense of humor. He owns an RV Accessories shop in New York City so he has the knowledge necessary to provide thorough reviews and give advice on how to choose the right products for RV travel. He puts all that RV knowledge and experience to good use in his sharing posts. Besides product buying guides/reviews, Chris also writes informative articles, how-to articles and RV camping guides in his own interesting viewpoint. Chris’s blog is one of the most reliable information sources for RV campers no matter if you're an expert or a determined beginner.

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I purchased 3 Odyssey PC680 and mounted them inside the RV which saved 200lbs of weight from the trailer tongue. Best upgrade I’ve made to the RV. They are incredibly powerful and seem to last more than twice as long even with heavy loads such as the microwave and hair dryer. They charge extremely fast also with very little absorption time needed to top off. The voltage runs about 13V instead of 12V which allows less lower current requirements which saves power from voltage drop in the wiring. When they are fully discharged to 12V, they still easily start the 4KW generator without any problem.

I bought 3 UPG UB121000 batteries for a 12V battery bank in a travel trailer. 400W solar panels, 2000w inverter for short term use for a microwave and running a 350w fridge. One of the batteries had an issue under sustained heavy load (70amps for a few minutes) that would drop voltage to zero. After a quick email with customer service they provided me with free return shipping and sent a replacement battery. It took about 6 days round trip for the new battery to arrive. Great customer service and a more importantly an excellent battery for the price.

Yeah, Universal Power Group is praised for the quick and helpful customer service by many RV campers. Thank you, Michael for your comment.

I have 4 Battle Born LiFePO4 deep cycle batteries installed in the front compartment of my 27 foot 5th wheel. They are connected to a Magnum Energy 3000 watt Hybrid inverter. We also have 1200 watts of solar panels on the roof utilizing 2 Blue Sea MPPT solar controllers. With this setup we are currently sitting in the middle of nowhere with no generator or shore power and can run our microwave, TV, Xbox, Refrigerator, everything in the RV, all day long and the batteries stay at 100% charge. After the sun goes down we generally watch TV and use other electric devices for 4 or 5 hours into the night. It gets cold at night so our furnace is running all night, this is heated with propane but the blower motor pulls electricity from the batteries, by morning we are usually at about 80% charge. If it is a sunny day, the solar has charged these batteries to 100% by 10am, or if it is a cloudy day, 11:30 or noon at the latest. If it rained and stayed completely dark for a week we still have a small generator we can run to charge the batteries back up to full and since these soak up amps so quickly, it wouldn’t take more than a couple hours. I am very pleased with these batteries. Highly recommend to RV campers.

Hi Brandon, thanks for sharing a very detailed reviews on the product, which would be a great help for other RVers find a great battery for their RV, travel trailer, camper. Battle Born LiFePO4 deep cycle battery is also one of the best upgrades I’ve made for my Fuzion. Here are the pros of this battery: – Long-lasting. Can last many years (3000 cycles) vs approximately 2-5 years (300 cycles) for lead acid. – Compact and lightweight. About 1/3 the weight of lead acid. – Brilliant protection – Higher voltage and higher current capability allows generator to start easier without low voltage lag. – Can be recharged at least 3000 times and retain 80% of original capacity. – Can be charged faster. Up to .5C vs .2C with lead acid.

Guys, the list is sorely incomplete without BigBattery. They are lowest cost per Kw-hour and top quality. I paid around $3000 for >8000 watt-hours of power! And at a weight of just under 200 lbs.

BattleBorn is a fine product, but their pricing doesn’t reflect the downward trend in lithium battery pricing.

I used this Optima 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Starting & Deep Cycle Marine Battery for about 4.5 years and it still works perfectly. My RV stays parked much of the time, but I don’t have to worry about the battery when I take it out. This product has a distinctive SpiralCell design together with continuous lead plates, which is capable of supplying a safe, strong and clean source of power. I am impressed with this battery because it actually serves a dual purpose: as a starting and deep cycle battery. Besides that, this battery has good vibration resistance, it is even fifteen times more resistant to various forms of vibration compared to other marine batteries.

With regards to vibration resistance, this one tops the list. Vibration from trolling motors and moving RVs and other vehicles can damage a battery, but this one is 15 times more resistant to vibration than other marine batteries.

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The Best RV Batteries (2024 Guide)

Keep your camper fully charged with these great RV batteries

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Good RV batteries are critical to a successful RV camping experience. Similar to how a bad battery can wreck a fishing trip on your boat, a dead battery can ruin a camping trip in a hurry. In fact, many anglers will use one battery for the motor and one for running the electrons. These two types of batteries are not the same, and it is important to understand the difference. The same goes for RV batteries and car batteries—they aren’t the same, and it’s crucial to know what battery to buy for your rig.

There are four main types of RV batteries; wet cell lead acid, gel cell lead acid, absorbent gas mat (AGM) lead acid, and Lithium-ion (Li-ion). These four types of batteries also follow the same order for both performance and cost, with Li-ion batteries being the best-performing and most expensive. Your RV likely came from the factory with one of the first three types as the standard option; however, some of the higher-end RVs come with a Li-ion from the start. But before you head out on your next adventure, check your electrical systems, and if need be, replace your power source with one of the best RV batteries available.

• Best Overall: Optima Yellow Top AGM
• Best Solar: LiTime 12V 200Ah PLUS Lithium LiFePO4 Battery
• Best Premium: WEIZE 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery
• Best Innovative Design: Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery w/ Battery Monitor
• Fastest Charging: Tracker Lithium Gen2

How We Picked the Best RV Batteries

I have over 30 years of experience with RV batteries in all different capacities. I’ve used and tested different types, styles, brands, and more to help power my own RV and other off-roading vehicles. My experience even goes further back if you take into account the years of using automotive and marine batteries. I’ve also used every type of RV, from pop-up campers to travel trailers to large motorhomes, and one thing is always the same—you have to have a quality battery for the electrical systems, or the trip is ruined. Here are a few things I look for in a good RV battery:

• Durability: How long will the battery last, and how much use can it withstand while still performing?
• Power output: How much power does the battery put out, and is it strong enough to power everything you need in an RV?
• Rechargability: How well does the battery hold a charge, and how long does it take to recharge?

Best RV Batteries: Reviews & Recommendations

Specs  

• Type: AGM battery
• Power : 12 volt
• Amps: 450 (D51 model)
• Weight: 26 pounds
• Sealed, maintenance-free battery
• Fast recharge rates
• Over 300 recharges
• Higher cost
• Works best with a battery tender

The Optima Yellow Top is a premium battery that will last for a long time and can provide power to run your RV’s motor and accessories. It can also handle repeated recharges without wearing out. The Yellow Top is excellent for starting an RV, and there are multiple sizes available to exactly fit your battery opening, as well as provide the required amps for your RV needs. The Optima line features a SpiralCell structure which gives the battery a low discharge rate while at the same time making it resistant to damage from vibration. This is why you often see off-roaders and boat owners both using Optima batteries—they can handle a lot of abuse. And Yellow Top batteries can take well over 300 recharge cycles down to a 50-percent discharge. It is recommended to use a battery tender with Optima batteries, as they will recharge fast, but repeated deep drains, and leaving them to sit for long periods of inactivity can decrease their lifespan.

Best Solar Battery: LiTime 12V 200Ah PLUS Lithium LiFePO4 Battery

• Type: Li-ion Battery
• Power: 12.8-volts (can be used in series, too)
• Weight: 48.3 pounds
• 10 year warranty
• Low discharge rate

This large-sized Lithium-ion battery has great power, a long lifespan, and a low discharge rate. Which makes it one of the best choices for off-the-grid use. In fact, it is perfect for those using a solar RV battery system for recharging, especially if you’re going to park your RV somewhere for a lengthy stay. These types of batteries are great RV replacement batteries, too. This battery is built for durability and has built-in protection from overcharges. It can withstand over 4,000 recharge cycles and has a very low self-draw, meaning it can sit for a long period of time and not lose much juice. Being a Li-ion battery, this one has three times the energy density of a similar-sized lead battery at a fraction of the weight. Want more convincing? How does a 10-year warranty sound? If you are looking for a long-term battery solution, this is our pick.

Best Premium Battery: WEIZE 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery

• Type: Lithium Ion Battery
• Power: 12 volts
• Weight: 26.4 pounds
• Fast recharge
• Lightweight
• 10-year warranty
• Higher initial cost
• Requires Li-ion charger

You’re looking at the best 100Ah capacity battery on the market, and it comes full of many great features. For starters, it has a built-in Battery Management System (BMS) that protects the battery from overcharge, excessive discharge, over-current, short-circuiting, and high and low temperature issues. This gives the Weize a lifespan that lasts well over 8,000 cycles at 50 percent discharge. You can run it in series with up to 4 Li-ion batteries, too. Weize suggests you only charge it with a dedicated Li-ion battery charger, which is a good idea for any Li-ion battery. However, it does include solar charging, which makes this a great battery for off-grid living. If the 100Ah capacity wasn’t enough, Weize also makes a 300Ah model .

Best Innovative Design Battery: Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery w/ Battery Monitor

• Discharge rate: 3%
• Long-lasting AGM battery
• Rugged and leakproof
• Optional battery monitor works with every battery

Renogy makes some pretty outstanding batteries and battery accessories, and this model packaged with their battery monitor is a pretty innovative design. The battery itself is a 12-volt AGM battery with a low three-percent self-discharge rate that comes thanks to their proprietary alloy formula. This means that the battery will hold a charge for a long period of time. It is also a great option for dual battery setups. Unlike many other models, this unit comes with a digital battery monitor that gives you complete data on the battery’s performance. This is extremely helpful for extended stays when you need to know exactly how much battery life you have left. The monitor gives you the percentage as well as the discharge rate and more. Plus, it works with any battery, not just the Renogy. The battery also comes with a two-year warranty.

• Type: Lithium-ion
• Weight: 21 pounds
• Amp hours: 80
• Faster recharge time
• 5 year warranty

Marine batteries are made to be extremely durable and handle the roughest conditions. And while they might not be the best option for your truck, they do tend to work pretty well in RVs. The Tracker Lithium Gen 2 made our list of best marine batteries , and it makes this list, too, for many of the same reasons. Produced by RelION technology, this battery takes on more than 5,000 discharges with a  capacity of 80-amp hours. After being run down, the Tracker battery powers back up in as little as an hour and a half. Tracker also boasts internal fire protection. Something that can give some added peace of mind. And Tracker even offers a 5 year warranty for this battery.

Things to Consider Before Buying an RV Battery

An RV battery is actually quite different from your regular automotive battery, mostly due to one major thing—your RV has more stuff and cool camping gadgets for the battery to power. If you’re in a campground with an electrical hook-up, that is one thing. But when you’re not plugged in, the RV has to operate on battery power alone. This is one of the reasons why Li-ion type batteries and solar generators are becoming increasingly popular with RV owners. Large capacity RV batteries are often getting the nod over dual battery setups for those looking at a replacement battery.

What should you look for? Amp hour ratings are important. This is the capacity of the battery. The more capacity you have, the longer you can go between recharges, so if you’re looking for a battery for a solar generator system, or off-grid RV camping, get a bigger battery around the 300Ah range. You’ll be much happier. 

The lifespan of an RV battery is important too. You want one that can take a lot of recharges over the course of ownership. You’ve already invested so much in your camper, and you don’t want to have to replace expensive batteries all the time, too. It is a better long-term investment to buy a premium battery once than to buy three cheaper ones that will wind up costing more.

Maintenance isn’t as much of an issue with Lithium batteries, or even closed-cell batteries, as it was with the older lead-acid batteries that you have to check all the time. Still, proper maintenance is required for everything, and a battery tender , also known as a trickle charger, is a great idea for your RV. This is especially true when you consider the price of the batteries. An expensive battery system should simply be maintained for the best performance. And speaking of cost, you should take that into account, too. If you only have a limited budget for a new battery, make sure you take care of it to the best of your ability to protect that investment.

Q: How long do my RV batteries last on average?

This depends on how often you use it. If you’re using a lot of juice, the battery will drain fast. You also need to look at the overall capacity and the age of the battery. The older a battery gets, the closer it is to dying. Even the best RV batteries will eventually wear out. Keep them charged and use a trickle charger and proper storage when not in use to help increase their lifespan.

Q: How do I maintain my RV batteries?

Maintaining your RV batteries is simple. First, keep it charged while in use. When you’re not using it, like during the winter months, take the battery out and store it in an even-temperature place, like your basement. Keep it off concrete or the ground, and use a battery tender or trickle charger. When in your camper, make sure it is secured in place, and check it as often as you can to make sure the connections are tight.

Q: How long does it take to charge an RV battery fully?

It depends on the type of battery you’re using. Traditional lead-acid batteries take longer to charge than AGM batteries, which take longer to charge on average than a Lithium battery. It is important not to overcharge a battery by dumping in too strong of a current. This can harm the battery and also be dangerous.

Q: Are marine & RV batteries basically the same or do they differ?

While they are not the same, most marine batteries can be used as RV batteries. Be sure it is a deep cycle battery so it can be recharged often. The biggest difference between the two is intended use. Marine batteries are built for the abuse of boating on rough water, and this includes corrosive environments like saltwater. On the flip side, RV batteries do not make very good marine batteries because they aren’t designed with that durability in mind.

Q: How do I know my RV battery is dead?

Aside from the obvious of things not working, the best way to know if your RV battery is dead is to try to charge it. It may have been drawn down too much to keep things operating. If it doesn’t take a charge, then have it tested to see if it has outlived its usefulness. Much like a car battery, RV batteries only last for so long.

Q: What is the best way to charge my RV battery?

You can use the engine’s alternator if you have a motorhome. It will be just like your car battery and will slowly recharge and maintain it like your car or truck. If you have a separate battery system in your RV, a slow charge will always be the best option. Consult your exact battery model’s recommendations for proper charging. Nowadays, many battery chargers allow you to select the type of battery and optimal recharge rate for increased lifespan.

Best RV Batteries: Final Thoughts

The Optima Yellow Top won the best overall award due to its incredible performance in my RV, truck, boat, and even UTV. It checks all the boxes. With solar power becoming a major part of RV batteries these days, being able to work seamlessly with solar generators, power sources, and chargers are a big part of what makes a great RV battery, too. While some selections on this list are better than others when paired with a solar system, every recommendation will meld with your RVs solar power, too.

Why Trust Us

For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.

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What is the Best RV deep cycle battery for RVs & Travel Trailers?

• Last Updated: February 23, 2024
• 45 minutes read

Unless you want to suffer the inconvenience of having no power, you must invest in the best RV deep cycle battery.

This guide explains all the important factors to consider when choosing the right deep cycle battery. 

I have experienced the frustration of not having proper ventilation and lights on a cold night because I run out of electricity.

Worse, I had to lessen my time in using my phone and television because I can’t charge.

An excellent RV battery must have a large reserve capacity to provide consistent power to your equipment and appliances over a long period.

The good thing about a deep cycle battery is that it is designed for repeated discharging and recharging—making sure it withstands RVing conditions. 

If you have lots of electronics inside your RV, I’ve compiled the best RV batteries for different needs.

Here, you’ll see everything you need to know about deep cycle batteries, especially their features that make them reliable energy storage and a backup power source.

At A Glance: Our Top Picks For Best RV Deep Cycle Battery Choices For 2023

If you are considering other factors such as portability, silent operation, fast drying times, and user-friendly settings, then there are 10 remaining models for you to choose from.

• Best AGM Deep Cycle Battery: XS-Power-D3100
• Best Lithium-Ion Deep Cycle Battery: Battle Born LiFePO4 12V Deep Cycle Battery
• Budget-Friendly Option: WindyNation 12V Deep Cycle Battery
• Premium Choice: Renogy 12V Lithium-Iron Phosphate Battery
• Best for Solar Charging: Universal Power Group UB121000 12V Deep Cycle Battery
• Perfect for Cold Environments: Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M Deep Cycle Battery
• Best for Sequencing: Renogy AGM 12V Deep Cycle Battery
• Most Lightweight and Compact: Odyssey PC925 Automotive and LTV Battery
• Best Ergonomics and Construction: VMAXTANKS VMAX V35-857 12V Deep Cycle Battery

1. Best Agm Deep Cycle Battery: XS-Power-D3100

The XS-Power-D3100 is a 12V battery designed to provide supplemental power to your vehicle or high-performance sound system.

Things We Like

• Sealed AGM design and reinforced ABS plastic case.
• Less voltage drop.    
• Resists vibrations and high temperatures.

Things We Don’t Like

• It does not include battery terminals.
• The heaviest battery on this list.

For starters, this model stores energy. Hence, there is no need to add a capacitor to the system to get a quick burst.

This is one of the best RV deep cycle batteries because of its 1360 cranking amps and 110 amp-hours of discharge capacity.

The capacity enables the unit to supply electrical power to a high-powered audio system.

Basically, this unit is a six-cell, sealed-valve regulated, lead-acid battery.

It optimizes a fibrous material to suspend all liquid electrolyte against the plates. So, no acid will spill even if the case gets damaged.

To maximize the nominal capacity of 110Ah, I suggest using the battery at 25 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the battery delivers up to 5,000 maximum amps.

The discharge temperature can range between 5 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

Since the XS-Power-D3100 has a sealed AGM mat design, its non-hazardous configurations guarantee durability and longer operation.

Subsequently, the battery comes vibration-resistant and ventless. This also means you can place the battery l in almost any position.

During my tests, I found it is important to keep the battery cool even when charging. The charging temperature should be between 32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

When it comes to installation, note that the tightening torque must not exceed 8 feet-pounds on the battery.

I used automotive post adaptors, but you could also opt for screws and bolts.

Finally, this 12V deep cycle battery heavy has a reasonable weight. This unit is considered as one of the best racing batteries on the market.

Its technology provides more energy in a smaller space because each cell is compressed before insertion into the case.

Key Takeaways:

Carries a 60-day risk-free guarantee and a three-year warranty.

It has a reserve capacity of 237 minutes.

High energy density ensures powerful output.

Resists intense vibrations and extreme heat.

Simple installation and charging.

2. Best Lithium-Ion Deep Cycle Battery: Battle Born LiFePO4 12V Deep Cycle Battery

The Battle Born LiFePO4 is one of the best RV deep cycle batteries because of its heavy-duty components and solid design that can save energy even in tough outdoor conditions.

• Saves energy through its Battery Management System.
• Protects itself against deep discharge, overcharging, and weather.
• Lightweight and sleek design.
• High price tag.
• Excessive voltage damages the internal protective circuits.

This model is one of the best deep cycle lithium-ion batteries because of its modern design that combines excellent discharging, ruggedness, and reliability.

It delivers 3,000 to 5,000 repeated discharging capacity while still sustaining 80% of its energy capacity.

The unit is so versatile—its voltage can serve both solar energy applications and as a backup power source.

The good thing is that the battery does not need a floating stage for charging.

In case, you can connect the battery to shore power at a float voltage between 13.4 and 13.8.

What I like the most is that the battery’s ample constant output supplies power to your RV devices and electronics.

Regardless of the weather and outdoor situation, you can ensure a supply source of energy.

In fact, I was able to test two models along with solar panels. Using the Battle Born LiFePO4 12V Deep Cycle Battery ,  I powered a ventilation system, lights, water pump, and refrigerator.

Since it is a lithium-ion RV battery, the model can withstand repeated charging.

Besides, the impact-resistant design makes the battery tough against vibration, shocks, and spills. Subsequently, you can place the unit in any direction.

Aside from being maintenance-free, this unit has a Battery Management System.

Other energy-saving and safety features include high/low voltage protection, short circuit protection, high/low temperature, and automatic cell balancing.

Moreover, this deep cycle battery has a fast charging technology despite very little absorption time.

The fast charging, along with 100% non-toxic materials, makes it safe to install the battery.

You do not even have to worry about temperature compensation for charging.

This makes indoor installation convenient for the trailer’s weight.

Boasts a 10-year warranty.

Handles numerous charging.

Discharges at a high current rate without losing Ah capacity.

Serves as energy storage for solar applications.

Sustains a charge for up to one year without a load.

3: Budget-Friendly Option: WindyNation 12V Deep Cycle Battery

The WindyNation 12V Deep Cycle Battery is specifically designed for deep-cycle performance applications that need frequenting discharge and recharge for off-grid situations.

• It comes with large reserve capacity.
• Impressive deep cycle output in both discharging and recharging.
• Resistant to vibrations and shocks.
• Prone to breakage due to the brass materials in the core and threads.
• Short hub terminals.

This model boasts a high reserve capacity of 100 amps per hour.

This enables the battery to maintain voltage for up to 240 minutes under a 25-amp discharge.

Since this is an AGM-sealed lead acid battery with heavy-duty plates, WindyNation BattaMax can handle deep and repetitive discharges.

On the other hand, the virgin lead keeps a low discharge rate while optimizing power storage.

The 99% pure lead content also means the lead floats inside while powering up the battery.

The surprising part—the battery’s float life is up to 12 years at 25 degrees Celsius.

I noticed that the battery will deliver less than the rated capacity if operated at temperatures below 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

You’ll get more than the rated capacity if you go beyond this temp, but the life expectancy diminishes.

If you want to further boost the capacity and system voltage, I suggest doing a series-parallel connection.

Like the rest of the best 12V deep cycle batteries for RV, this model is fully sealed.

Hence, there’s no way to spill or leak. You can also position the battery either upright or on its sides, but not upside down.

When it comes to construction, the ABS plastic material prevents the battery from emitting harmful substances or fumes.

Most importantly, maintenance is minimal. Aside from quick recharging, you can use this model for solar charging.

It comes with a one-year warranty.

Durable ABS material that withstands bad weather.

Fully sealed and maintenance-free.

Suitable for parallel connection.

Fitted with heavy-duty plats for deep and repetitive discharges.

4: Premium Choice: Renogy 12V Lithium-Iron Phosphate Battery

The Renogy 12V Lithium-Iron Phosphate Battery is a lightweight, durable, and energy-efficient option for those who need to spend long days on the road.

• Has a user-friendly LCD for output monitoring.
• Low self-discharge that gives a longer shelf life.
• Energy-efficient and spill-proof.
• Not advisable to string this battery in a series.

In terms of capacity, this unit is rated 12 volts with 100 Amp-hours.

I observed that the battery does not drain below 20%. Yet, it can convert its 12V power to 85% capacity.

Aside from that, this model has a very low self-discharge of 3% a month.

Likewise, its 2000-cycle operation means a longer lifespan. As a result, it provides a better shelf life.

As for the operation’s temperature range, the recommended discharge temp is between -20 to 60 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the charging temperature should be from 0 to 45 degrees Celsius.

What impresses me the most is the monitor that checks the amperage out of the battery bank.

An LCD screen even displays accurate readings of current, voltage, battery capacity, and consumed power.

When it comes to energy-saving, Renogy 12V Lithium-Iron Phosphate Battery has a built-in Battery Management System, which protects the battery’s performance.

The BMS balances the cells while protecting the battery against short-circuiting, over-discharging, over-charging, and over-current.

Similarly, its safety features are possible due to the fully-sealed lithium-iron phosphate cells.

The sturdy waterproof housing also prevents the battery from experiencing corrosion or leaking.

This lightweight unit houses these internal mechanisms and capacity at a 28-pound ABS casing. 

The compact design lets you install up to three batteries in a space allotted for massive traditional batteries.

For installation, let me remind you to tightly screw the battery terminals in. If you don’t, the loose terminals will generate heat and damage the battery.

Lastly, you can store this model for up to a year. Make sure that you place it in a space where the temperature ranges from 0 to 25 degrees Celsius.

Comes with a five-year warranty.

Makes use of ABS+PC for housing.

Lightweight, sleek, and compact.

Comes with several safety features.

Expensive, but a great price for lithium-ion.

5: Best For Solar Charging: Universal Power Group UB121000 12V Deep Cycle Battery

The AGM design of the Universal Power Group UB121000 12V Deep Cycle Battery delivers reliability even in tough environments while easily supporting your RVing needs.

• Flexible, shock-proof, and spill-proof.
• Runs up to 500 cycles.
• Cyclic battery for solar charging.
• Some users have reported a drop in voltage after a year of usage.
• Poor customer service.

This model is recommendable for deep discharge situations. The nominal capacity is 100Ah, but this would still depend on the temperature, battery condition, and discharging current.

I suggest limiting the charging voltage around 13.6V to 13.8V. The recommended discharge temperature is between 5 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

Meanwhile, the charging temperature should be between 32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

What’s also amazing is the individual stainless cell that makes the battery spill-proof in any mounting position.

This design also enables the model to withstand shocks and vibration.

During my trial, I was able to run a 150-watt television for up to six hours. The battery dropped from 12.8V to 12.6V only.

Even lights and radios turned on for a long time don’t seem to shake the voltage that much.

But I also noticed that even if this camper battery is rated 100Ah at 12V, it can only provide around 600 watts per day.

One of the things I like is its package that comes with bolts, nuts, and washers.

Attaching the cables using the cable terminals was also stress-free.

Even if the Universal Power Group UB121000 Deep Cycle Battery is bulky at 60 pounds, the price is an excellent value for an AGM deep cycle battery.

Don’t worry because you won’t have to add water. Since AGM 12V batteries are maintenance-free, the only thing you will have to remember is to charge.

You can preserve the battery in a cool environment, but the shelf life depends on the storage temperature.

When stored fully charged at 68 degrees Fahrenheit, you will still get a nominal charge of around 64% after one year.

Lasts up to six hours per one full charge.

AGM design delivers excellent seep cycle output.

Less than 3% per month standing self-discharge.

One-hour rating at 60Ah and 20-hour rating at 100Ah.

6: Perfect For Cold Environments: Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M Deep Cycle Battery

The Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M Deep Cycle Battery is a maintenance-free power source to support plenty of onboard machines without the risk of cell damage.

• Provides clean, strong, and safe power.
• Higher and more consistent voltage under load.
• Increased vibration-resistance for longer life.
• Prone to overcharging.
• Housing is prone to damage.

Optima has been a powerhouse in manufacturing batteries since the 1990s.

Even so, it specifically designed this model for RVs with extensive electronic systems without draining quickly.

Although the BlueTop starting battery is suitable for engine starting, you can use it as an auxiliary power source because of its SpiralCell Technology.

This feature includes two lead plates coated in lead oxide.

What’s more, this lightweight battery brags a high reserve capacity.

As a result, you obtain a long shelf-life and adequate supply of power regardless of the weather.

What I like the most are the unit’s 750-cold cranking amps.

This means you can rely on the battery to provide optimal power even in harsh environments, especially winter.

Aside from that, the Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M Deep Cycle Battery can take in as much current as possible without overheating—making it one of the best deep cycle batteries around.

When it comes to durability, this 12V deep cycle battery is 15 times more resistant to vibration.

Its design can tolerate shocks without damaging the battery.

On top of that, this model is spill-proof and maintenance-free. Thus, you can place the battery in virtually any position.

Optima provides a digital charger, so that the charging process is more compatible with the battery’s specs.

For safety, make sure to charge the battery below 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

Reserve capacity of two hours.

Uses polypropylene as case material.

Rapid charging technology.

Comes with a one-year warranty.

Works both as a starting and deep cycle battery.

7: Best For Sequencing: Renogy AGM 12V Deep Cycle Battery

The Renogy AGM 12V Deep Cycle Battery is perfect for marine and off-grid usage because it can provide high currents on demand for long periods with very low self-discharge.

• High capacity and high quality battery.
• Features optimized capacity of instant high-current discharging.
• It comes with a high performance corrosion-resistant alloy.
• Some users received the package without stud bolts.

This deep cycle AGM battery is specifically designed for solar energy storage systems. You can rely on its high power capacity and long lifespan during long travels.

Ideally, use 200 watts of Renogy’s solar panels to store power. But if you don’t own a panel from Renogy, you can buy at least a 100-watt solar panel.

Although it has a nominal voltage of 12V, the capacity is rated 100Ah at a 10-hour rate to 10.8V at 25 degrees Celsius.

In terms of operating temperature, the discharge is ranging from 15 to 50 degrees Celsius. More than that, the 12V model is Renogy’s most powerful battery.

This unit has a very low self-discharge, the battery can sustain a charge for up to nine months.

I found that you can wire a few units together in a sequence to power an entire solar grid. With its capacity alone, I was able to run my refrigerator for over 18 hours.

It can even support lights, a modest air conditioner, and a television for hours.

Since this is an AGM type of battery, there’s no need to worry about maintenance. In fact, the battery is spill-proof.

The construction is also astounding. The fiberglass sheets protect this 12V deep cycle battery against vibration and shocks.

I also like the fact that charging is very simple. Make sure the charging temperature is from 0 to 40 degrees Celsius.

Even if the Renogy AGM 12V Deep Cycle Battery weighs 70 pounds, the string handle makes it easy to carry the battery around. The best part—you get all of these at an affordable price!

Sealed and maintenance-free operation.

It comes with a two-year warranty.

Uses ABS as its container material.

Can survive 600 cycles at 80% depth of discharge.

No issues with charging and discharging.

8: Most Lightweight And Compact: Odyssey PC925 Battery

The Odyssey PC925 Battery delivers long-lasting deep cycle cranking powerfor all your electrical needs regardless of the weather and situation.

• Lightweight and compact at 26 pounds.
• Provides both deep cycle and cranking power.
• Non-spillable and vibration-resistant design.
• Some users reported receiving the wrong cable thread size.
• Could be too small for some RV configurations.

This RV deep cycle battery features AGM technology that gives engine cranking pulses over 2250A for five seconds.

Likewise, the design exhibits 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge.

This model has a 70% longer cycle life compared to other units. Therefore, the battery can give a low rate, but long duration drains.

Consequently, it can provide a short duration of high amperage pulse.

The wonderful part is that the five-second cranking power is double to triple that of equally sized conventional batteries.

This is even if the temperature goes as low as 40 degrees Celsius.

Since the Odyssey PC925 Battery operates as a sealed battery, it recycles almost all gases internally under normal operating conditions.

In effect, it prevents corrosion of the positive terminal or corrosion to the surrounding area.

The non-spillable design equates to flexible mounting. In fact, you can install the unit in any direction, except inverted, without sacrificing output.

Because of the valve regulated design, you don’t have to fear acid burns or venting.

Moreover, the vibration-resistant design displays ruggedness and tolerance.

It protects the battery against mechanical vibration and high impact shock.

Even after a month of trial, it only took six hours for the battery to regain 100% charge.

Another good thing is that you can store the battery for up to two years at 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge.

Has a reserve capacity of 52 minutes.

Comes with a four-year warranty.

Long life cycle.

Size fits right under the RV hood.

9: Best Ergonomics And Construction: VMAXTANKS VMAX V35-857 Deep Cycle Battery

The VMAXTANKS VMAX V35-857 Deep Cycle Battery is an affordable, yet top-rated unit because of its high performance AGM technology that delivers lasting reliable power.

• Durable and reliable design.
• Estimated run time of up to nine hours depending on usage.
• Features a metal carrying handle.
• Needs a higher charging voltage.
• Not suitable for starting.

This model’s plates boast a unique chemical and physical structure.

This design enables the battery to provide strength and high performance. Thus, you can rely on it as a primary or backup power.

The AGM absorbs the electrolyte, which protects the unit from spilling. Consequently, its design makes the battery resistant to vibrations and shocks.

When it comes to running time, low voltage operation can add four more hours to the battery life.

But even with a 35Ah capacity, you get a rated 12V power at discharging temperatures around 4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Furthermore, this unit features heavy-duty lead-tin alloys that give an extra margin of performance and service life in either float or cyclic applications.

The batteries are also thicker thanks to the metal plates. As a result, you get longer-lasting and higher quality batteries.

Even with these components, the model is compact and lightweight at 25 pounds.

As a full-time RVer, I appreciate the added touch of a standard carrying handle for mobility.

The VMAXTANKS VMAX V35-857 is also fitted with a tough outer casing made of strong ABS plastic.

The VMAX Tank seals the tightly packed plates, which makes the battery 100% maintenance-free.

It also drives the battery to recover even after repeated deep discharges.

When it comes to maintenance, there’s no need to add water to the tanks during float service life.

You don’t even have to check the electrolyte’s specific gravity.

If you have to charge this 12V deep cycle battery, make sure to keep the temperatures around 14 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Has an outstanding power despite its size.

Non-hazardous and non-spillable battery.

A good upgrade from standard batteries.

Why You Should Trust This Review in 2023

When I first tried using a 12V battery, I had to spend hours and hours of researching; not to mention countless trials.

I want to make things simpler for you. Using my experiences, research, and tests, I’ve compiled reliable information to help you understand how the best RV deep cycle battery works.

Like you, I need to make sure that I’m investing my hard-earned money on the right RVing equipment.

What is an RV Deep Cycle Battery?

A 12V deep cycle battery is efficient power storage for full-time RVing. It serves as a power source to run onboard appliances and electronics. To be clear, RV batteries don’t produce power. They can simply store electric power.

In addition, it is designed to supply the rig with a consistent current that can last longer.

Deep cycle batts can store huge amounts of power, which enables them to run for long periods.

Hence, the best RV deep cycle battery must provide a steady amount of current over a long time.

It should be able to support basic equipment such as televisions, coffee machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, water pumps, microwave ovens.

Furthermore, it can discharge between 50% to 70% of its capacity. Deep cycle batteries for RVs come with thicker plates that have less surface area.

How Does a Deep Cycle RV Battery Run?

A camper battery needs repeated recharging and discharging.

When you need to charge the battery, its bank will collect energy to begin the cycle again. Yet, it requires less power, unlike a starting battery.

First, you must understand some voltage basics. A deep cycle battery runs at 12V direct current deep cycle electrical energy.

This energy can power up small systems and appliances inside your RV. Next, most of these batteries work on amp-hour. Therefore, they draw a single amp in 60 minutes.

However, there are different kinds of RV batteries. Each of them also works differently.

What are the Types of Deep Cycle RV Batteries?

Deep cycle batteries for RV have four kinds: Flooded Lead Acid, Absorbed Glass Mat, Gel Sealed, and Lithium-Ion. Each has advantages and drawbacks.

You must understand and compare the types of deep cycle batteries to see which one suits you best.

In a nutshell, FLA batteries are the most widely used batteries in RVs. Even though they need regular maintenance and a vented location, FLA batteries remain to be the most cost-efficient.

On the other hand, AGM batteries are for those who don’t want regular maintenance. Although they are tougher, they also tend to be pricier.

Meanwhile, deep-cycle gel batteries are the most expensive and have sensitive charging.

But this is a good pick if you want resistance against extreme vibrations and temperature.

Finally, a lithium-ion battery is lightweight but can deliver a continuous power supply and serve as good power storage.

Flooded Lead Acid Deep Cycle RV Batteries

Flooded lead-acid batteries contain electrolyte fluid, which allows the plates to be fully submerged. This is why it is also known as ‘wet cells’.

By discharging or taking electricity out of the battery, the plates change to lead sulfate and dilute the electrolyte.

Charging, or storing electricity into the battery, prompts the sulfate coating off the plates and back into the electrolyte.

Likewise, it releases hydrogen and oxygen gas. Also, water molecules in the electrolyte break apart from electrolysis.

Unlike AGM and gel batteries, vented wet cells let the gases escape into the atmosphere. Note that hydrogen is an explosive gas.

Thus, the compartment and battery boxes need vents, so the gas could escape. When it comes to power output, flooded lead-acid batteries average about 20% loss.

This means you can pull back 80 watt-hours back for every 100 watt-hours into the battery. The sad part is that FLA batteries don’t tolerate high amounts of vibration.

They also need regular maintenance by cleaning the terminals, equalizing charges, and distilled water filling.

It needs frequent cycling of discharging and recharging, as well as more water, during the hotter months.

Similarly, it requires off-season charging, which means it must be installed in an upright position. On the bright side, this type of deep cycle battery has hydrogen venting.

In effect, it can handle overcharging better than its AGM and gel counterparts.

Aside from that, it has the lowest cost per amp-hour. FLA batteries also cost cheaper than gel and AGM batts.

Absorbent Glass Mat Deep Cycle RV Batteries

An absorbent glass mat battery needs less maintenance.

The main drawback is that this is the most expensive RV deep cycle battery. Yet, it is tougher and stronger.

This is a type of lead-acid battery where a fiberglass mat absorbs the electrolyte. The mat increases the surface area to hold ample electrolytes on the cells.

It provides a discharge depth of 80% and a five times faster charging time.

Its internal resistance is lower than flooded cells. As a result, an AGM battery handles higher temperatures and self-discharges slower.

AGM batteries are more suitable for RVs with appliances or equipment that need larger power.

Good thing that this type is less prone to sulfation. You can use the unit again, even if the battery sits idle for a year, as long as you maintain it.

My favorite aspect is that you can install an AGM battery in any orientation and even at low temperatures.

Hence, this is a better type if you need to go to places with colder climates. Additionally, its sandwich construction makes it more vibration-resistant.

Unlike FLA models, AGM batts are sensitive to overcharging. AGM needs a higher voltage to charge.

However, AGM beats FLA in terms of ventilation. AGM batteries don’t emit gas or hydrogen during charging.

Having said that, you don’t need to worry about ventilation and safety.

Deep Cycle Gel RV Batteries

Gel batteries use jelled electrolytes to prevent them from spilling. Even if this type of battery uses fiberglass matting, you can mount it on its side.

Like FLA batteries, gel batts can easily transform. However, the gelled electrolyte is highly vicious.

What I don’t like about deep-cycle gel batteries is that the recombination of gases while charging happens at a slower rate.

Therefore, charging is much slower compared to FLA and AGM ones.

The good news is that gel batts do not need frequent maintenance. This type also lasts longer than AGM batteries.

Moreover, this battery type has narrow charging profiles. Charging it improperly or at a too high rate will cause gas pockets to form on the plates.

This will force the gelled electrolyte away from the plates, decreasing the battery’s capacity.

If you don’t have much experience with handling batteries and chargers, then deep-cycle gel batteries are not good for you.  This is also the most expensive deep cycle battery around.

But if you value toughness against extreme vibrations and temperatures, then you might want to consider this type.

Finally, gel deep cycle batteries and solar power applications are good pairings.

Lithium-Ion Deep Cycle RV Batteries

In some aspects, lithium-ion batteries outperform other battery types.

First, let’s understand how it works. Using nano-scale phosphate cathode material, lithium-ion batts provide good electrochemical performance with low resistance.

In effect, it has good thermal stability, a high current rating, and a long life cycle.

Lithium-ion batteries are a popular power source for most outdoor tools because of their lightweight design.

It can perform well in extreme cold and heat. Even so, it can operate safely up to 149 degrees Fahrenheit.

Since it has a versatile mounting, you can install the battery in any direction without sacrificing energy flow.

Lithium-ion deep cycle batteries tend to be pricey, but you will save up more in the long run due to their efficiency.

For comparison, check out this table

All of the products here are guaranteed to be safe, long-lasting, durable, eco-friendly, and powerful.

Picture this—a car battery will provide a burst of energy for a short time.

Whereas, the best 12V deep cycle battery for RVs delivers a steady rate of power over a long time.

For this list, I’ve only included two lithium-ion models: Battle Born LiFePO4 12V Deep Cycle Battery and Renogy 12V Lithium-Iron Phosphate Battery. The rest of the units are AGM units.

Why didn’t I pick gel and FLA batteries? Well, gel deep cycle batteries are expensive. Also, some AGM and lithium-ion units are far more impressive, yet affordable. FLA models, although very budget-friendly, require venting. Adding vents could mean more expenses.

Comparison Guide: How We Picked the Best All-in-One Deep Cycle Battery

After knowing the types of 12V deep cycle batteries, now’s the time to understand the essential features.

Check whether your chosen battery comes with the following features:

You can measure a deep cycle battery’s capacity by the rating of Ah or Ampere hours. This implies the amount of current a battery can provide in a certain period.

For example, a deep cycle battery with a 100Ah capacity can deliver 100 Amperes for 60 minutes. The higher the capacity, the more and longer the battery can store and release power.

Compute your energy requirements when determining the ideal capacity of your deep cycle battery. Identify the amount of power you consume each day.

Based on experience, the best 12V deep cycle battery can deliver power without going down to 50% of its total capacity.

If you are going to a place where there is no chance to recharge, opt for a deep cycle battery that can provide power without depleting.

Most of the models here are rated 100Ah. Being our best RV deep cycle battery, the XS-Power-D3100 brags a 110Ah capacity.

The Universal Power Group UB121000 12V Deep Cycle Battery and Renogy AGM 12V Deep Cycle Battery also come with good capacities.

Should I Worry About Size and Weight?

The size and weight of a battery impact the performance. The capacity determines the battery’s size and weight. Thus, make sure you have enough space for the battery.

Heavy-duty 12V deep cycle batteries normally weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Although this could store a lot of power, its weight may not be suitable for your RV.

Aim for having the right balance between size and weight. But careful not to sacrifice power output.

The VMAXTANKS VMAX V35-857 12V Deep Cycle Battery is the most lightweight at 24 pounds. The Odyssey PC925 Battery is also lightweight at 26 pounds.

However, their small size is because they have a smaller capacity and low life cycles.

The XS-Power-D3100, Renogy AGM 12V Deep Cycle Battery and WindyNation BattaMax 12V Deep Cycle Battery are the three heaviest units, but they have way more powerful energy outputs.

Power at Low and High Temperatures

A good 12V deep cycle battery must supply power at low and high temperatures.

When you are in a humid or hot location, a battery must function properly even if it is 35 degrees Fahrenheit outside.

Likewise, your model must survive even at the lowest temperature. Deep cycles batteries are designed to withstand extreme temperatures.

For instance, the VMAXTANKS VMAX V35-857 12V Deep Cycle Battery has a discharge temperature of 4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why is Cranking Ampere Important?

For full-time RVing, you’ll go to lots of places with different temperatures.

The cranking ampere indicates the power supply from a battery when it runs in environments with around 35-degree Fahrenheit temperatures.

In this way, you will get an idea about the possible output of a deep cycle battery when you use it in temperatures above water’s freezing point.

If your chosen model has a high cranking ampere rating, you also get an impressive starting performance.

The Odyssey PC925 Battery has the best cranking ampere, which is even better than traditional batteries.

What About Cold Cranking Ampere?

The cold-cranking ampere implies the power supply in case the starting motor gets power from locations with less than 0-degree Fahrenheit temperatures.

The best RV deep cycle battery must have a high cold cranking ampere, so it has ample power to start devices even in cold temperatures.

Low temperatures can impact the capacity of a 12V deep cycle battery. Hence, you have to consider the cold cranking ampere, especially during the winter months.

The Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M Deep Cycle Battery performs best when it comes to cold cranking and protection against cold temperatures.

Aside from the amp-hour capacity, the voltage of a deep cycle battery is another good indicator.

Voltage equates to the potential electrical difference. Deep cycle ones usually have 12 volts of direct current power.

Discharge Depth

The best 12V deep cycle battery must have a good discharge depth, which optimizes a unit’s life cycle.

The depth of discharge shows in percentage the particular amount of power a battery discharges.

What About Life Cycles and How Is It Connected to Discharge Depth and Charging?

You can measure a battery’s cycle life using the discharge cycles it can deliver based on a certain percentage of its rated capacity.

Life cycles differ from model to model. Factors such as components, design, and quality control affect life cycles.

Deeper individual cycles mean fewer cycles. Therefore, the best 12V deep cycle battery must have a discharge depth that can maximize its life cycle.

The Battle Born LiFePO4 12V Deep Cycle Battery shines because of its 3000-cycle capacity.

The Renogy AGM 12V Deep Cycle Battery follows with 600 cycles at 80% depth of discharge.

Meanwhile, both the VMAXTANKS VMAX V35-857 12V Deep Cycle Battery and Odyssey PC925 Battery manage 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge.

Vibration and Shock Resistance

The best deep cycle battery for RVs must perform well amidst shock and vibrations in the rig.

A model with sturdy housing can withstand the toughest outdoor conditions.

More than that, a durable design should allow you to mount the battery in any position without spills or leaks.

All models here can resist vibration and shocks. Among those with added safety features include XS-Power-D3100, Renogy 12V Lithium-Iron Phosphate Battery, and VMAXTANKS VMAX V35-857 12V Deep Cycle Battery.

Cost and Warranty

The most affordable deep cycle batteries have an upfront cost of around $100. Meanwhile, the premium models can hit as high as $1,000.

In any case, what you have to consider is the operational cost.

If you have a durable and sturdy model, chances are that you won’t even have to use the warranty.

As mentioned earlier, the best camper battery must be resistant to vibration and shocks.

Its performance should not fluctuate at different temperatures. In this way, you can prevent spending on repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Travel Trailer Batteries

How to install the best deep cycle battery for rv.

For starters, make sure to turn off appliances and tools that consume power.

Then, check the battery’s position relative to the polarity. If you have an old battery, disconnect the negative cables first before removing it.

Check whether there is corrosion on the carrier and hold down hardware.

Clean these parts before placing the new battery. Only then can you link the battery to the cables.

How to Charge a 12V Deep Cycle Battery?

Charging is essential, so you could store power again. You can do this in several ways, but the most common include using a battery charger, converter charger, smart charger, solar panel, and generator.

Battery Charger

Battery chargers are imperative if you have things to, well, charge. Ensure the charger is appropriate to your battery type.

Converter Charger

Converter chargers can convert 120V shore power into 12V DC power. Typically, 12V DC systems are designed to run between 10.5V to 15V.

However, a converter charges batteries at three to five amps. This means it could take several hours to complete the charging.

Charging A Deep Cycle Battery Using a Smart Charger

A smart charger is one of the fastest and accurate ways to charge an RV battery.

It makes use of computer-generated algorithms or charging profiles based on your battery’s type of charge.

This means a smart charger gathers data from the battery. Then, it will use this information to change the charge current and voltage.

In addition, a charger controller can recharge a battery efficiently. It can also modify the voltage and current to avoid damaging your battery.

Can I Use a Solar Panel to Charge an RV Battery?

Yes, you can charge a deep cycle battery using a solar panel. Yet, you have to consider some things.

First, identify how long it takes to charge a 12V battery. Also, know the perfect wattage for the solar charger.

Some solar panels have built-in controllers that block the charge if the charging is complete.

Meanwhile, other panels feature LEDs to show whether or not your battery is charging.

All things considered, solar panels are good sources of power because they can produce up to 100% of the watt output.

Charging Deep Cycle Batteries Using a Generator

For RVers, a generator is a must-have. It provides lots of energy to power up your devices. What’s more, this is the fastest way to charge a deep cycle battery.

In the case of charging an RV battery, fully charge the generator first. You could also plug the generator into an AC outlet.

For safety, turn off your RV, unplug all electronics, and engage the emergency brake to prevent mishaps. Also, make sure the battery has no cracks, bulging, or corrosion.

Use a wrench to attach the positive cable (red) to the negative cable (black).

It might take up to 120 minutes to fully charge the battery. If the generator is depleted, it could take longer than that.

Whatever method of charging you choose, consult the user manual to know how long you should charge the battery.

The charging time may depend on the source and weather. Even so, avoid overcharging the battery to prevent damage.

Can I Charge an RV battery While Driving?

Yes, you can a deep cycle battery while driving. You simply have to plug it into your vehicle.

Most vehicles have a 120V AC outlet. Since you have a 12V battery, you have to use a power converter to get 12V DC power and avoid electrical issues.

How Long Does a 12V Deep Cycle Battery Last?

In general, a well-maintained battery can last for up to five years. However, different types of batteries equate to different lifespans.

Your usage and maintenance could also impact the battery’s longevity. This leads us to the question…

How to Clean and Maintain a Deep Cycle Camper Battery?

When replacing the battery, make sure to remove the negative cable first.

On the other hand, rewire the positive cable first when you have to reconnect the battery. Make it a habit to check the electrolyte level of the battery.

A low level of electrolyte will cause a battery to fail. But you also have to avoid overfilling it.

In terms of charging, it’s better to charge the battery if it is at least 50% drained. Also, charge the batteries with their recommended voltages.

Lastly, do not store the battery discharged to prevent the plates from crystallizing or hardening. If this happens, the battery will find it difficult to generate power.

Safety Precautions and Reminders:

Don’t let smoke or spark get near the battery.

Keep tools or other metal objects away from the battery terminals.

Wear protective clothing when installing a battery.

Do not overcharge the battery.

Do not remove a sealed battery’s vent caps.

Store batteries in a dry, clean, and well-ventilated place.

Ambient temperature during storage causes a quicker self-discharge rate.

Wrapping Up

Make sure to pick a model that would best suit your rig’s power requirements.

There are several factors to consider when choosing an RV battery: reserve capacity, discharging, charging, resistance to vibration and shocks, and price.

Review the information from our product review and then weigh those against our rating system.

I’m sure you will pinpoint the best RV deep cycle battery. With your informed decision, you don’t have to suffer running out of power while on the road.

About Author / Aaron Richardson

Aaron Richardson is an expert RVer and the co-founder of RVing Know How. Aaron, along with his wife Evelyn, has been living and traveling in their Keystone Fuzion RV since 2017. Their adventures span across the country and beyond, including memorable RVing experiences in Mexico. Aaron's passion for the outdoors and RVing shines through in his writings, where he shares a blend of travel stories, practical tips, and insights to enhance the RV lifestyle.

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Andrew Yang

I used this Optima 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Starting & Deep Cycle Marine Battery for about 4.5 years and it still works perfectly. My RV stays parked much of the time, but I don’t have to worry about the battery when I take it out. This product has a distinctive SpiralCell design together with continuous lead plates, which is capable of supplying a safe, strong and clean source of power. I am impressed with this battery because it actually serves a dual purpose: as a starting and deep cycle battery. Besides that, this battery has good vibration resistance, it is even fifteen times more resistant to various forms of vibration compared to other marine batteries.

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Are you planning an epic road trip and need the best travel trailer battery? If you don't have a good quality battery, or if you haven't replaced your old one for a long time, you're risking it.

What you'll find...

Imagine getting ready to embark on your next road trip, only to find that you've run out of power. It happens, and it's very inconvenient to say the least.

You can prevent these problems with the aid of a travel trailer battery that can supply constant power to your RV electronics without any worry. There are many different types of batteries on the market, so it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you.

So, if you're look for a battery for your trailer, we've reviewed some of the best on the market, including the different types and different price entries, too.

• Offers quick charging
• Requires the least maintenance
• Ideal for off-grid applications
• Resistant to shock and vibrations
• Safe for all types of terrain
• Full seal guarantees that it will not spill or leak
• Suitable for recreational vehicles and solar charging
• Features heavy-duty plates to provide work without any interruption
• Features short hub terminals
• Not completely corrosion-proof
• Some risk of ABS plastic breakage in time

If you're looking for a deep cycle battery with superior performance and renowned for its durability, the WindyNation deep cycle battery should be high on your list. What we love most about this travel trailer battery is that it’s fully sealed and perfect for many applications including marine, airports, healthcare facilities, and many more. This battery provides 100 amp hours at a rate of 10 hours and is perfectly suited for all off-grid power supplies in case of emergency or extended use. The durability is guaranteed by ABS plastic material of high-quality, which ensures that the battery performs under the toughest conditions. What's more, the voltage for charging is about 12 volts and operates at temperatures between roughly 25 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius. Additionally, this battery features heavy-duty plates to make it suitable for longer run times, these plates can be easily discharged. The lead used to lower the discharge rate is pure virgin lead, thus guaranteeing durability and efficiency. Bottom Line Competitively priced, this WindyNation battery is specifically designed to offer excellent deep-cycle performance. This versatile and ideal travel trailer battery ensures the most value of your investment.

Runner-up:   Mighty Max 12V 100AH for Solar Wind Deep Cycle

• Requires very little maintenance
• Holds high battery reserve capacity
• Available at a reasonable price
• Being completely sealed, it is spill-free and leak-free
• Many applications on water, land, and sea
• Able to withstand tough outdoor conditions and changing temperatures
• Offers a short warranty of one year
• Does not come with mounting wire and harness accessories

One of the best 12-volt deep cycle batteries, the Mighty Max battery is well-known for its versatility and top-notch performance. Apart from its applications in electric vehicles, golf carts, and medical mobility, it's ideal for access control devices, emergency lighting, and portable tools. And we like that it can be used as storage for solar or wind energy. This battery has a sealed design that makes it spill-proof and leak-proof regardless of its mounting position. There's no worry of adding water or checking of an electrolyte by virtue of AGM technology. It can be operated at all temperatures, which is something you should definitely be looking for. It can perform well, no matter the conditions, and is certified safe for use in many types of terrain, including water, land, and sea. This travel trailer battery is a better choice than a flooded wet cell battery that needs time to time fluid addition. Bottom Line This heavy-duty battery can be used anywhere you need 12V power. Whether it’s for travel trailers or boats, you can totally depend on its sealed design, solid performance, and long lifespan.

Best travel trailer battery for the money:   interstate batteries deep cycle battery.

• There is no risk of leak and spill
• Able to withstand extreme conditions
• The sealed design guarantees reliability and durability
• Offers versatility in operations and has many applications
• Not suitable to use in a golf cart

This Interstate travel trailer battery is a dependable source capable of working for a long time without relinquishing itself. It offers reliable power needed for lighting , agriculture, and medical mobility.  This sealed battery is easy to install without any worry of a specific position. The sealed covering will save the risk of spill and any leak. Even under tough conditions, it will keep working as intended. As mentioned above, this deep cycle battery can deal with extreme temperature and all types of weather and will keep its top performance. There's no need for adding water to check for specific gravity during its float life. All in all, this battery is versatile and acts as power storage that provides constant power to your electronics and appliances onboard. Bottom Line With this Interstate battery, you don’t have to worry about its performance even in snow. It's impressive for its versatility and is ideal for all types of transport, including on water, air, or ground. And it's at a good price entry, too!

Vmaxtanks vmax 12 volt battery.

• Able to resist shock and vibrations
• Boasts of its maintenance-free operation
• Top-quality grids enhance its performance
• Tank is impressively tough to protect the plates
• Recovers quickly even after repeated deep discharges
• Battery is non-hazardous and non-spilling, thanks to AGM technology
• Does not work for chargers other than VMAX chargers
• Unable to hold the charge longer than other deep cycle batteries
• Comes with a heavy weight that makes it hard to carry around

The small and standard size makes VMAXTANKS VMAX batteries a great choice for recreational vehicles. One of the stand out points with this battery is the chemical and physical structure of its plates, which are more reliable and higher in quality than others. What we like most about this is the absorbed glass matt or AGM between the plates. This design maximizes its ability to resist any vibration or shock. The sealed tank is tightly packed with the inner plates, reducing the chances of spilling. This battery is specifically designed for cyclic applications which make it capable of recovering fast even after doing repeated deep discharges. Another feature to highlight is the heavy-duty grids that offer improved performance and better service life, whether you use it for cyclic or float applications. Bottom Line This small-sized battery works with heavy-duty purposes and allows users to enjoy uninterrupted power supply. Safe from the hassles of maintenance, this is an excellent choice to provide the promised output.

Best travel trailer deep cycle batteries: universal power group 12v.

• No risk of any spill or leakage
• Sturdy plastic body ensures durability
• Sealed and requires no regular maintenance
• Offers a multi-purpose power source
• Comes with a valve to regulate the performance
• AGM technology makes it resistant to shock and vibration
• Battery is quite heavy
• Holds short stainless steel hardware
• Usually takes a long time to recharge

One of the top-rated batteries fro travel trailers in stores, the Universal Power Battery is well-known for its solid performance and heavy-duty build. Its flexibility gives you the opportunity of mounting it in various positions, and also gives you a multi-purpose source of power that can be used in RVs, boats, golf carts, scooters, and other gadgets that need such a battery. With a simple design, this battery uses 12 volts to charge and gives output of rates up to 100 AH hours. Additionally, it is specifically manufactured to recharge and discharge without compromising the durability of the plates. Based on AGM technology, this battery is resistant to shock and vibration, no matter the position. Plus, you have the opportunity to control and regulate the performance by virtue of a valve. And if that's not enough, it can store energy as well as any other on the market. Bottom Line If you are looking for a versatile and flexible battery for a multitude of vehicles, you shouldn't miss this Universal Power battery. You can have peace of mind throughout its lifespan, as the rugged design and strong exterior makes it more durable.

Renogy lithium-iron phosphate 12 volt battery.

• Charges really fast
• Robust build makes it highly durable
• Features reduced weight compared to other models
• Does not require much maintenance
• Ideal for use as backup power or for daily use
• Sturdy exterior makes it spill-proof and leak-proof
• Compatible with plenty of charge controllers and smart chargers
• Bulky to carry around

This Renogy travel trailer battery is our top choice for a Lithium-ion model. Available at a premium price, this battery lasts 10X longer than a regular wet lead-acid deep cycle model. Its low weight and compact design make it a great option to build a power back with several batteries in parallel. This deep cycle battery features a built-in battery protection system, ensuring that it runs at peak performance. Additionally, the short circuit protection and an internal cell fuse make this model truly plug-and-play.

The sturdy exterior embodies fire retardant additives and an explosion-proof stainless steel case, and the battery won’t falter even with repeated 100% depth of discharge. bottom line it's expensive, but you won't regret investing in this unit as it's more lightweight than other models, robust, and incredibly durable. plus, it charges really fast , so you’ll have no major issues with it.,   optima deep cycle travel trailer battery.

• Quick recharge time
• Comes with a lightweight and unique design
• Made waterproof to guarantee durability
• Strength of the battery is resistant to shock and vibration
• 120 minutes of constant power supply makes it highly efficient
• Boasts high reserve capacity of up to 120 minutes for constant performance
• Housing is prone to damage when hit
• Does not have an efficient output system

If you are looking for solid performance and a true deep cycle battery, then look at this Optima deep cycle battery. What is really impressive about this is its dual service. Besides functioning as a deep cycle unit, it also operates as a starting battery. The 12-volt charging capacity makes it safe and suitable for daily use. It can be used to start an engine, plus it acts as a great power supplier for uninterrupted supply. The design of this model allows for operation in all positions without worrying about the strength of the job needing to be done. It provides optimum performance, thanks to a distinctive Spiral-Cell design together with continuous lead plates. This battery is 15 times more resistant to various forms of vibration compared to other marine batteries. It's also versatile enough for applications such as dry camping, boondocking, and other outdoor adventures. Bottom Line Ideal for RV, boats, and motorhomes, this battery is a fantastic source of power even in harsh conditions. With durable and solid features, you can rely on this battery to maximize your investment.

Odyssey pc925 travel trailer battery.

• Boasts considerable power
• Quick recharge efficiency
• 70% longer lifespan compared to other deep cycle models
• Ideal for many applications, including RVs and travel trailers
• Features more plate surface area to ensure more power
• Offers resistance to shock and vibration, thanks to its non-spilling design
• Heavy to carry around
• Slightly expensive for those on a tight budget

To get the most value for your purchase, this Odyssey PC925 travel trailer battery is strongly recommended for its superb performance and superior functions. With this battery, you get 15% more when it comes to the plate surface area, which ensures more power storage. This will give you peace of mind that you can rely on a steady power supply for your appliances.

The huge starting power of this battery cannot be compared with other traditional batteries available on the market. designed in a sturdy manner, it can withstand any shock and vibration. the battery is highly powerful and comes with a longer lifespan, which is 70 percent longer than other models. plus, you can mount it in any position thanks to its ability to tolerate even the most extreme conditions . the most striking feature of this battery, however, is that it can supply 330 cold cranking amps, giving you great ease in starting your vehicle or appliances. it is an efficient option to offer up to 400 cycles and at an 80% discharge depth. and if all the above isn't enough, it boasts quick charging and a warranty of 4 years. bottom line built with a sturdy design, this odyssey battery is ideal for daily or emergency use, as it can withstand even the harshest weather conditions. you should not miss this travel trailer battery for its ultimate versatility, durability and overall performance., best 12 volt trailer battery: renogy deep cycle agm battery 12 volt.

• Battery serves multiple purposes
• Guaranteed to be maintenance-free
• Requires only 14.4 to 14.5 volts to be charged
• Highly efficient when handling solar energy storage applications
• Can connect to another deep cycle battery through a simple wire
• Quite heavy and bulky
• Does not have an overcharging safety lock

Whether you're looking for a battery specifically designed to offer backup power or daily use, this Renogy battery serves its purpose well. It's suggested to potential users, and it is highly favorable to work as a general-purpose deep cycle battery, meaning it can serve many functions. The most impressive thing about this battery, however, is that it works well when it comes to dealing with solar energy storage applications. And the sturdy design makes it maintenance-free, spill-proof, and leak-proof.

It's also highly suited for a steady temperature of 25 degrees celsius. another advantage of this battery is that it can prevent the risk of over-discharging batteries. and, you can interconnect this battery to another deep cycle battery by employing interlinking cables. it is, therefore, an ideal option for off-grid applications and recreational vehicles. bottom line with a robust design, this renogy travel trailer battery guarantees full and safe recharge. it's a suitable option for a flexible battery for the recreational vehicle. you can totally rely on it for many applications, ensuring more value and versatility of your investment., best trailer breakaway battery: mighty max battery ml5-12 - 12v.

• Can be easily mounted in all positions
• Backed by a 1-year warranty and 30-day refund policy
• AGM/SLA spill-proof design that resists vibration and shock
• Ensures exceptional performance in both low and high temperatures
• Wide operating temperatures, deep discharge recover, and high discharge rate
• Does not come with a wire harness or any mounting accessories

What Recent Buyers Report

Most buyers stated that this travel trailer battery offers the great value of money and perfectly matched the connections and size of the factory battery. Users appreciate the fact that it comes fully charged and that it holds a charge for a long time.

Why it Stands Out to Us

Providing power whenever you need it, this battery boasts a calcium-alloy, heavy-duty grid that offers outstanding service life and performance in both cyclic and float applications. The model further features a valve regulated design and AGM technology, enabling use in indoor environments without having users worry about maintenance or leakage.

Bottom Line

This Mighty Max unit is, undoubtedly, one of the best travel trailer batteries because of its top performance and versatility. With its long lifespan and sealed design, the ML5-12 is perfect for people looking for a high-quality and heavy-duty RV battery.

Buyer’s Guide

Now for more general information on travel trailer batteries. Here you'll learn what features to look for in a good quality device and exactly which size battery you'll need for your set up. We also look at the tell tale signs of when it's likely time to replace your old battery.

We also look at the different types of batteries available for RVs, and offer a step-by-step guide on how to install one. There's an FAQ section to wrap things up so you should know all there is to know about RV batteries by the end of the article.

What Size Battery Does My Travel Trailer Need?

The size of your travel trailer battery is crucial, but there's no specific answer to this question. It all depends on the power requirements in your rig, plus the hours you're running each appliance or electronic on board. A larger battery will store and provide more power, and always consider the space and weight carrying capacity you have available.

The amp hour rating of most batteries helps a user estimate the amount of power a battery contains. So, you should first determine the power needed and compare the different options available before making a purchase.

When Is It Time to Replace My Travel Trailer Battery?

If a deep-cycle battery is properly maintained, then it can last for more than six years. However, some RVers replace their RV’s batteries every one or two years. You’ll need to replace your battery if it reads 0 volts, as it can be a sign of a short circuit. If your battery is unable to reach higher than 10.5V when it’s being charged, then it has a dead cell and needs to be replaced.

Lastly, if you have a fully charged RV battery, but have a voltage of 12.5 or less, then it's  sulfated , and it’s better to install a new one.

People Also Ask - Travel Trailer Battery FAQs

How long should a battery stay charged in a travel trailer.

The answer to this question depends on how long you’re going to power the appliances, lights, and other electrical devices in the RV. Typically, the battery should last two to three days while dry camping. However, this time can be extended if you’re not going to use any lighting or heat.

How Much Do Batteries For a Travel Trailer Cost?

With such a wide range of batteries available, the price range is just as wide. Low-quality batteries can cost around $50, while higher quality ones can cost as much as $700.

Do I Need a Battery For My Travel Trailer?

Yes, you must have a battery for your travel trailer as it powers the system that allows the brake lights, electric wheel brakes, dash accessories, tail lights, and marker lights function. If these features are not operating correctly, then you can't legally pull your trailer.

Adding a Second Battery to a Travel Trailer, How Do I Do it?

When installing a second battery, it’s advisable to choose a model that’s identical to the first one. Make sure the bridge cables are of the same length and are routed through the same path. Link the batteries to each other and make sure you only have one connection to the chassis.

Hello, fellow wanderers! I’m Alyssia. Since 2008, my husband and I have called an RV our home, journeying through life one mile at a time. Our nomadic lifestyle has led us to over 70 countries, each with their unique tales that have shaped our own.

I share our stories and insights right here, hoping to inspire and guide you in your own adventures. Expect tips on RV living, our favorite camping spots, breathtaking hiking trails, and the joys and challenges of an ever-changing view from our window. Alongside, you’ll also find practical advice on outdoorsy stuff, designed to equip you for any journey. Join us as we continue to explore the vast, beautiful world on wheels!

NEW ON YOUTUBE: Cash for Clunkers List

Best RV Batteries: Electrify your Adventure

These reliable and long-lasting RV batteries will ensure that your rig is ready to travel whenever you are.

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

If you own an RV, chances are high that you love combining camping/glamping and exploring. RVs offer an ideal way to see the country while taking the comforts of your home on the road. And nothing can be more irritating than going to fire up your rig for a much-needed road trip than finding out you have a dead battery. Because of their often sporadic use, RV batteries take a hit when it comes to long-term usage capabilities. And cold temperatures, as well as long periods of sitting, can kill your battery before its time. Not to worry, as the list below selects high-quality RV batteries that won’t leave you in the lurch. There’s also a handy buying guide to answer all your burning questions and make you an RV battery guru.

Optima Batteries 8020-164 35 RedTop Starting Battery

• Delivers 720 cold-cranking amps
• Works RVs well as trucks and SUVs
• 15 times more resistant to vibration than some of the competition
• Not as reliable if you drive infrequently

May not be powerful enough for larger RVs

EverStart Maxx Marine and RV Battery

Highly affordable

Offers 30 percent greater cycling capability than other comparable options

Also suitable for marine use

Not the longest lasting battery on the market

• Only comes with a two-year warranty

Banshee Deep Cycle Lithium-Ion RV Starting Battery

Weighs 60 percent less than lead-acid batteries

Offers three times longer lifespan than most lead-acid batteries

Plenty of CCAs for cold-weather reliability

Not suitable for all RVs

Summary List 

• Best Overall: Optima Batteries 8020-164 35 RedTop Starting Battery
• Best Value: EverStart Maxx Marine and RV Battery
• Best Premium: Banshee Deep Cycle Lithium-Ion RV Starting Battery
• Best Dual-Purpose: Optima Batteries D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery
• Best For Lower Power Needs: DieHard Silver Marine RV Battery
• Best Heavy-Duty: Odyssey Automotive Battery

Our Methodology

RV batteries are certainly not all created equally, so the top picks for the best RV batteries were selected by taking an in-depth look at their construction, design, cold-cranking amps, reserve capacity) and price. Overall reliability and performance, as well as manufacturer reputation and trustworthiness, were also big factors in selecting the best RV batteries. Only companies with a solid track record of delivering reliable and durable products were chosen for this list. For more information on selection criteria and methods, check out this link to The Drive’s Gear About page , which explains our methodology further.

Best RV Battery Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall

Impressive CCA of 720

Versatile enough to be used in RVs, trucks, SUVs, and cars

15 times more resistant to vibration than some other models

Lifespan diminishes if the battery sits unused for too long

If you’re in the market for a battery that delivers all-around great performance no matter where you are or what the weather is like, the Optima Batteries RedTop Starting Battery is a great option. Delivering optimal starting power in even some of the harshest environments, this battery stands out among the competition. It’s a dependable AGM 12-volt car battery that delivers 720 cold-cranking amps and has a reserve capacity of 90 minutes. 

Measuring 9.38 x 7.69 x 6.75 inches, this battery comes in a heavy-duty polypropylene case with SAE terminal posts. The battery’s construction is 15 times more resistant to vibrations, which helps with durability. And the high power delivery of this battery makes it a great choice for your RV but it’s also great in trucks, SUVs, and high-performance cars. Just keep in mind that if you drive your rig infrequently and let the battery sit for most of the year, it may shorten the lifespan of the battery. Having a trickle charger to keep it juiced up is a good idea.

Only comes with a two-year warranty instead of the five-year warranty the company used to offer

The EverStart Maxx Marine and RV Battery is the ideal solution for those who are looking for an affordable, budget-friendly option that won’t let you down at the worst times. This particular model boasts 30 percent greater cycling capability than many other competitors’ models in the same category, which translates not only into more reliable, powerful starting capability, but also allows you to run your RV’s accessories and electronics longer with the engine turned off. 

This model is not just for use in your RV but is also suitable for use in boats with trolling motors, giving you plenty of versatility. The best part? It’s under $100, so you can enjoy lots of reliable function without breaking the bank. This battery comes backed by a two-year manufacturer’s warranty, which isn’t as good as it used to be, but for this stellar price point, we’ll take what we can get.

Best Premium

If you’re looking for the ultimate in reliability, efficiency, and versatility, don’t look past the Banshee Deep Cycle Lithium-Ion RV Starting Battery. This beast of a battery is suitable for use in 24, 36, and 48-volt applications, making it one of the most versatile RV batteries on the market. Because it’s lithium-ion powered, it’s also super energy efficient and one of the most lightweight batteries on the list. In fact, it weighs up to 60 percent less than typical lead-acid batteries.

With a large 900 amps of cold-cranking power, if you can’t get your rig started with this battery, it’s time to call it for the season. This battery also comes equipped with an emergency start function that will ensure it fires up, even if you’ve accidentally over drained it. It’s designed to get you wherever you want to go. The main drawback to this battery has to be its exorbitant price point. It’s the most expensive option featured on the list. However, given the fact that it boasts a lifespan that is up to three times greater than most of the competition, it’s well worth the added cost.

Best Dual-Purpose

Optima Batteries D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery

Impressive 870 CCA capacity

15 times more resistant to vibration than many other models

Maintenance-free and spill-proof

Short two-year warranty

The Optima Batteries D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery is well-known among RV enthusiasts to be a dependable and versatile starting battery that’s also a good value. This particular model boasts up to three times more recharging capabilities than other pricier RV batteries, and it’s also a great option for marine use. With more than 15 times the vibration resistance of comparable models, this battery will also withstand some rougher roads with ease.

Since it’s an AGM battery, this model is also maintenance-free, giving you added peace of mind when it comes to worry-free function and care. Inside, the battery is comprised of two 99.99 percent pure lead plates that are precision coated with lead oxide to promote optimal performance and reliability. With an impressive 870 CCAs, there’s not much this battery won’t do. One thing to note is that there is some concern regarding long-term reliability when compared with some other models on the market.

Best For Lower Power Needs

DieHard Silver Marine RV Battery

Long reserve capacity of 160 minutes

Super affordable

Short one-year warranty

For your smaller RVs with less CCA demand, there’s the DieHard Silver Marine RV Battery. This brand has long been known among consumers to be a durable, powerful, and reliable option that’s also super affordable. This RV battery boasts a CCA capacity of 600, which is plenty to meet the starting demands of most small to mid-size RVs. With a reserve capacity of 160 minutes, this is one of the longer-lasting batteries on our list. It will allow you to run lights and radio for a while without needing a recharge.

This battery is easy to install and comes with solid, corrosion-resistant terminals for quick and easy connect and disconnect. This model is also maintenance-free and comes in a rugged and heavy-duty polypropylene case that’s designed to withstand harsh marine environments and tough weather. One drawback: this battery is heavy. At over 50 pounds, it’s one of the heaviest on the list. The one-year warranty is also pretty measly, but it’s better than nothing.

Best Heavy-Duty

Odyssey Automotive Battery

15 percent greater plate surface for more reliable power

Ultra-durable construction

Somewhat pricey

Questionable customer service response

This Odyssey Automotive Battery may be a little on the pricey side compared to some others on the list, but it’s worth the extra investment if you’re looking for a product that uses top-quality materials and design cues. This battery model delivers a very respectable 850 amps of cold-cranking power and offers a decent 130 minutes of reserve capacity. With plates made of virgin lead and more plates overall compared to a lot of its competitors, this battery offers more plate surface area for twice the overall power and three times the lifespan of conventional batteries. 

You will also get up to 400 cycles at 80 percent depth of discharge, making this a long-lasting and economical choice. Extra perks such as corrosion-resistant brass terminals, internal cell connections designed to prevent vibration damage, and flame-retardant cell containers make this battery robust. One drawback to this model is its higher price point. It’s also known to be a challenge to get your battery repaired or replaced if there’s a warranty issue.

Our Verdict on the Best RV Battery

If you’re looking for an excellent balance between reliability, power, durability, and price, our top pick when it comes to the best RV battery is the Optima Batteries 8020-164 35 RedTop Starting Battery . This impressive battery provides a respectable 720 CCAs to give you powerful starts and consistency, even in unpredictable or harsh weather conditions. For a great budget-friendly pick that doesn’t sacrifice power for the price, check out the EverStart Maxx Marine and RV Battery .

What to Consider When Buying RV Batteries

Since all RVs aren't created equally, neither are the batteries used to power them. Getting just the right battery for the job is key in having a long-lasting, reliable option to ensure your rig starts right up every time. We’ve put together some of the must-have features and considerations that will help you choose the right RV battery to suit your needs.

Types of RV Batteries

Flooded lead-acid battery.

This is one of the most common types of RV batteries on the market. It’s also one of the oldest. This affordable and budget-friendly battery type is a wet-cell battery that uses a liquid electrolyte blend that includes water and sulfuric acid. A flooded lead-acid battery is reliable, but it does require maintenance, and you’ll need to resupply its electrolyte solution every so often. A flooded lead-acid battery can only be installed upright. Otherwise, it can spill. 

Gel-Cell Battery

A gel-cell battery is a step up from the typical lead-acid option as it’s a spill-proof, maintenance-free choice. This type of battery also comes in an improved format that’s also known as a dry-cell battery. Instead of requiring a liquid electrolyte solution, this battery features calcium along with lead plates and silica, which turns the electrolyte solution into a gel. These batteries typically feature an increased lifespan and can handle vibrations better. However, they aren’t very common. 

AGM Battery

Absorbed glass mat, or AGM, batteries are quickly becoming the battery of choice among most consumers. They’re more efficient, maintenance-free, and are able to handle higher energy demands, which makes them one of the most popular choices for today’s electronics-heavy vehicles. AGM batteries are similar to flooded lead-acid batteries, but they feature a glass mat (a fiberglass separator) that absorbs the battery’s electrolyte solution to keep it securely inside. With faster charging, a much longer cycle life, and the ability to recover energy better in start-stop applications, it’s a solid performer. The drawback to these batteries is that they can start to get really pricey.

Lithium-Ion Battery

Lithium-ion batteries are the cream of the crop when it comes to being energy-efficient, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly. These batteries are not common for RVs but are usually seen more in hybrid vehicles and EVs, as they can store more energy and recharge faster than conventional car batteries. They’re lightweight and can offer better travel distance on a single charge. Lithium-ion batteries are super expensive, but they can last 3-10 times longer than typical lead-acid batteries and they usually come with longer warranties. 

RV Battery Key Features

Cold cranking amps.

The power requirement, known as a battery’s cold-cranking amps, is probably the most important key feature when selecting the best RV battery to meet your needs. Cold-cranking amps refer to the amount of energy needed to start your vehicle at a temperature of zero degrees Fahrenheit, and it helps indicate how powerful a car battery is. Generally, the larger your rig, the more power you will need to start it. Look in the range of 500-1,000 CCAs. 

Reserve Capacity

Reserve capacity lets you know how long a battery can run on its own power when the engine is off. Basically, it tells you how long you can run your lights and radio before you’ve drained your RV battery too low to restart on its own. Maybe not the most critical key feature, but it’s helpful to have a long reserve capacity in the event you leave your lights on or experience issues such as an alternator failure or engine trouble. You’ll find reserve capacity measured in minutes, usually between 120-160.

Battery Size

Getting the proper battery size for your RV is another crucial box to check. Since RV batteries come in various sizes, it’s important to check out your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine which size is the right fit for your needs. You want your battery to fit perfectly under your hood without potentially causing damage to the surrounding components when vibrations happen.

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers!

Q: How much should an RV battery cost?

A: Most RV batteries range anywhere from $100 to $300, with more premium options costing between $300 and $750. The price variation largely comes down to the performance and construction of the battery, a Lithium-Ion battery is going to cost more than an AGM battery, so take time to consider how much performance you need from a battery.

Q: How long should a battery last in an RV?

A: Expect most middle-of-the-road lead-acid RV batteries to last between 5-6 years before needing to be replaced. With good care, some can last upwards of 10 years. Lithium-ion batteries should last you a minimum of 10 years or more.

Q: How do you know if your RV battery is bad?

A: The obvious answer to this is that your RV won’t start if the battery is bad. However, there are also more subtle signs to look for, including broken or corroded terminals, bulges, cracks, or dents in the case, discoloration, and leaking of acid. Always inspect the battery thoroughly before firing your RV up at the start of each season. Replace at the first sign of damage.

Q: How often should you charge your RV batteries?

A: You should charge your RV’s battery a minimum of every three months. That said, it’s an even better idea to fire up your rig at least once each month to stay on top of things. Alternatively, you can purchase a trickle charger or battery maintainer, which ensures a constant charge on your RV battery when you have to leave it sitting for weeks to months on end.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy .

Best RV Battery for 2022 [My Top Pick and 4 Runner-Ups]

Published on September 11th, 2022 by Ray & Tammy Roman This post was updated on July 21st, 2023

Many RV battery types and brands are currently sold, so choosing the best RV battery for your needs can be a bit daunting. Even if you don’t dry camp frequently, you’ll still want reliable house batteries to power your RV.

In this buying guide, I will review one of the highest-rated RV batteries, the one I recommend the most, and four other batteries worth considering.

The Best Overall RV Battery – Battle Born LiFePO4 Deep Cycle

• Up to a Decade of Use - Enjoy superb return on your investment with this heavy duty 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 battery! This 100Ah 12V lithium battery lasts 3,000 - 5,000 deep discharge cycles,...
• Built for Rugged Adventures - Our fast-charging LiFePO4 100Ah 12V batteries are the perfect camper, van, boat, trolling motor, and lithium RV battery. Battle Born Batteries are also...

Last update on 2024-04-23 / Paid Affiliate Link / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Specifications:.

• Voltage: 12 Volts
• Battery Cell: Lithium-Ion
• Capacity: 100 Ah
• Weight: 31 lbs
• Warranty: 10 Years

Why Do I Recommend the Battle Born As The Best RV Battery?

I chose Battle Born as my top pick for the best RV battery for several reasons. As a house battery, it offers top performance and dependability. The lithium-ion battery cells provide up to 3000-5000 deep cycles.

They are made in the USA using safe, non-toxic, renewable materials. Due to the lightweight, just 21 lbs, and the closed cells offer unlimited mounting capabilities.

• Battery Management System – The built-in Battery Management System is designed to protect your battery from some of the most common failures, such as ground faults and extreme temperature volatility.
• Long Battery LifeSpan – Battle Born batteries last 10X longer than lead-acid batteries.
• Deep Cycles – With 3,000 to 5,000 deep cycles of deep cycles, you can recharge them many times over.
• Safer Than Lead-Acid – Lithium batteries are safer than lead-acid, and you can mount them in just about any position.
• 10-Year Warranty – Yes, you read it right. Battle Born batteries have one of the longest warranties in the industry.
• Lightweight and Maintenance Free – Weighs just 1/5 the weight of lead-acid batteries. It’s also practically maintenance-free.

The Battle Born Lithium-Ion battery is one of the best RV batteries you can buy. It gets very positive reviews online. Yes, it’s expensive; however, it has a very long lifespan, making it a very good investment in the long run.

Best RV Battery for Boondocking – Ampere Time LeFePO4 Deep Cycle

• 【Automotive Grade LiFePO4 Battery】LiTime 12V100Ah LiFePO4 battery have exceptional quality since they are manufactured by Automotive Grade LiFePO4 Cells with higher energy density,...
• 【10 Years Lifetime】LiTime LiFePO4 battery provides 4000~15000 cycles (10 times longer) 4000 Time Cycles at 100% DOD, 6000 Time Cycles at 80% DOD, 15000 Time Cycles at 60% DOD & a...

This Ampere Time battery has a lot going for it, making it an excellent RV battery. First, it’s a LiFe PO 4 battery which you can learn about here .

Let’s go over the specification of this battery then I’ll discuss the performance. The Ampere Time battery is a maintenance-free Lithium-Iron Phosphate battery. It’s a very lightweight battery coming in at just over 24 lbs. Compared to lead-acid batteries with the same capacity, you’ll find that the Ampere Time battery weighs 1/3.

According to the manufacturer, it has a 10-year service life, which I have not tested. The battery is rated IP65 Level Water Proof; you can learn about the different water-proof ratings here .

The battery is also vibration resistant and can hold its voltage at approximately 12.8V to 13.8V.

Another excellent feature of the Ampere Time 100Ah battery is the built-in Battery Management System or BMS. The BMS monitors and protects against overcharge, over-discharge, over-current, and short circuits.

Hardly any product is without its detractors, and this battery is no different. Based on my research of online reviews, several buyers have reported the battery goes bad after a few months, and it doesn’t hold its charge as it should.

Those reports have been a small percentage compared to those who have found the battery quite acceptable and a great value for the price. Customer service seems very good, as evidenced by the manufacturer’s easy return policy.

Best Budget-Friendly – Windy Nation 100Ah AGM RV Battery

• WindyNation 100 amp-hour, 12 Volt heavy duty deep cycle AGM sealed lead acid batteries with heavy duty plates are designed for deep, repetitive discharges.
• Ideal for all types of off-grid power: Solar Systems, RV's, UPS, Off shore Marine power, Telecommunications, Portable tools, etc.

WindyNation deep cycle batteries are specially designed to offer off-grid power. They are the perfect choice for RVs since you will spend most of your time in remote areas where a dependable energy source comes in handy.

The sealed and maintenance-free design is suitable for recreation purposes such as RVing.

It does have one major drawback, and that is its weight. The battery weighs 68 lbs which is a lot of weight. Almost 3X the weight of a comparable Lithium-Ion battery.

The battery also has a non-spillable design that allows it to be used in areas requiring such batteries. If you choose this battery, you will always be on the safe side, no matter the location of your adventure.

Despite the number of times the battery gets discharged and recharged, it can endure for a long time, making it the best RV battery for those on a budget or who prefer not to buy a lithium RV battery.

The WindyNation Deep Cycle AGM battery is an all-around good battery with good performance at a reasonable price.

Best AGM RV Battery – Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery

• Renogy AGM Batteries: Trusted Worldwide, Exceptional Safety, Extreme Performance! Support series (No limitation), parallel (Up to 4P) connections.
• 【Leading AGM Batteries】Renogy Deep Cycle AGM batteries have earned widespread trust with over 230,000 units sold worldwide in the past six years.

The Renogy Deep Cycle AGM battery was designed with an off-grid application. It has a low self-discharge rate of approximately 3% per month at 77 degrees F.

This battery is leak-proof and spill-proof; however, it is recommended you install it upright. Only install it on its side if necessary. Installing it upside down is NOT recommended.

The improved electrolyte formula ensures stable capacity and excellent discharge performance even at temperatures below 32 degrees F.

The Renogy deep cycle battery is made with Pb-ca alloy, which has the strength to withstand corrosion. Your battery will, therefore, last longer than other cells on the market.

If you have had a battery before, you agree that most of them are destroyed by high current discharging. For Renogy, it is optimized to overcome this challenge and give you long-lasting service.

• Always charge the battery with the recommended voltage and ensure it is fully charged.
• Refrain from over-discharging batteries.
• The recharge capacity should be 1.1 – 1.5 of the discharge capacity.

Paired with a Renogy Solar panel kit , this battery will keep your electronics running smoothly.

Want to learn more about solar panels? Check this article I wrote; Solar Panel Pros and Cons

Overall the Renogy Deep Cycle AGM battery is one you should consider, especially if you are going to use it off-grid. Remember, there have been some quality issues lately, and verified buyers have reported poor customer support.

Renogy makes a very good battery, so I hope these issues can be addressed and corrected.

Best Lithium RV Battery – Redodo LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery

• 【Long Life & Deep Cycle】Redodo 12V 100AH LiFePO4 battery uses Automotive Grade LiFePO4 Cells, which gets low self discharge rate at only 3% and provides 4000~15000 cycles and...
• 【60% Lighter & 5% Smaller】Redodo 12V lithium battery 100AH measures L13*W6.77*H8.43 inches and only 22.04 lbs, which suits BCI Group 31 battery box perfectly. While the 12V100AH...

The Redodo Lithium battery is designed for a minimum of 4000 recharging cycles. It can provide up to 10 years of reliable service and performance.

Since it uses prismatic LiFePO4 cells, it provides better stability, lighter weight (25.35 lbs), and higher energy density. This allows the batteries to be operated at high temperatures while still outputting high power and minimizing the self-discharge rate.

The five-year warranty is half as little as most competing lithium battery brands, so that is something to consider. The Redodo is an environmentally safe battery with no heavy or rare Earth metals.

Great batter overall, especially the reasonable price, but the warranty could be better.

Types of Batteries You’ll Find in An RV

There are two types of batteries that you will find in your RV. What you find will depend on whether or not yo you have a travel trailer or a driveable RV like a Class A RV Motorhome , Class B Camper Van , or Class C RV .

The types of RV batteries are as follows:

Chassis Battery

The chassis RV battery is also known as the starter battery. This is the battery that is used to start your driveable RV. It functions the same as your car battery. It is there to create a large current burst over a short period to get the components of your RV going and the starter turning so your engine can start.

These are the characteristics of a chassis battery:

• The internal battery plates are thin maximizing exposure to the electrolyte.
• Cold Cranking Amps or CCA is the way these batteries are rated. This allows you to compare performance to meet your needs.
• It is not a deep-cycle battery, a characteristic of an RV house battery discussed next.

House Battery 12-Volt or 6-Volts

The RV battery that supplies 12 volts to run your RV lights, microwave, TV, etc., is called the house battery. Often you will have more than one. When you hear the term “deep cycle RV batteries,” this is the battery they are referring to.

These are the characteristic of an RV house battery:

• It is a deep cycle battery with think plates that allow the battery to be charged and recharged many, many times (cycles)
• Amp Hours (Ah) is how these batteries are rated and can be compared so you can make the right buying decision. CCA is not used to rate house batteries.
• Designed to provide a steady current over long periods, such as boondocking.

Deep Cycle RV Battery Construction Types

Among all battery brands, there are essentially three types of deep-cycle batteries. Let’s review each construction type and the pros and cons of each one.

Conventional Flooded Electrolyte

This is your typical battery type and will be the most familiar. This is also the type that is most often shipped with an RV.

You’ll need to check water levels and add distilled water when needed; corrosion often accumulates around the terminal post, so that will need to be cleaned; they offer fairly good capacity at a reasonable cost.

Gel Batteries

Gel batteries use a battery acid in the form of a gel. Because of this, they are leak-proof. Gel batteries are excellent for marine use but not so much for RV use.

They must be charged at a slower rate and with lower voltage. Overcharging may cause permanent damage.

AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)

Absorbed Glass Mat, or what is often referred to as AGM batteries, use a fiber-type mat between the plates. The mat is 90% soaked in electrolytes.

AGM batteries are more expensive than standard batteries but have some advantages.

AGM batteries are charged the same as standard lead-free batteries; there is no water loss, they won’t leak, and they are almost maintenance-free, and it’s highly unlikely they will freeze.

Lithium Ion

Lithium batteries have many advantages over AGM and lead-acid batteries. They are constructed using an anode and cathode with a separator between the two electrodes and an electrolyte filling the remaining space.

This allows the anode and cathode to store lithium ions, and energy is released as the ions traverse back and forth between the two electrodes.

Lithium Ion batteries have many benefits over AGM or lead-acid batteries, including lighter weight, better temperature stability, better power efficiency, and the ability to be recharged hundreds of times.

Check out the infographics below for a summary of the pros and cons of the different types of RV batteries.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best RV battery for your camper or motorcoach will depend on several factors. The three most important are how you will be using the RV batteries, your budget, and how much space you have in your RV for batteries.

Once you have taken all of that into account, narrowing down your selection should be easy.

Best RV Battery FAQ

What size battery for travel trailer, are lithium iron or lithium ion batteries the best power source for an rv if i plan to boondock off the grid a lot, how long should rv batteries last, can i use a car battery in my rv, where can i buy rv batteries, if you enjoyed this post please share:, related posts:.

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8 Best RV Batteries Reviewed

If you purchase through the links in this post, we may receive a small affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you.

Read our review guidelines

Welcome, my fellow bright sparks, to this expert review of the eight BEST RV batteries for your buck. You have power needs, and I have power solutions! The answers you seek are within, and no longer will you be in the dark.

I’ve spent many lonesome nights on the road in my trusty portable home. Having an all-out comprehensive power solution makes those lonesome nights that much less lonesome. And yes, I am speaking from personal experience.

 It’s nice to have lighting. It’s nice to be able to charge your phone and call home! Going off-grid doesn’t mean you can’t be a little on-grid.

But I’ll be the first to say that RV batteries are COMPLICATED. For the longest time, I stayed right out of the world of RV electronics. It’s only after years of experience that I’ve learned how to separate the good batteries from the shockingly bad ones.

And speaking of the best, the results are in! The top pick is without a doubt the Battle Born Batteries LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery . This premium purchase offers performance and reliability out the wazoo!

But that doesn’t mean it’s the best battery for you. RV batteries are specific to both the RVer’s needs as well as the setup of their rig. So whether it’s cheaper, smaller, or built to withstand the impact of a small nuclear missile, you’ll find it in this guide.

Are you ready? Of course you are! You’re a bright spark.

And the brightest sparks only buy the best batteries.

Our Top 8 Picks

• Battle Born Batteries LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery [Best Overall]
• LiTime 12V 300Ah Lithium LiFePO4 Battery [Best Splurge]
• WEIZE 12V 100Ah Deep Cycle AGM Battery [Best Budget]
• Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery [Best Monitoring]
• Optima BlueTop Battery [Best Versatility]
• Odyssey PC680 Battery [Best Small Battery]
• Vmaxtanks’ VMAXSLR125 AGM 12V 125Ah SLA Rechargeable Deep Cycle Battery [Best Durability]
• WindyNation 100AH 12V AGM Deep Cycle Sealed Lead Acid Battery [Best For Casual Usage]

How to Choose the Best RV Battery

No matter whether you’re a weekend warrior or a full-time nomad, an RV battery is your lifeline. I’ve spent countless nights camped out under the stars. As much as the Great Outdoors are a vibe, they’re much more suited to long-term living if you have adequate lighting and a way to charge your essentials!

Picking the right RV battery makes all the difference to your enjoyment of the lifestyle. Having a capacity suitable for your needs is the obvious first parameter. However, there’s a lot more to consider. 

You want reliability. You want durability. Even more so, you want to know what YOU need. Only then can you buy a battery that meets that.

Before even making the purchase, I’d suggest you sit down and plan. Map out the spacing of your RV and where things will go. Consider the appliances you’ll want. Charging a phone and a laptop is one thing. Running a whole washer dryer unit is a whole other story!

Preparation is key to making a purchase that ensures your lifeline is just that and not a tremendous pain in the posterior. So to make sure your love-hate relationship with your RV’s electronics remains on the “ love” side of the spectrum, let’s dig into the key considerations!!

A durable battery ensures you won’t be left in the dark on a chilly night. Or worse, with a fridge full of spoiling food and no milk for your morning brew!

Durability also equates to less frequent replacements and a lot more reliability in your battery’s performance. Basically, durability equals peace of mind.

Seek out batteries with sturdy casings and high resistance to vibrations. This makes a big difference on the bumpy roads ahead.

I also like to keep an eye out for batteries with corrosion-resistant terminals. Generally speaking, lithium-ion batteries usually outshine their lead-acid counterparts in durability.

Capacity represents how much energy the battery can store. Consider it the stamina of your RV.

Sure you can have a little Energizer bunny running amok with incredible output. But if it doesn’t have the endurance of a tortoise, it won’t last long.

Focus on batteries with a higher amp-hour (Ah) rating.

For most RV adventures, a capacity ranging between 100-200 Ah should suffice. Less than 100 Ah and you’re looking at a lifestyle of charging gadgets and not much else. More than 200 Ah, and not even the icy tundras of Canada will be able to stop your off-grid expeditions!

The longer the shelf life for your battery, the less you’ll need to recharge. The shelf life also dictates how long you can keep your battery in storage when not in regular use. This is relevant to campers who love being in secluded spots long-term. Casual adventurers who might not use their battery for months at a time should also take this into account.

I’ve found that batteries with a self-discharge rate of less than 3% per month are golden. At that level, I have the freedom to camp off-grid without forever worrying about my draining battery levels.

Types of RV Batteries

Equally important is the type of battery that you buy. The very first lead-acid battery ever invented was way back in 1859. Since then, the tech has only gotten better!

So whether you like old-school or new-school, all battery types present their own pros and cons.

Speaking of old-school, flooded lead-acid batteries might be 200-year-old veterans in the scene, but they still more than hold their own in the market. While not as efficient as some modern battery types, they’re very reliable. They also tend to be more budget-friendly. I’ve enjoyed many an RV journey with a trusty flooded lead-acid battery.

Lithium-Ion And LIFEPO4

But now we’re talking high performance! These battery types are lightweight, offer longer lifespans, and have faster charging times.

Specifically, LiFePO4 batteries are safer and have longer lifespans than lithium-ion variants. But a lithium battery will have a higher energy efficiency and density. Either way, they’re both premium battery types well suited for full-time and long-time RV-lifers.

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM)

These are a notch above lead-acid variants, but without reaching the soaring heights of lithium-ion and LiFePO4. These are sealed, maintenance-free, and with a good balance between cost and performance.

AGM batteries are a strong go-to for weekend getaways and the casual RV lifestyle.

Although rarer on the market, gel cell batteries are known for their impeccable deep-cycle capabilities. They’re less prone to leakage and perform well in high temperatures. For that reason, they’re quite a good option if you intend to do a lot of traveling in the State’s southern regions. You can even head abroad to other treasured RV hotspots like the Great Down Under!

12-Volt VS 6-Volt RV Battery

Ahh, well, every niche hobby must have its controversial opinions! This debate often boils down to personal preference. 

At a glance, 12-volt batteries provide more power and are easier to set up. But 6-volt batteries often last longer and generally provide a steadier power output. Personally, I’ve always gone for the simplicity of a 12-volt battery.

Having said that, a couple of 6-volt batteries linked together will give you a reliability that will rarely (if ever) falter.

The 8 Best RV Batteries

I’ve rounded up the “what to look for” , let’s discuss the “what to get” . Note that these are all deep cycle batteries. This is simply because deep cycle batteries are dual-purpose batteries. They’re able to provide an initial burst to start the engine and also deliver cycling power for running other electrical items.

Now, are you ready for some shockingly insightful reviews on the best RV batteries? Then sink your teeth into these POWERful contenders.

Best Overall

1. Battle Born Batteries LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery

• Type: LiFePO4
• Capacity: 100 Ah
• Shelf Life: ~1 year
• Dimensions: 12.8” x 6.9” x 9”
• Warranty: 10 years

Ready for all the battles to fare on the road ahead? Then try the Battle Born Batteries LiFePO4 Battery: the BEST RV battery to take with you no matter the foe.

As a battery sitting on the very premium end of the spectrum, the Battle Born offers a lot. Just as all good warriors must, it focuses on longevity and durability. Its lithium-ion build lasts 10 times longer than its lead-acid counterparts. And because of its acid-free design, the battery is very versatile and mountable in any orientation.

Meanwhile, its durability matches that of Achilles himself!  The Battle Born features a specialized internal Battery Management System (BMS). This protects it from common failures such as…

• High and low voltage
• Short circuits
• And temperature fluctuations. 

Nevertheless, if you’re still worried, it even has a 10-year warranty ! That alone justifies the hefty investment.

But that’s also the downside. The Battle Born is a HEFTY investment. It’s the second-most expensive RV battery you’ll find on this list. 

That’s perfectly reasonable though considering the level of premium this RV deep cycle battery offers. It’s a long-term product for the years to come. However, it might not be the smartest buy for very casual RVers or more budget-geared travelers with lower power needs.

But full-timers and luxury livers need look no further! The Battle Born Battery has cut its teeth on enough trials and tribulations of the nomadic life. It’ll accompany you into all frontiers. It packs more power and more endurance into a lighter and smaller build than a lot of other cheaper deep cycle batteries. And it’s more than equipped to service even the grandest of RVs.

Anyone who’s serious about their on-the-road living needs a battery built like this.

Best Splurge

2. LiTime 12V 300Ah Lithium LiFePO4 Battery

• Capacity: 300 Ah
• Shelf Life: ~ 2 years
• Dimensions: 20.6” x 9.5” x 8.6”
• Warranty: 5 years

Alternatively, get a battery built like this! The LiTime LiFePO4 Battery is the epitome of RV battery luxury equipped to accompany you into all conquests. Just like the formidable Battle Born, LiTime hails from the very premium end of the spectrum. However, it’s the LiTime’s edge in capacity, shelf life, and elite features that propel it to the top.

At its core (literally), the LiTime stands out due to its high-quality automotive-grade LiFePO4 cells. This doesn’t just translate to safer output. You also get higher energy density, superior power, and unmatched performance stability. Meanwhile, much like the Battle Born, LiTime houses a built-in BMS for protection against all those pesky common threats.

But the LiTime does still stand taller. While the Battle Born boasts impressive longevity and durability, the LiTime has a significantly larger capacity and excellent self-discharge rate. These make it even more resilient for those extended road journeys. No matter how long the journey might be, the LiTime promises to always keep the lights on and the music bangin’.

Of course, although, the LiTime’s comes pretty darn tootin’ close, perfection is elusive. It lacks specific features catering to extreme temperatures such as internal heating and cooling. If you’re venturing into truly extreme locales, there are better batteries designed for these climates. However, this robust build is going to manage just about anything that’s not Canada’s Arctic tundras.

The only other real downside to this deep cycle RV battery is its steep price. But that also reflects the user. Any nomad 100% dedicated to the lifestyle will be overjoyed with this battery and willing to fork out the extra cash. The LiTime ensures an uninterrupted and lavish RV experience in the lap of luxury for years to come.

The Battle Born might be the trusty warrior we all need, but the LiTime is the luxury knight in shining armor we want. It packs power and a whole lot of it!

Best Budget

3. WEIZE 12V 100Ah Deep Cycle AGM Battery

• Shelf Life: ~2 years
• Dimensions: 5.1” x 9.1” x 11.2”
• Warranty: 1 year

I’ve always preferred minimalism and a lower footprint. If you’re like me, something like the wallet-friendly WEIZE will be way better suited to your needs. It’s the “champagne taste on a beer budget” solution!

Despite its lower price point, this RV deep cycle battery still packs a serious wallop. Its deep cycle design means it’ll dance through repeat charges and discharges without stumbling. Plus, it’s got adaptability. It’s a durable, maintenance-free AGM battery. That means you can swap it from powering your RV’s creature comforts to the other spices of life (like your solar setup) with relative ease.

In fact, though it’s not as hardened as the Battle Born, its capacity proves that price isn’t everything. There are heaps of reports from happy campers saying this covered all their power needs during their weekend adventures.

Of course, it’s still most definitely NOT the Battle Born. Compared to lithium batteries like the Battle Born, the WEIZE is sensitive to overcharging. (Which is common amongst AGM batteries.) It’ll never rival the performance of lithium-ion variants and the reliability they offer nomadic souls. Similarly, its warranty is 10% of the Battle Born’s.

So in comparison to the Battle Born and LiTime, there’s definitely a David versus Goliath vibe. Still, it’s easily the best RV battery at this price range. It gives you solid performance without emptying your pockets. Maybe you prefer your RV road trips to be more budget-oriented. Or maybe you just don’t travel with on-board amenities that rival a small mansion. Either way, you can’t do much better than the WEIZE. It’s also a great choice for a replacement battery.

Best Monitoring

4. Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery

• Shelf Life: ~6-8 years
• Dimensions: 13.1” x 6.9” x 8.6”
• Warranty: 2 years 

We’ve spoken a lot about how these deep cycle batteries meet your needs. But are you meeting the needs of your battery? With the Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery, you can! It’s an intelligent product choice for savvy RVers who prioritize the health and longevity of their battery.

This all comes down to the onboard monitoring technology. This innovative feature monitors real-time voltage and current draws to ensure stable discharges. This also puts control back in YOUR hands. There’s no reason not to stay on top of your battery’s health and ensure it’s maximizing its performance.

Other than that, it’s a mid-range product that screams balance versus features. It’s got a ridiculously long shelf life and low discharge rate (one of Renogy’s claims to fame with their catalog of products). Plus, its performance holds up even in extreme temperatures. It boasts durability in the chills of -4°F up to a toasty 140°F.

Nonetheless, despite its premium features at a middle-of-the-pack price, this is still an AGM battery. It has the aforementioned sensitivity to overcharging. It’ll also never rival the power efficiency and density of its lithium-loaded cousins. Plus, I’d say it’s an extremely heavy battery compared to others I’ve used. This makes installation quite tricky (and likely a two-human job).

In the grand scheme of (RV)life, the Battle Born and LiTime still overshadow it in terms of raw power. However, if the WEIZE and other budget batteries aren’t quite right, then the mid-tier Renogy could be the perfect fit for you. Particularly if the idea of reliable performance and smart monitoring appeals to you. I dare say it’s a top pick for all the part-time RVers who want reliability when on the road and long-term storage solutions when off it.

Best Versatility

5. Optima BlueTop Battery

• Capacity: 55 Ah
• Shelf Life: ~8-12 months
• Dimensions: 10.1” x 6.9” x 7.9”
• Warranty: 3 years

If you need a deep cycle battery that can adapt to just about any situation, the Optima BlueTop is the one to be sniffing out. This isn’t just your run-of-the-mill power source: it’s engineered for adaptability.

At the BlueTop’s heart is the SpiralCell design. This innovative feature of Optima batteries provides impressive resistance to vibration. Think 15 times MORE than your typical battery. It also guarantees superior durability.

On top of that, it’s designed with both marine and RV environments in mind. This means it’s weather-resistant and prepared for any storms ahead.

Lastly, as an AGM battery, it’s spill-proof and low maintenance. This allows you to mount it in almost any orientation. It’s a perfect match for both road warriors and salty sailors alike. And trust me,  there’s more in common between the two lifestyles than you might think!

However, there’s no skirting around it – it’s pricier than the WEIZE. And for that higher price, you’re looking at a significantly lower capacity and shorter shelf life too. It’s definitely not the best value battery if you’re purely seeking a balanced power-to-cost ratio.

Still, if you’re looking for a versatile battery that thrives in diverse environments, it’s got you covered. In fact, if you like to combine your outdoor adventures with some marine activities, you could get a two-for-one with the Optima! But if this versatility is overkill and battery power and price are the greater concerns, I’d say the WEIZE is the overall better package.

Best Small Battery

6. Odyssey PC680 Battery

• Capacity: 16 Ah
• Dimensions: 7.2” x 3” x 6.4”
• Warranty: 2 years

Speaking of packages, if ever there was a product to show good things do come in small ones, it would be the Odyssey. This is a very small deep cycle battery built for very limited use. But the RVers that suit that specification will be stoked with the result!

The Odyssey PC680 is a good RV battery for those who prefer a more minimalist mobile lifestyle. Its compact size ensures it snugly fits in pretty much any setup without hassle. As such, it’s ideal for Class B motorhomes or full-blown grungy vanlifers of the dirtbag arts. 

But despite its small stature, this thing is sturdy. Its resilient construction is designed to tackle shock and vibration. In other words, it’s very marryable with RV road trips. Moreover, it houses dense pure lead plates. These promise both an amplified power output and remarkable longevity.

But remember how I said this was for minimalistic mobile lifestyles? With a tiny 16 Ah capacity, the Odyssey is better suited for charging devices and powering small, essential appliances. It simply won’t work for luxury coaches or even more standard Class C steeds. The bonus of the small capacity, however, is that the Odyssey charges up lighting fast!

Just to drill it in, this is a great RV battery for minimalist and budget travelers. It’s really more for camping in a bit of style rather than full-blown RV-living. Budget road-trippers with smaller vehicles, low power needs, and low stacks of cash will be delighted by its performance, size, and durability.

But everyone else in larger motorhomes will need more. You can go for something like the Battle Born for its hardened performance. Alternatively, you can get the WEIZE for its power-to-cost ratio. Either way, there are options better suited to the complete RV lifestyle.

Best Durability

7. Vmaxtanks’ VMAXSLR125 AGM 12V 125Ah SLA Rechargeable Deep Cycle Battery

• Capacity: 125 Ah
• Shelf Life: ~10 years
• Dimensions: 6.8” x 12.9” x 8.7”

Adventure seekers and off-road enthusiasts, gather around. The VMAXSLR125 isn’t just a battery—it’s a behemoth. Other run-of-the-mill deep cycle batteries might whimper at the sight of a bumpy, unsealed road. But the military-level construction of the VMAX simply giggles in glee at every pothole and corrugation.

Maintenance woes? Not with the VMAX! This thing has it all:

• Extreme vibration resistance
• A heavy-duty build
• And tailor-made military-grade plates

It’s a powerful beast of a battery ready for wherever the roads, or lack thereof, take you.

But taking that reliability one step further is the AGM technology. This deep cycle battery employs a specialized electrolyte suspension system. So, even if you neglect it for a bit, this little trooper doesn’t lose its charge like some drama-queen batteries might. That’s reflected in the 1-2% discharge rate. You’ll net yourself up to 10 years of shelf life in the right conditions.

There’s not a lot of negatives about the VMAX. I’d say it’s more of a personal needs thing. For example, the Optima BlueTop also offers versatility and durability. That said, its lower capacity and easier installation make it more for RV owners who need versatility over durability.

The VMAX, meanwhile, is bigger, meaner, and heavier. Once it’s installed, I much prefer not to take it out again. Price-to-power-wise, it also packs more punch than most budget batteries like the WEIZE. In fact, it’s very comparable to the Renogy as a mid-tier offering.

That’s why it’s the best pick for serious off-roaders! Even 4X4ers with solar setups might want to consider the VMAX. Perhaps other comparable batteries on this list met your power needs but didn’t seem like they’d hold up during your most offbeat and off-grid adventures. If that’s the case, then the VMAX is the tough-as-nails option for you.

Best For Casual Usage

8. WindyNation 100AH 12V AGM Deep Cycle Sealed Lead Acid Battery

• Shelf Life: ~12 years
• Dimensions: 13” x 6.8” x 8.7”

Twelve years! If your jaw hit the floor when you saw that shelf life, you’re not alone! And that’s why this deep cycle battery is perfect for the most casual of RVers.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a weekend warrior or head out once a year for Christmas. This deep cycle battery will quite literally outlive most of its competitors with that insane shelf life. You can even very comfortably de-install it for storage. You’ll still have some juice to come back to when you’re ready!

The WindyNation also puts a lot of attention into the quality of its build materials. Instead of compromising with recycled lead, WindyNation opts for an almost pure virgin lead – 99.995% pure total! This quality translates into a ridiculous shelf life. It also further enhances the battery’s ability to sustain deep, repetitive charges.

It’s honestly very comparable to the WEIZE. The WindyNation is more expensive than the WEIZE and prioritizes longevity over all-around performance. It’s also a tad heavier and bigger, making installation trickier. I’d say the WEIZE is the better overall choice for part-time to full-time RVers who need top performance calendar-round.

But if you indulge in RVing sporadically, then the WindyNation is a gem. Its unparalleled shelf life makes it ideal for those who hit the road less often. It comes in at a very reasonable price for that niche too. While part-time adventures will like the Weize more, this might be the more attractive choice for weekend wanderers. 

Navigating the world of RV batteries can throw up a host of questions. It certainly did for me my first time around the bends! 

You have questions, and I have the answers. I’ve been on countless escapades (and a few mishaps too) in the RV realm. Here are my answers to the most commonly pondered queries about RV batteries.

Can RV Batteries Withstand Extreme Temperatures?

Absolutely, but to a limit. Batteries are designed to perform within a range of temperatures. This means their efficiency can wane in extreme conditions. For instance, lead-acid batteries might struggle in bone-chilling temperatures. On the other hand, lithium-ion ones often fare better. That said, it’s also essential to know that high temperatures can also shorten a battery’s lifespan. 

If you’re planning on venturing into extreme frontiers, it’s good to purchase an RV battery prepared for that journey. Some batteries are simply more climate-resistant. But other batteries will have on-board protection mechanisms for extreme temperatures.

Are these RV batteries American-made?

Some of the batteries on this list are made in the States while others aren’t. Having said that, many RV batteries are indeed manufactured in the USA and boast rigorous quality and testing standards. 

Of course, there’s absolutely zero reason to prioritize American origins in your battery purchase. With globalization, industry-dominating battery brands come from all over the world! When I’m buying a new battery, my focus is on the quality and reviews rather than just the manufacturer’s origin

What is the Average Lifetime of an RV Battery?

Ahh, the age-old (sticky) question! My question to you is how long is a piece of string?

In general, they last longer than car batteries. That said, the lifespan of your battery is going to fluctuate quite a bit depending on how well you take care of it and how carefully you store it.

On average, a typical lead-acid battery can last anywhere between three and five years.

Meanwhile, lithium-ion batteries, with their superior technology, often boast a lifespan of up to 10 years. But in the end, it’s still going to come down to how you treat your battery.

How Long Should RV Batteries Last?

Regarding the duration between charges, a fully-charged RV battery can power your rig for about 48-72 hours.

However, that’s seriously contextualized by the battery’s capacity amongst other things. The actual duration will vary greatly from battery to battery.

The best thing you can do is give it a few solid test runs before going on any major expeditions to learn the best way to manage your battery.

How to Best Charge My RV Battery?

Charging your RV battery correctly ensures its longevity.

The golden rule a lot of RV veterans swear by is to never let your battery drain below 50%. Using a multi-stage charger that includes a bulk, absorption, and float phase can also maximize your battery’s health. 

Regularly check and clean battery terminals. And if you’re using lead-acid types, ensure the water levels are topped up.

Remember that to secure the best performance from your battery, you need to have at least some input on the maintenance. They’re not just a plug-and-play solution!

Our Verdict

And now you’re all wired up and ready for the road! As I said, batteries are complicated. However, they’re a whole lot less complicated when you have a bang-on review to guide you through your purchase!

After spending a silly amount of time in the rabbit hole, reading specs and reviews on all the best battery brands, my choice still remains clear. The Battle Born Deep Cycle Battery is the best purchase for RVers. It’s 100% the right choice for full-time and part-time RV-livers who never want to deal with a power outage again.

But if you don’t have the capital to fund an incredibly lavish RV glamping experience, the WEIZE Deep Cycle AGM is the best budget pick. I’ve scoured through all the low-end and mid-tier options, and there’s no question that WEIZE jams the best performance into the cheapest package possible.

Whatever you do though, get yourself a battery. And take care of it! There are some luxuries of life on the road that you probably don’t need. A battery is NOT one of them.

Without it, you’re camping in a glorified tent. Part of the freedom of the open road means infinite possibility. And while it might go against the nomad’s code, some reliance on electricity enhances that freedom. You can adventure longer, harder, and even make a career of it and never go home.

So in that sense, an RV battery is the golden ticket to the Peter Pan lifestyle that awaits. Go hard and never go home, fellow bright sparks! Or if you do, then at least have the capability to light your way back there.

Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice.

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The Wandering RV

Best rv batteries in 2023 (review & buyer’s guide).

• Brett Folkerts
• Updated: June 14, 2023

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Powering your way through off-grid adventures in your RV requires a trusty sidekick: the deep cycle battery! These unsung heroes of the RV world keep your lights shining, appliances humming, and devices charged even when you’re miles away from civilization. In this electrifying blog post, we’ll help you navigate the maze of deep cycle battery options with a spark of humor and a jolt of expertise.

Join us as we explore the thrilling world of lead-acid, AGM, and lithium-ion batteries, each with its unique strengths and quirks. We’ll also dive into the exciting realm of boondocking , where a reliable battery is your ticket to off-grid glory. But wait, there’s more! Proper battery maintenance is key to a long and happy relationship with your deep cycle companion. We’ll share essential tips on checking water levels (for certain battery types), keeping terminals corrosion-free, and practicing good battery storage etiquette.

So buckle up and prepare for a high-voltage journey through the ins and outs of deep cycle batteries for your RV. Together, we’ll energize your understanding of your RV’s electrical needs and help you make the brightest choice for your off-grid escapades!

Table of Contents

Choosing your rv battery: comparing key features, lead-acid batteries: affordable, heavier, but shorter lifespan, sla (agm) batteries: maintenance-free, moderate weight, with better deep cycle performance at a higher cost, lithium iron phosphate (lifepo4) batteries: reliable performance without breaking the bank, sealed lead acid – agm, comparing discharge capacities, power density comparison, charging with solar and generators, choosing the right charger for your battery type, regularly checking water levels (for lead-acid), keeping terminals clean from corrosion, properly storing when not in use.

Note: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This doesn’t cost you any more than normal. Read our disclaimer for more info.

Below, we have compiled a comparison table showcasing the different types of RV batteries: lead-acid, SLA (AGM), and LiFePO4. The table compares essential factors such as weight, cost, size, depth of discharge (DoD), and maximum charge rate for a 100Ah battery in each category. This side-by-side comparison will help you quickly assess the differences between these battery types, allowing you to make an informed decision when choosing the best battery for your specific RV needs. After the table, you’ll find our recommendations for each battery type to further guide your selection process.

Types of Deep Cycle RV Batteries

If you’re looking to power your home away from home, it’s essential to choose the right type of deep cycle RV battery. The three main types of deep cycle RV batteries are lead-acid, AGM, and Lithium-Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4); each offering its own advantages and drawbacks. Each has its own set of pros and cons that can make or break your next adventure.

Lead-acid batteries are the most basic option for powering your RV. They’re relatively inexpensive but come with a catch – they typically last around 400 cycles before needing replacement. These batteries also tend to be heavier compared to other types. If you’re limited in funds and don’t mind exchanging batteries more regularly and dealing with the extra weight, this could be the best option.

Stepping up in price (and performance), we have Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Absorbent Glass Matt (AGM) batteries. These maintenance-free batteries offer better deep cycle capabilities than their lead-acid counterparts and are moderately weighted. While still being more affordable than lithium-ion options, keep in mind that they require proper charging techniques to avoid damage over time.

While not as high-tech as lithium-ion batteries, LiFePO4 batteries pack a punch at a more budget-friendly price point. They offer a solid balance of performance, durability, and safety, with a longer lifespan than both lead-acid and AGM batteries. 

Top RV Batteries

• UB121000 SLA is a 12V 100AH ​​Group 30H Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Maintenance Free Rechargeable Battery, UL Listed
• The spill-proof SLA/AGM battery features high discharge rate, wide operating temperatures, long life and deep discharge recovery.
• Rechargeable battery that can be mounted in any position, resists shock and vibration. Long lasting high performance in high and low temperatures.

• 【Lithium Iron Battery】: The lifespan of LiFePO4 (lithium) batteries is 8 to 10 times longer than that of regular lead-acid batteries (2000~5000 cycles vs 300-500 cycles). The usable capacity also doubles compared to that of a lead-acid battery while the weight is 30% less thanks to its significantly higher energy density. Without any memory effect, the lithium battery can hold a charge better while not in use and will not lose capacity due to the previous discharge state.
• 【Built-In BMS & Convenience & Maintenance Free】: The built-in BMS (Battery Management System) protects the battery from overcharge, over-discharge, over-current, and short circuits with excellent self-discharge rate. Built-in high temp cut-off prevents charging over 122 °F (50 °C). Plus, Li-Ion batteries can be safer than lead Acid batteries, which have no protection against ground faults. This product is your ideal choice for both outdoor and indoor applications.
• 【Capacity Expansion】: Our lithium batteries can be connected in parallel and in series for larger capacity and voltage. Max connection in series: Up to four identical batteries for up to 48V. Max connection in parallel: Up to four identical batteries up to 400AH. Batteries can also be connected in parallel and series at the same time for up to 48V 400AH. Only batteries with the exact same voltage and capacity purchased within a six-month window can be used in parallel or series.

• 【Mini in Size Max on Power】LiTime 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Auto battery MINI took up only 0.25ft³ of space and is 35% smaller than before. Exquisite technology makes the 12V 100Ah size mini enough but powerful as usual (100% 1280Wh energy storage), install the mini 12V 100Ah battery wherever you want without regard for space
• 【Weighs 19lbs, 10% Lighter Than Ever】Be your first choice of LiFePO4 batteries for every outdoor decision, weighs only 19lbs, 10% lighter than ever. (The 12V 100Ah regular version: weighs 24lbs) It will be easier to maintain, move and take on the go.
• 【All-New Design, All-Round Safety】The lithium battery is wear-resistant thanks to the newly adopted matte-finish battery case, and the housing is IP65 waterproof, ensuring the success of all your sea activities. To prevent crush damages, we optimize the internal layout and construction. Allowable operating temperatures for outdoor activities range from -4°F to 140 °F.

Choosing the Best Battery for Boondocking

When boondocking, selecting the right battery type for your RV is crucial to ensure a seamless off-grid experience. Each battery type has its own set of advantages and drawbacks, making it essential to understand their characteristics before choosing the best option for your needs.

One critical aspect to consider is the depth of discharge (DoD) for each battery type, which represents the percentage of the battery capacity that can be used before causing potential harm to the battery.

Lead-acid batteries: Lead-acid batteries have a DoD of around 50%, which means that only half of the battery capacity can be used safely without shortening its lifespan. While this may be sufficient for occasional boondocking trips, frequent off-grid campers may find the limited capacity limiting.

AGM batteries: AGM batteries claim an improved DoD of up to 80%, providing more usable power for your RV’s needs. This makes them a better choice for boondocking enthusiasts who require a greater power reserve.  From my experience, 50% is a much safer threshold to keep the battery from wearing out prematurely.

Lithium-ion and LiFePO4 batteries: Both lithium-ion and LiFePO4 batteries boast an impressive DoD of around 90-95%, allowing you to utilize nearly their entire capacity without causing harm. This is particularly advantageous for boondocking, as it maximizes the power available to run appliances and devices for extended periods.

Another important factor when choosing a battery for boondocking is the power density, which refers to the amount of energy stored per unit of weight.

Lead-acid batteries: These batteries have the lowest power density, making them heavier and bulkier compared to other battery types. The extra weight might be a concern if your RV has limited cargo-carrying capacity.

AGM batteries: AGM batteries have a slightly higher power density than lead-acid batteries but still lag behind lithium-based options. This makes them a moderate choice in terms of weight and size.

Lithium-ion and LiFePO4 batteries: Both lithium-ion and LiFePO4 batteries offer the highest power density among the options, providing the most energy storage for their weight. This makes them an excellent choice for boondocking, as they save precious cargo space and reduce the overall weight of your RV.

Finally, when boondocking, it’s important to consider how well each battery type charges using solar panels or backup generators.

Lead-acid and AGM batteries: Both of these battery types have relatively slower charging times, which can be a drawback when relying on solar power or needing a quick top-up using a generator.

Lithium-ion and LiFePO4 batteries: These batteries charge significantly faster than lead-acid and AGM options, making them more efficient when using solar panels or backup generators. This ensures that your RV’s power needs are met more effectively while boondocking.

In conclusion, while each battery type has its pros and cons, lithium-based options (lithium-ion and LiFePO4) tend to be the best choice for boondocking due to their high DoD, excellent power density, and faster charging capabilities.

Maintaining Your RV Battery’s Lifespan

Prolong the life of your deep cycle RV battery and keep it performing at its peak by following some simple maintenance practices. After all, a well-maintained battery is a happy battery, and a happy battery means more fun-filled adventures for you!

Proper charging plays a significant role in maintaining your RV battery’s lifespan. It’s essential to choose a charger specifically designed or adjustable to charge the type of battery you have. Using an incorrect charger can result in undercharging or overcharging, which can damage the battery and shorten its life.

Keep in mind that the onboard DC converter in your RV may not be the ideal option for charging your RV battery. Some onboard converters may not provide the appropriate charging voltage or charging profile needed for your specific battery type, leading to less-than-optimal performance and potentially reducing the battery’s lifespan.

• Converters 120VAC shore power into usable 12VDC power
• Capable of charging your RV’s battery while also powering low voltage lights and appliances
• Available in several capacities: 35-amp, 45-amp, 55-amp, 60-amp, 75-amp, and 100-amp.
• Works with both lead batteries and lithium batteries

When selecting a charger, ensure it’s compatible with your battery type, whether it’s lead-acid, SLA (AGM), lithium-ion, or LiFePO4. Many modern chargers have multi-stage charging profiles, which can adapt to the specific needs of your battery, ensuring the appropriate charge level is applied throughout the charging process. Additionally, some chargers come with adjustable settings, allowing you to configure them according to your battery type and charging requirements.  Most solar chargers also have settings to properly charge your specific battery type.

• Meet the GENIUS10 – Similar to our G7200, just better. It’s 17% smaller and delivers over 115% more power. It’s the all-in-one universal charging solution – battery charger, battery maintainer, trickle charger, float charger, plus battery desulfator.
• Do more with Genius – Designed for 6-volt and 12-volt sealed lead-acid automotive, marine, RV, powersport, and deep-cycle batteries, including flooded, gel, AGM, SLA, VRLA and maintenance-free, plus lithium-ion batteries (lifepo4).
• Enjoy precision charging – An integrated digital thermal sensor detects the ambient temperature and alters the charge to eliminate over-charging in hot climates and under-charging in cold climates.

Lead-acid batteries need some TLC in the form of regular water level checks. Ensure the electrolyte covers the plates but doesn’t exceed the maximum level line, and top off with distilled water when needed. Remember, tap water contains minerals that can harm your battery – so always opt for distilled water.

Corroded battery terminals can lead to poor connections and reduced efficiency. Keep them clean by periodically using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, followed by a smear of petroleum jelly or a terminal protectant spray for added defense.

Before storing your battery, disconnect any connected devices or chargers, fully charge it, and keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or freezing temperatures (Battery University recommends between 50°F and 80°F).

Now that we’ve given you the lowdown on the best deep cycle batteries, it’s time to make an informed decision and gear up for your next off-grid adventure. Remember, a reliable deep cycle battery is essential for keeping your RV powered and ensuring a hassle-free experience. Armed with our top picks and expert insights, you can confidently choose the right battery to meet your needs and enjoy your RV journeys to the fullest.

Related Post — Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station Review

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• RV Refrigerators
• RV Air Conditioners
• RV Water Pumps
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RV Extended Warranties — Are they worth it? Everything you need to know

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5 Of The Best RV Deep Cycle Battery Brands, Ranked

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Typically, car batteries will discharge when a vehicle's engine is started or when electronics like the radio or interior lights are needed while the engine is off, which means the batteries will go a long time before passing their rated number of cycles. That's a good thing because the maximum energy capacity of a battery will take a hit once it's passed that number of cycles. If you're traveling or camping in an RV, you're likely discharging your battery a lot more often, using it to power all sorts of stuff inside your vehicle, especially when the engine is off. That's precisely why your RV should have a deep-cycle battery designed to discharge much more often over its lifespan.

Like anything else, some deep-cycle batteries are built better than others. When shopping for a deep cycle battery for your RV, there are a few factors to consider, like capacity. You'll want to ensure your battery is strong enough to last for your entire trip and then some. If you don't plan to use power-intensive items like your kitchen stove, you could save money and get a smaller battery. You'll also want to consider its shelf life, which is shorter than traditional batteries and can be affected by climate. Another factor is the durability of a battery, as deep-cycle batteries are typically more fragile than traditional batteries. To help decide which is right for you and your RV, here are five of the best brands that sell deep-cycle batteries.

Weize is one of the most well-known names in RV gear and for good reason. It offers free shipping to 48 states and sells various RV and automotive products, from tires to solar panels to refrigerators. It shouldn't be surprising that its batteries are perfectly suited for most RV owners. Its LiFEPO4 12-volt 100Ah Lithium Battery is a great deep cycle option for your RV, sporting a 10-year lifecycle and capable of up to 8,000 cycles. It also doesn't take up much space, is equipped with fast recharge technology, and performs well at extreme temperatures.

Unfortunately, its capacity is limited to the 100 Ah option, which is disappointing if you're looking for more power. It also doesn't include mounting equipment, which makes installation more of a hassle than it should be. But it's a reliable battery and provides plenty of cycles for the average RV user. Weize's  LiFEPO4 12-volt 100Ah Lithium battery retails for $329, and you can usually purchase it for even less at a discount on Amazon.

LiTime has many different battery options to choose from, including 12, 24, and 48-volt units, as well as power stations , battery kits, chargers, and accessories like circuit breakers and bus bars. By subscribing to its newsletter, you can also get good deals when items go on sale and find additional discounts (and valuable information). When it comes to batteries, LiTime is a go-to brand.

LiTime's 2V 300Ah LiFePO4 uses eight Automotive Grade LiFePO4 cells and a UL-certified 200A BM, so it's safe, stable, and powerful. It has a solid self-discharge rate and will protect against overcharging and over-discharging, as well as short circuits and power surges. However, it doesn't come cheap, as it retails for $1,100. Its cycle count is deep but wide-ranging and can be anywhere from 4,000 – 15,000, depending on how you use it. It would be helpful if LiTime narrowed that range down, but you're still getting a solid battery even at the lower end of that range.

Renogy is an excellent battery brand, and not just because it sells high-quality models. Its entire brand revolves around energy products, including solar kits and IoT monitors, and it fosters a community of enthusiasts through platforms like Discord, where you can find and share information about the latest technology. Don't be surprised if you'd find other RV drivers within that community, where you can share and learn tips, tricks, and additional insights to better power your vehicle.

Renogy's deep-cycle batteries are also great choices for your RV. Its 12-volt 100 Ah AGM option is consistent, has low resistance, a 1100A max discharge, and you don't have to worry about acid leakage, hydrogen gas, or water refilling. Plus, unlike many other deep-cycle batteries, it performs well in extreme temperatures, which are becoming increasingly common. You also have the option to purchase a rugged battery box to better protect the unit. While the battery comes in a compact, easy-to-install, and easy-to-carry package, it's pretty heavy, and the handles that make it easy to carry can make it challenging to mount the battery in tight spaces. Renogy's 12-volt 100 AH battery retails for $280, but you can currently buy it discounted for $195.99.

Interstate is a great brand that produces deep cycle batteries perfect for driving your RV from — as the name suggests — state to state. It sells a variety of batteries for a wide range of vehicle types and has a helpful tool on its website to help you match the right battery with the right vehicle, make, and model. You'll find several options if you search specifically for deep-cycle batteries for an RV. Depending on which one you buy, you'll have a six-month or year warranty. This 12-volt 110 Ah SLA/AGM battery costs $280 on Amazon and has a universal fit, so while it's designed for wheelchairs and scooters, it can be used for RV applications. It weighs around 67 pounds and is recyclable, maintenance-free, and spill-proof.

Despite being relatively lightweight and easy to install, it's not the most durable battery on the market. Also, its small capacity might not be enough for your needs, depending on the types of outings you plan to take with your RV. You may need something bigger and more powerful (and pricier), like the 150 Ah GC12-HCL-UTL. But Interstate is a reliable brand with multiple options, and you count on any batteries sporting its name to be effective at what they do.

Windy Nation

Windy Nation focuses on producing cables and alternative power products, but it does have a few batteries for sale, and while it's not its focus, these batteries are high-quality. Its 12-volt, 100 Ah AGM Deep Cycle Sealed Lead Acid Battery is highly durable and has a no-spill, no-leak design. If you're the type of RV driver who needs a rugged battery that can withstand a rough lifestyle, Windy Nation's battery can take a beating. That said, it doesn't fare well in high temperatures, so the places you're taking your RV should be considered before going with this battery, especially as climate change makes some parts of the country warmer than ever. Speaking of climate change, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, Windy Nation's batteries work well with alternative energy sources like solar and off-shore marine power.

Other perks of Windy Nation's batteries include minimal self-discharge and long shelf life. However, Windy Nation's aren't very easy to install compared to similar batteries. You can find Windy Nation's 12-volt, 100 Ah AGM deep cycle battery on Amazon for $213 and buy multiple units up to five.

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We’ll Keep the Light On For You – Finding the Best RV Battery

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If you’re new to camping life, you might be wondering what all the hubbub is about RV batteries. Coming from a house or apartment, you’re used to flipping the light switch and having the lights come on. Seldom do you have to worry about where that power comes from–or for how long it will last. But oh, how different RV life can be! 

The trick is that different users put different demands on their power systems. If you’re nearly always plugged in, having great batteries probably isn’t a priority. It’s those RVers who want to explore off-the-grid destinations that will benefit most from the best batteries. 

Let’s dive in and take a close look at the options available and which one might be right for you.

Buyer’s Guide – Picking the Best RV Battery or Best Travel Trailer Battery

What is the best rv battery.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. In order to find the best RV batteries for your travel trailer , camper, or RV, here’s a list of a few questions you’ll want to consider.

• How do you use your rig?
• How will you recharge your batteries?
• How much storage capacity do you need?
• Do you need off-the-grid AC power?
• Do you have a generator?
• What type of batteries do you have or want, and what are their service lives?

These variables go together in picking the right batteries for your RV. No one solution is right for everyone, so it requires careful consideration of how you will use your RV and what sort of power requirements you and your family realistically have.

How Do You Use Your Rig?

You are likely plugged into utilities if you’re set up in an RV park or campsite with hookups. In this case, everything in your RV will work just like it does at home which comes in handy if you use your RV for full-time living . Your RV still needs batteries, but most of your power demands come from shore power.

What if you leave the RV park to try your hand at boondocking? Or maybe you are just stopped for the night at a rest stop, and they don’t have a hookup for your power cord? 

Anytime your rig isn’t plugged in, it’s running on batteries. It’s up to you to figure out how often that happens and how much power you need to have in those instances. Is it infrequent, and all you use are a few lights? Or, are you boondocking for weeks at a time and needing the RV to be self-sufficient? 

How you answer those questions will dictate how much thought and design effort you put into your rv electrical system . Most rigs fall somewhere in the middle, where their owners want sufficient power to run a few electronics and toys while towing. They also want to park and live comfortably for a night or two in-between campsites with hookups.

How Will You Recharge Your Batteries?

Think of electricity like water and a battery as a big water jug. You can use the water (power) in the jug (battery), but eventually, it will be empty. If you run out of power, you will need a way to replenish it. This means you either need to plug in and let the battery charger do its job, or you need a generator. 

If you’re into off-the-grid living , you might also want to look into solar panels. Solar panels recharge your batteries any time the sun shines. Ideally, they top off your batteries every day. But even when they don’t do that, they add a little bit more water to the jug so that you can go longer between plug-ins.

How Much Storage Capacity Do You Need?

How big of a jug of water do you need? Figuring out how much battery capacity you should have onboard requires some hands-on research with your RV. You can get some rough ideas from internet articles and YouTube, but no one else’s rig is precisely like yours. Even if it’s close, they might use it differently. 

Your electrical appliances and consumers are thirsty friends and family drinking all the water from the jug. The more of them you invite over, the more they drink. So to figure out how big your battery bank needs to be, you’ve got to figure out how much power they’re all using.

Do You Need Off-the-Grid AC Power?

RVs have a two-circuit electrical system. On one side, there is 12 or 24-volt direct current (DC) power. This comes from the batteries or your tow vehicle’s battery and charger. The DC power circuit is used for most things in your camper, like light bulbs, fans, water pumps, and maybe even your refrigerator unless it’s propane. If you want to plug in a laptop or phone, it will need a cigarette lighter plug or a USB port charger like a car.

The other side of an RV system is the 110-volt alternating current (AC) power circuit. This supplies power to bigger items, like your air conditioner, water heater, microwave, cooktop, and maybe your hairdryer. AC power cannot be made directly from batteries–it usually comes from a power hook-up or an RV generator . 

You can make AC power from batteries with a device called an inverter (sometimes called a power converter). Inverters use DC power and convert it to AC. Inverters can be small–just enough to run a laptop charger. Or they can be huge, like an inverter generator , big enough to run your entire RV system, including air conditioning and heating. A big system takes big power–so you need to have a lot of battery power behind it to make this work.

Do You Have a Generator?

Onboard generators are big, heavy, and expensive. However, they allow you to have virtually unlimited power anywhere you go, which is a blessing if you’re boondocking in the desert during summer or get an early-season hot spell in Florida. The generator means your batteries will recharge, and your air conditioner can purr away. 

Many RVers chose to purchase small portable generators. These are a fraction of the cost of a built-in genny, but they’re also louder and require setting up and storing them for every use.

Many times, you might not want to run a generator. The more you run it, the more maintenance and fuel it requires. Plus, it’s noisy and stinky. Aren’t we boondocking to avoid noises and smells like that?

If nothing else, a generator is a handy and easy way to recharge your batteries. And no matter how good your system is, you will have to recharge it occasionally.

Types of Batteries and Their Life-Cycle Requirements

Some types of batteries need to be recharged often to last any length of time. These are well-suited for a rig that has a generator and uses it frequently or for one that spends most of the time hooked up to city power. 

Other battery types are more tolerant of being discharged and not fully recharged immediately. These are best for solar recharging or off-the-grid living. Of course, these are the more advanced chemistries, and they tend to be more expensive.

What You Should Know Before Buying RV Batteries

The first and most crucial step in considering batteries for an RV is to remember that there are different batteries for different purposes. If you have a simple system and just need the basics for a few hours, you don’t need the fanciest batteries on the market. The best battery for camper trailer uses won’t necessarily look like the best RV batteries for a Class A motorcoach.

It might seem to be backward. We commonly associate the fanciest toys with the fanciest RVs, but a Class A RV is more likely to have a generator and other charging options. In that case, it is less likely to need the best deep cycle battery for RV uses.

Best RV Battery Technologies, Chemistries, and Types Of Deep Cycle Batteries

6-volt vs 12-volt options.

When setting up an RV battery bank, a common question is whether or not you can use 6-volt batteries. You may find reasonable prices on these batteries since they are often used to build large banks for applications like golf carts and forklifts.

Most RVs have either 12 or 24-volt power systems. If you plug in 6 volts, what will happen? Probably nothing at all–lights out.

But it is possible to wire two 6-volt batteries together to make one 12-volt battery. This is called series wiring because wiring the two batteries in series will combine their voltage. Capacity is not doubled, however.

The same math applies if you have a 24-volt system. You could wire two 12-volt batteries in series to provide 24-volt electricity, or you could wire four 6-volt batteries in series.

Battery Capacity – CCA vs AH

Batteries have two different systems for measuring capacity–cold-cranking amps (CCAs) and amp-hours (ah). Cold-cranking amps measure how much surge power the battery can provide to crank an engine. This is the most important for a starting battery.

For the battery in your RV, you are interested in amp-hours. This is the measure of how many amps your battery could provide for one hour of operating. For example, if you have a 100 ah battery, it could provide 100 amps for one hour or one amp for 100 hours. Or it could provide 50 amps for two hours or two amps for 50 hours. You get the idea.

To apply this math to your RV, let’s say that you’ve looked at your electrical system, and your system uses about five amps of electricity every hour. Now say you want to take your RV boondocking for five days without recharging. If you use five amps every hour for 24 hours per day, you will need 120 ah of battery every day. For five days, that makes 600 ah of battery capacity.

Not all batteries can provide their entire rated power. For example, even when labeled for deep-cycle use, lead-acid batteries are rated to be discharged no more than 50 percent. So you’d need a 1,200-ah battery bank in your RV for the boondocking trip described above. 

This is much larger than most people have space to install. Most RVs have between 200 and 500 ah in their house battery bank.

Starting vs Deep Cycle RV Battery

Starting batteries are those used for engine or generator starting. They provide a burst of power to crank an engine, but they aren’t designed to provide much power for long periods. In your RV, they are sometimes called chassis batteries.

The opposite of a starting batter is a house or coach battery. These are designed for deep-cycle use. Their design is made to use power over a long period like you would use for your lights, refrigerator, and other items inside your motor home or travel trailer.

Dual Purpose Batteries

Some batteries are marketed as an in-between option–the dual-purpose battery. These can be used for either starting or house use–but they aren’t great at either one. They’re best reserved for small Class B campers vans where you use only one battery for everything. Even then, this isn’t recommended–it would be much better to install two!

Lead Acid Batteries

Lead-acid batteries are the most common type of battery. Technology has been around since the mid-1800s. Two identical lead plates are separated by a liquid electrolyte (diluted sulphuric acid). The acid is separated as the battery is charged, and various chemical reactions occur. 

The technology of the lead-acid battery is very old and very cheap. However, improvements to the design are still being made today, and you will find many different lead-acid technologies on the market to serve specific purposes. 

Lead-acid batteries are very good at providing a lot of power fast. For example, they make excellent starting batteries for cars with their high cranking power. But they aren’t very good at steadily providing a lot of power, as in running a large item for a long time. They also require being recharged almost immediately. 

If you want the battery to survive, you also can’t discharge it deeply. The rule of thumb is that a lead-acid battery should never be discharged below half of its capacity. In other words, if you’re planning an off-the-grid living solution, you need to plan to install twice as much battery capacity as you need. That way, you’ll never use more than 50 percent.

Other names used to describe lead acids include maintenance-free batteries, gel batteries, and AGM batteries. All of these batteries, despite their differences, are lead plates separated by an acid electrolyte.

Flooded Lead Acid Batteries

The most common battery technology found out there today, and by far the cheapest, are the old-school flooded batteries. The plates inside these batteries are separated by a liquid electrolyte which will burn off during use. Therefore, you must occasionally “top-up” or “water” these batteries with distilled water to keep them functional.

Flooded lead-acid batteries are everywhere. They are the basic, cheap car batteries you see for sale in big-box stores. You probably have one under the hood of your car, but they’re also used for things like golf carts and house banks in RVs.

Sealed LA Batteries

An alternative to the flooded lead-acid battery is one that is sealed and dubbed “maintenance-free.” Of course, anything that states it is maintenance-free is likely overstating things, but they mean that you don’t have to add electrolyte fluid to the batteries–ever. Another term for these batteries is VRLA or valve-regulated lead acid.

Gel Batteries

Some batteries add a silica gelling agent into the battery acid to make it thick. These gel batteries don’t allow the fluid to leak out, so the batteries can provide more consistent power in moving applications. They also can be mounted in spaces where leaking battery acid might cause problems.

Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Deep Cycle Battery

Lead acid AGM batteries, or absorbed glass mat batteries, are a similar design to the gel battery. This is a unique design of a deep-cycle power battery. An AGM uses a glass mat instead of using a liquid or gel electrolyte between the plates.

That means there is no chance for spillage so the battery can be mounted on its side or in awkward spaces. Generally, AGM and gel batteries are better for deep-cycle applications because they have excellent discharge performance.

Pros and Cons of Lead Acid Batteries for RVs

• Inexpensive
• Widely available
• Many sizes and capacity options
• Good for starting applications–lots of power quickly
• Extremely stable and forgiving to different charge sources and voltages
• Very large and heavy
• Only half of the capacity is usable
• If not fully recharged daily, it will lose capacity
• Lengthy recharge time–requires slow and steady recharging to reach full capacity (float charging)

Lithium Deep-Cycle RV and Travel Trailer Battery

Lead isn’t the only metal that can produce an electrochemical reaction. Many modern rechargeable batteries use lithium, which contains far more potential energy than lead. Lithium batteries are a much newer technology and more expensive, but they provide enormous benefits. A lithium battery provides far more power, weighs less, and can be discharged very deeply without damage. 

No matter what the precise chemistry is, lithium batteries are in a league of their own. They have less in common with a typical lead-acid battery than you might think. They require careful management of their charge and discharge sources. The battery will have definite operating limitations, such as the maximum charge voltages and currents, maximum output currents, and minimum operating temperatures. 

Exceeding the limitations of any battery can lead to a fire or explosion. Even lead-acid batteries can “off-gas” explosive hydrogen fumes. But exceeding the limitations on lithium systems is even more hazardous because lithium has the potential for a thermal runaway. Once started, the impending fire is nearly impossible to extinguish. This is why lithium batteries are banned from certain shipping types and on airplanes. 

The good news is that lithium technologies are constantly improving, and the ones you might install in your RV are incredibly safe. For example, lithium iron phosphate or LiFePO4 is exceptionally stable, safe, and is not prone to thermal runaway. 

Lithium-Ion vs Lithium Iron Phosphate

There is a lot of confusion about lithium batteries, which isn’t surprising considering how new and disruptive the technology is. Many consumers are familiar with the term “lithium-ion technology,” but it is applied somewhat randomly to different battery technologies.

In truth, there are many lithium-ion battery chemistries .

• Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) — deep-cycle RV and marine batteries, regarded as a safe and stable technology
• Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO) — laptops and phones
• Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO) — power tools, some electric vehicles
• Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) — e-bikes/scooters, power tools
• Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA) — Tesla batteries, are regarded as more dangerous than other technologies
• Lithium Titanate (LTO) — electric vehicles, UPSs, solar or wind storage, street lights, telecom systems

The technologies in other lithium-ion batteries, like those used in Tesla vehicles, mobile phones and computers, and other consumer electronics, tend to be less-safe lithium-ion technologies that must be monitored carefully. These items have built-in circuitry to prevent thermal runaway conditions, but those complex machines sometimes fail. 

Regardless of precise chemistry, any lithium system will require a network of monitoring software and hardware to ensure that no overcharge or overcurrent conditions occur. Some batteries have all of this built-in, and others require a networked computer system known as a battery management system (BMS). The batteries sold for RV use have this technology built right into the battery.

Pros and Cons of Lithium Iron Phosphate RV Batteries

• Lightweight
• Provides long service life with very deep discharges of over 90 percent
• Can accept or provide high current for long periods of time
• Can recharge extremely quickly with no float-mode
• Does not require full recharges between use 
• Requires careful charge monitoring, sensitive to over voltage and over current situations
• Sudden BMS battery cutoff can destroy engine alternators
• It May require special chargers that have lithium settings due to higher charging voltages
• Limitations on use below freezing temperatures–heated batteries available for these applications

Calculating Battery Capacity Needs

Besides picking the batteries you want to use, you’ll need to buy enough of them. How many batteries do you need to buy? Well, it all depends on your energy use–or, more specifically, how many amp-hours (ah) you use every day.

Conduct an Energy Audit

To figure this out, you need to start with how many amp-hours of energy your electrical devices use when they are on and how long you run them. Make yourself a table, and include everything you want to have electricity for. Items that cycle on and off, like an electric refrigerator, are a little more complex. You’ll have to estimate how long it stays on every day. The goal is to get a realistic idea of how much power you use.

You’ll also need to know how many amps each electrical unit uses. This is usually listed in the appliance’s specifications. 

You can make all electrical calculations with the formula Volts x Amps = Watts. 

If you have a 4-watt light at 12.5 volts, it draws 0.32 amps (4/12.5=A). Many phone and laptop chargers tell you how many amps or watts they draw on the plug.

If your RV has a battery monitor, it can tell you how many amps are flowing through your system at any given time. Simply turn everything off at the breaker panel and then turn items on one at a time. Then, record how many amps each circuit uses when the appliance is running. Alternatively, you could measure each circuit individually with a multimeter. 

Here’s a look at what your energy usage table might look like in the end.

Figuring Battery Bank Needs

Now that you know how much power you will use, you can start thinking about how long you want your batteries to last between charges. Start by assuming that you will have no recharge capability.

This is where different types of campers and RVers begin to separate themselves. For example, a boondocker building an Overlanding trailer for week-long adventures might want to be off-the-grid for long periods. On the other hand, a Class A motor home might spend most nights plugged in, and when they don’t, they have a generator onboard to recharge their batteries. 

 As mentioned prior, you can’t count on your 100 amp-hour battery providing 100 amp-hours. A 100 amp-hour lead-acid battery really only provides 50 amp-hours of power. Lithium batteries are better at being deeply discharged and can use 80 or 90 percent of their rated power.

Figuring Out Overall Bank Cost

Most battery buyers want to determine how much battery they are getting in amp-hours and divide it by the cost. This figure, dollars per amp-hour, is a good starting point to compare the initial cost of the battery. But it’s only part of the story.

Batteries are also rated for a specific number of duty cycles before they need to be replaced. A duty cycle is one discharge and then recharge. So the more cycles a battery can perform, the longer it will last. 

If you aren’t actually discharging your batteries before recharging them, or you are continuously recharging them, then your batteries will last a very long time. This is why cheap lead-acid batteries can keep going for years. However, even cheap batteries can get the job done if they aren’t deeply cycled and charging sources are readily available. 

So the final step to planning your battery bank is to put all of these pieces together. It’s unfair to look at one battery and say, “Well, this one has 100 amp-hours of capacity and only costs $150.” You need to go deeper and address all of the various elements. How many of those 100 amp-hours can you use? How many times can you use those cycles?

When you look closely, the battery technologies are more closely priced than you might at first believe. Lithium batteries are costly, but they are long-lasting–rated for 4,000 or 5,000 cycles. Plus, each cycle delivers 80 or 90 percent of its rated power in amp-hours–so you need half as many of them.

Compare the lithium battery to a basic lead-acid battery, and you will find that the lead acid may be rated for 2,000 cycles at 50 percent discharges. Is it worth it to pay twice as much for the lithium battery? Chances are it will provide much more power for many more years than lead acid. 

The math must make sense for you, however. In the example above, Class A rarely left power hookups and always kept their batteries topped off. Cheap old-school lead-acid batteries will work fine and will continue working fine for decades for this rig. 

Only spend the money on fancy batteries if you want the performance of fancy batteries. A different couple in the same make and model Class A might want to go boondocking. They might have laptops and electronics and install 400 watts of solar panels on the roof. Spending money on lithium batteries will be a massive upgrade for them. They don’t need to worry about recharging their battery bank every day, and their solar panels will charge the lithium much faster than they could charge lead acids. 

If they have a big enough bank of lithium power, they might even be able to run things like the air conditioning without turning on their generator.

What Size Battery For Travel Trailer? Or a Motor Home?

Battery bank capacity and battery size are separate issues. Depending on your camper or trailer, you very well might have a pre-determined space inside your battery compartment. You might be limited to how many batteries fit in there and what size they can be. You can likely modify the setup or add another compartment, but physical space constraints exist in every setup.

The cases in which most batteries come are standardized throughout the industry. To some extent, this convention comes from the auto industry. Your car or truck comes with a specific size (physical dimensions) battery installed. To replace it, you need to replace it with one of the same “groups.”

Here’s a table of common battery groups and their physical dimensions. These are all estimates since each deep-cycle battery’s specifications are unique.

So, which size batteries are the most common in RVs? The most widely used sizes are those Group 27 and 31 batteries that average 100 amp-hours capacity.

Best Battery for Camper Trailer Features

Brands that make the best rv batteries.

Trojan makes a full line of deep-cycle batteries in every technology–flood lead-acid, gel, AGM, and lithium-ion. Their primary market has always been rechargeable vehicles, and they are found as OEM equipment in many golf carts and floor machines. For old-school technology, Trojan is the go-to brand for deep-cycle lead-acid batteries.

Optima batteries are physically different than other lead-acid technologies. They use high-quality spirally-wound lead plates instead of the typical flat plates. This increases surface area and produces a robust battery, but it is expensive to produce. Optima batteries are excellent choices for starting batteries or for dual-purpose batteries in things like Class B camper vans.

Renogy is one of the biggest sellers on Amazon of batteries and renewable power systems. They manufacture gel, AGM, lithium iron phosphate batteries, solar panels, and an assortment of chargers and inverters. Unfortunately, the company receives many mixed reviews for inconsistent quality and poor customer service. 

Renogy is a US company that began as a small project by students of Louisiana State University. Their products are aimed at DIYers and are very well priced.

Battle Born

Battle Born Batteries are assembled in Reno, Nevada. They’re one of the market leaders in lithium iron phosphate battery technologies applied to RV and marine use. Their batteries are drop-ins that feature a built-in onboard BMS (battery management system).

Battle Born’s main competitor, ReLiON batteries, also designs and assembles its products in the US. They make high-quality LiFePO4 batteries in various sizes, including models designed for starting use and use in freezing temperatures.

Other Batteries Brands

There are thousands of brands of batteries out there. You might be familiar with some brands, especially in the automotive lead-acid battery market. Delco, Ever Start, and Interstate Batteries are just a few that make these everyday batteries. Quality varies, but generally, a deep-cycle battery will provide consistent results. 

When shopping for lithium, you’ll undoubtedly stumble upon dozens of brands that no one has ever heard of. Chinese companies are flooding sites like Amazon and eBay with hundreds of options. Unfortunately, most of these use low-quality components and won’t deliver the same level of performance or longevity that you want when buying lithium.

Low-quality and unreliable BMS safety systems could even pose a fire hazard. In other words, don’t assume that lithium batteries of the same chemistry provide the same levels of performance or reliability.

Special Use Considerations

Once you disconnect the shore power cord, RV life is different from living in a home. Batteries are just one part of the differences. Here are a few of the special considerations you might want to ponder before upgrading your battery bank.

How are you going to recharge your batteries? Will you rely solely on your vehicle’s alternator? Are you interested in installing solar panels? How do you know if solar panels will help you? Imagine yourself boondocking for a week–no hookups and no other humans in sight. How much power do you need, and how will you recharge? Will you need a generator?

Does A Generator Charge An RV Battery?

This is a common question that new RVers have. A generator is designed to provide a lot of power when you’re away from a power hook-up. But does it recharge your batteries?

The answer is yes and no. A generator creates AC power for your wall outlets and big appliances (i.e., cooktop, water heater, or aircon). All 12-volt DC things (i.e., lights, fans, or sometimes refrigerator) are still running off the batteries.

Of course, just as when you plug into shore power, a generator can be used to power a battery charger. If this is the case, then yes, your generator can charge your batteries using a battery charger.

Solar Charged RV Batteries vs Normal Batteries

If you’re interested in solar power, you might want to consider that when you buy your batteries. Solar panels and their controllers can charge any sort of battery, but they work best with lithium. Here’s why.

Solar panels produce a finite amount of power each day. That power wanes as the sun’s angle gets lower–in other words, you get only a few good hours every day around noon and very little power at any other time. If you need to recharge your batteries a considerable amount, then you’re going to need a lot of solar panels catching those few hours of sun. The top of your RV is only so big.

There are a lot of advantages to lithium batteries, but the biggest one is that they are always ready to accept any amount of charge. Lead-acid batteries, on the other hand, require a specific charge profile. They accept a lot of current until they are 80 percent charged, and then they accept less and less. To charge a lead-acid battery to 100 percent takes many hours of low-current charging. This is hard to do when you’re catching the sun.

Finally, remember that you should recharge lead-acid deep-cycle batteries to 100 percent every day to achieve their rated life span. If you don’t have enough solar panels to make that happen, your battery capacity will gradually wane.

This is not the case with lithium, which can charge any amount without losing capacity. In other words, if a weak solar day only gets you from 50 to 70 percent at the end of the afternoon, no harm is done.

RV Batteries for Cold Weather vs Hot Weather

If you use your RV during cold weather spells, you’ll want to pay special attention to your battery’s limitations. Many battery chemistries, lead-acid and lithium, cannot be charged in freezing conditions. This temperature limit refers to the battery cells, which are ideal inside your RV and heated to some extent. If you have exterior battery compartments, you’ll want to pay extra attention.

Some lithium battery companies get around this by integrating electric heating elements into the battery cases. That way, when a charge current is detected, the battery warms itself before charging.

How to Maintain/Upkeep an RV battery?

You need to consider not only how you are going to recharge your batteries when using them heavily and cycling them, but also how you are going to maintain them. Like many other discussions about batteries, this one also depends on what type of batteries you have.

Lead-acid batteries are the most sensitive. Everyone has experience with a car that has sat too long and won’t start. Lead-acid batteries self-discharge quickly. And as we have discussed, a battery that discharges below 50 percent may not come back and could be permanently damaged.

For these reasons, you need a battery charger and maintainer that will keep your battery safely at 100 percent during storage periods. If you have solar panels, these will likely perform the job since you will be using very little power. If you have access to shore power during storage, you can use a simple battery charger with a storage setting appropriate to your batteries.

Lithium batteries work differently. First, they don’t self-discharge much. Second, they should not be stored at 100 percent–it’s preferable to store a lithium battery between 50 and 70 percent charged.

This is easier said than done since most solar controllers and battery chargers are designed to keep a battery at 100 percent. The best thing to do is to leave the chargers off and make sure the system does not get too low. Speak with your battery manufacturer about their recommended storage settings with the equipment you have. A little bit of planning can go a long way in keeping those expensive batteries in tip-top shape.

Service Life – How Long Should RV Batteries Last?

If you do everything right, how long should an RV battery last? Many people get five years or more out of lead-acid batteries, but it’s tough to tell the correct answer. After all, how batteries are used and maintained varies radically from one owner to the next.

Best RV Deep Cycle Battery Options Reviewed

Drop-in lithium batteries – best battery for travel trailer or off-the-grid rv.

Drop-in lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries offer so many benefits that it’s easy to see why many RVers are leaping into lithium batteries. They are expensive. But when you compare the specs side-by-side with lead-acid options, you’ll see that these batteries last so much longer, and you get so much more power out of every charge that the price is much closer than it first appears.

Of course, they aren’t for everyone. These batteries are popular with RVers who are off-the-grid more often than not. If you’re plugged in most of the time, high-quality lead acids will last practically forever. However, if you regularly drain your batteries or use solar power to squeeze out a few more days of boondocking, then lithium will make your life a lot better.

Battle Born LiFePO4 Deep Cycle RV and Camper Batteries

Battle Born is the go-to name in LiFePO4 batteries right now. They offer outstanding customer support, a great warranty, and a fantastic price for a first-rate product. Battle Born Batteries are designed and assembled in the US with top-quality components. Their main product is a simple 12-volt, 100 amp-hour, the deep-cycle battery that can be used for many different types of uses. 

• Rated for 90-percent depth of discharge
• Rated for 3,000-5,000 cycles
• Industry-leading 10-year warranty
• Designed and assembled in the US
• Not recommended for starting battery use
• Operates at slightly different voltages from lead acids and may require special chargers
• Should not be charged in freezing temperatures
• Integrated BMS (battery management system)
• Weight: 29 pounds
• Maximum current: 100 amps (200-amp surge for 30 seconds)

• BUILT-IN BMS: BMS stands for Battery Management System - the brain of our deep cycle lithium batteries. Our BMS protects your battery from most common causes of battery failure, such as temperature volatility or ground faults. The BMS regulates the amount of power taken out of the battery and acts as a shut-off system to protect the li-ion cells (and you) from unsafe operating conditions.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

ReLiON RB100-LT Low-Temp LiFePO4 Battery

Battle Born’s primary competitor in the market is the lesser-known ReLiON battery. It has very similar specs but sells for a few more dollars. ReLiON markets its batteries to a broader range of users, including RVers, boaters, golf carts, electric vehicles, and other heavy equipment users.

While ReLiON makes a battery nearly identical to the Battle Born 100 ah, the RB100 offers a unique option if you camp in cold weather. Traditional LiFePO4 batteries cannot be charged when the cells drop below freezing. This battery is optimized for cold weather with an integrated heating element. It uses a little bit of power to keep the battery at the optimum temperature for charging, allowing you to use it down to -4º F/-20º C. If you live in a cold area or plan on winter camping, this is the lithium powerpack for you.

• Can be charged in temperatures as low as -4º F/-20º C
• Standard Group 31 size
• UL and CE-certified
• Available without cold weather performance–RB100 battery
• Also available in 200 or 300 ah sizes, as well as 24-volt options
• Engineered in the US
• Extremely expensive
• Maximum charge or discharge current: 100 amps (200 amp surge)
• Warranty: five years

• LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery

Renogy Smart Lithium Iron Phosphates

Renogy offers several different models of LiFePO4 batteries. The advantage of this one, beyond its low price point, is that it offers a variety of connectivity options that allow you to monitor your battery’s performance. 

While the BMS (battery management systems) built into Battle Born and ReLiON batteries are good, they provide no external clues about what is wrong. If they shut off, your batter suddenly stops working–but you won’t know why. The Renogy Smart LiFePO4 batteries solve this problem by providing communication options, but you’ll need to purchase the monitoring panel or Bluetooth dongle separately.

• Manually-selectable “shelf mode” for storage
• Built-in auto-balancing function
• Integrated network port connects the battery to separate monitor or Bluetooth module for monitoring
• Renogy monitoring screen provides state of charge and fault information directly from the battery B087TMZMP6
• Self-heating batteries also available for low-temperature operations
• Cannot be wired in series
• Communication ports add complexity and reduce weather-proofing 
• Minimum 4,000 cycles at an 80-percent depth of discharge
• Max charge: 50 amps
• Max discharge: 100 amps
• Lowest possible charge temperature: 32º F/0º C

• 【Uncompromising Quality】State-of-the-art battery cells ensure a lifespan of more than 4000 cycles, 100A continuous discharge current, and a wide range of operation temperature, Protection Rate: IP54, Insulation Resistance: 500V DC

Best Deep Cycle Battery for RV – Standard Lead Acid Options

If lithium batteries are still a bit too expensive for your liking, keep in mind that RVers have been using deep-cycle lead-acid batteries for decades with few problems. If you remember to keep them charged and not let them discharge too deeply, you can get five years or more out of a set of high-quality lead acids.

Best Travel Trailer Battery – Renogy AGM 100 or 200 ah

Absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries are an excellent option for most RVers. They are cheaper than lithium but more expensive than standard flooded lead acids. They provide performance similar to lead acids, but they are completely maintenance-free and will not leak or gas.

Many makers produce great AGM batteries, but the Renogy AGM battery options are inexpensive and have excellent specifications. In addition, they’re available in either 100 or 200 ah hour sizes.

• Maintenance-free
• Low self-discharge rate
• Available in 100 or 200 ah sizes
• High-current output–up to ten times battery capacity
• Can be installed on its side if necessary
• Reliable lead-acid performance without watering, leaking, or gassing
• Economical option with excellent performance
• Do not discharge below 50 percent
• Cycle lifespan not documented
• Weight: 124 pounds (200 ah model)
• Max charge current: 60 amps
• Warranty: two years

• Maintenance Free & Safe to Use Manufactured with thick absorbent glass mat (AGM) separators and advanced valve regulated technology, Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Batteries save you from acid leakage and frequent maintenance. No acid leakage, no water refilling, and no harmful hydrogen gas.

Best Camper Van Battery – Optima Dual Purpose Battery 55 ah

Optima batteries are uniquely designed, with spiral-wound lead plates in round chambers. Their lineup of batteries is divided by the color of the plastic tops. Red tops are for vehicle starting batteries, yellow tops are starting batteries for vehicles with heavy electrical loads, and blue tops are starting or dual-purpose batteries for RVs and boats.

The BlueTop 55ah Optima battery with the light grey case is perfect for small Class B camper vans looking to work off one or two batteries. It allows for deeper cycling than a typical automotive starting battery while providing up to 750 cold-cranking amps (CCAs).

• Perfect for Class B camper vans
• Dual-purpose–starting and deep-cycle battery
• Excellent build quality and vibration resistance
• Longer life than other lead-acid designs
• Maintenance-free and spill-proof design
• Can be mounted in any position
• Low capacity
• Expensive compared to other lead acid technologies
• Group size: 34
• Size: 10.06 x 7.94 x 6.88 inches
• Dual purpose battery: starting with deep-cycle capabilities
• Cold cranking amps: 750
• Capacity: 55 amp-hours
• Warranty: 3 years

• 12-Volt, 750 Cold Cranking Amps, Size: 10 inches x 6 7/8 inches x 7 13/16 inches tall, Weight: 43.5 pounds, Dual SAE & 5/16 inches Stainless Steel Stud Posts. 55 Ah C20 capacity

Trojan T-1275 Flooded Lead Acid 12-Volt Deep-Cycle Batteries (Set of 2)

The biggest name brand in large-capacity flooded lead-acid batteries is Trojan. The company is the go-to for golf cart-style battery packs, and they make a variety of options to suit any need. 

The T-1275 is a sizeable 12-volt battery that packs 150 ah into one case. Unlike other options on our list, the T-1275 is a standard flooded wet lead-acid design. As a result, it requires watering and must be mounted securely in a vented compartment due to the possibility of leaking and gassing. Trojan sells the HydroLink watering system for easier watering–see it in the accessories section below.

• Very inexpensive
• Two 12-volt T-1275s will provide 300 amp-hours of capacity, compared to 225 amp-hours for two six-volt T-105s
• Flood lead acid batteries need watering
• Can leak or off the gas
• Group size: GC12
• Weight: 85 pounds
• Recommended uses RV, marine, cabins, golf carts, solar & wind energy, floor machine, man lift, aircraft tug & truck.

• Trojan T-1275 Deep-Cycle Flooded/Wet Lead-Acid Battery

6-Volt Lead Acid Batteries – Trojan Battery T-105 Plus Four-Pack

Some RVers find that building a large battery bank with 6-volt batteries is more economical than 12-volt units. When you wire two 6-volt batteries in series, you get one 12-volt battery with the capacity rating of one of the batteries. In other words, you double the voltage but keep the same amp-hour rating.

Six-volt batteries generally start as those made for golf carts, and Trojan is the go-to name brand. These are standard flooded lead-acid cells that require regular maintenance and watering.

• Large storage capacity
• Available shipped in sets of two, four, or six
• Require two batteries wired in series to make a 12-volt system
• Size: 10.3 x 7.11 x 11.07 inches each
• Capacity: 225 amp-hours each (112 ah usable)
• Weight: 62 pounds each
• Warranty: 18 months

• Add custom text here

Best Battery and Power Accessories for RV Life

Batteries are just one part of a balanced RV power system. Here’s a look at a few other things you might want to look into to make living on the road a little more comfortable.

Battery Monitor – Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart

If you’re going to take care of your batteries, you must know their state of charge (SOC). This number is a percentage, with 100 percent meaning completely topped up and 0 percent meaning empty. It works just like a fuel gauge. 

We’ve discussed how important it is not to let your batteries get below 50 percent (lead acids) throughout this article, and you can only do this with a SOC indicator. The voltage will give you some indications, but it’s not very accurate because it drops with every piece of equipment you run.

If you are installing lithium, a battery monitor is required. Lithium’s voltage does not drop as the battery depletes, unlike lead-acid batteries. Instead, it remains constant (around 13.2 volts) from 80 to 30 percent. You are very low on power once it starts dropping noticeably and gets below 13.0 volts.

• The Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor (Grey) is a high precision smart battery monitor, specially designed for systems with battery voltage ranging from 6.5 - 70 VDC

Battery Charger and Maintainer – Victron 15-amp Bluetooth Battery Charger

Since most RVs spend a lot of time in storage, a good battery charger is essential. To maintain their rated life span, lead-acid batteries must be maintained by a float charger at 100 percent during storage periods. Since you don’t want to overcharge the batteries, this requires a well-designed charger. Unfortunately, that would also cause long-term damage.

This Victron charger allows you to program settings for any battery, including lithium. 

• The Blue Smart IP65 12-Volt 15 amp Battery Charger is the new professional battery charger with built-in bluetooth

Inverter – Renogy 1000W Inverter

If you want to use AC appliances on the road, you’ll need to either run a generator or use an inverter. An inverter converts DC battery power to the wall outlet, 110-volt AC power. 

Inverters come in every size for every need. This middle-of-the-road Renogy inverter is priced well and provides 1,000 watts of AC power. This is enough to charge any computer or run most small power tools or blenders. 

However, it’s not quite enough for big items like cooking or heating appliances. If you’d like to run your Instant Pot or electric grill, consider upgrading to the 2,000-watt model.

Both of these inverters are hardwired to your batteries and should be carefully installed. Pay special attention to the size of the cables used and comply with all codes and standards. The Renogy installation manual helps with cabling recommendations.

• 【POWERFUL DC-AC】1000W continuous, 2000W peak surge during load start-up, 12V to 120VAC pure sine wave with conversion efficiency >90%, reduces conversion loss.

Solar Panels and Controller – Renogy 200W solar panel kit with MPPT controller

If you’re looking to get into solar, Renogy makes some easy kits to make it happen. This 200-watt kit comes with an MPPT solar charger. There are many options when it comes to panels and controllers, but an all-in-one kit like this makes a great starting point.

Lead-Acid Watering System – Trojan HydroLink Battery Watering System

If you have a big bank of flooded lead acids, a watering system can make your life a little easier. Trojan sells these kits based on their golf cart installations, but many RVers and even boaters have modified these systems to work with their house banks. 

• Voltage: 48, Chemistry: Standard

Summing Up – RV and Travel Trailer Battery Choices

Batteries are a lot more complicated than many give them credit for, and picking the wrong batteries or treating your batteries poorly will cause frustration in the end. Here’s a review of our tips for setting up the best RV deep cycle battery system.

• Ensure that you have sufficient capacity in your battery bank to meet your needs for the length of time you want to be “unplugged”
• Know how deeply your batteries are discharging–invest in a good battery monitor with a state of charge (SOC) indicator
• Never discharge lead acid batteries more than 50 percent and invest in a good charger/maintainer
• If you are plugged in every night, high-quality lead acids will serve you well for years
• Deep-cycle AGM lead acids are a good compromise for most travel trailer battery needs
• If you want to boondock off the grid or install solar power, lithium iron phosphate RV batteries are worth a look

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the longest lasting rv battery.

The manufacturer usually states the service life of deep-cycle batteries in terms of “cycles.” However, the trick to understanding cycles is to realize that every battery has a different rated depth of discharge (DOD). If the battery is rated for a 50-percent DOD, then a cycle is when the battery goes from 100 to 50 percent capacity and is then recharged. Going below a 50-percent DOD reduces the life cycles dramatically. Therefore, when shopping for the longest-lasting RV battery, make sure you consider both the rated depth of discharge and the number of advertised cycles. You will find that the longer a battery will last, the more expensive it is to purchase. At the moment, the best technology for long-lasting RV batteries is lithium iron phosphate batteries. 

What is a good deep cycle RV battery?

There are many good deep-cycle RV batteries on the market today. The latest technology is the lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, which packs a huge amount of power into a very lightweight battery. Best of all, the LiFePO4 batteries can be discharged 90 percent or more, meaning that you get much more useable power out of fewer batteries. If you want to stick with standard lead acid battery technologies, AGM batteries offer long service lives for deep cycle use. But like other lead acid batteries, AGMs can only be discharged to 50 percent of their capacity.

What battery should I buy for my RV?

RVs have two types of batteries on board, each with its own purpose. The starting (or chassis) battery is only for starting the engine–just like any other car or truck. The camper portion has deep-cycle house (or coach) batteries used to run your interior lights, refrigerator, or entertainment devices. If you’re just replacing your system, your best bet is to find a battery with similar specs. If you have a bank of batteries connected together, in series or parallel, you’ll need to match their specifications and sizes to keep the bank working.

How long should a battery last in an RV?

The capacity and run time you get out of an RV battery depend on how much power you use. Battery capacity is rated in amp-hours. If you know how many amps your RV uses with all the electric devices running, you can determine how long the batteries will last. For example, if you have a 100 amp-hour battery, it will last one hour if you use 100 amps. Or, it will last two hours if you draw 50 amps or 10 hours at 10 amps. As you can see, there’s no way to say how long the battery will last without knowing its capacity and the amount of power you are using. You should never drain most RV batteries beyond 50 percent of their capacities. 

Are 6 volt RV batteries better than 12 volt?

If your RV or camper has a 12-volt power system, you can use either one 12-volt battery or two 6-volt batteries. The two 6-volt batteries, when wired in series, will produce the same power as one 12-volt battery. One is not necessarily better since the battery and electrical system design depends on many factors. 

How long should RV batteries last?

RV battery life entirely depends on how you use your batteries. Batteries are rated for a certain number of cycles. A cycle is defined as one trip from fully charged to depleted and then recharged. The problem is battery makers define depleted as 50 percent discharged. One quick way to destroy most RV batteries is to drain them beyond that 50-percent mark. This can happen by leaving your RV in storage and not having a proper battery charger or maintainer hooked up. If maintained properly, not discharged too much, or overcharged, regular lead-acid batteries will last you five years or more. Lithium batteries can last much longer than that.

How to keep battery charged on RV?

RVs charge their house batteries in any number of ways. At a minimum, a battery charger runs when the RV or camper is plugged into a power hook-up. Many towables and coaches also charge their batteries when the engine is running and driving between stops. Large Class A motor homes often have generators that power a battery charger for those times when you are away from hookups. And finally, many campers install solar panels to keep their batteries charged without plugging them in. For long-term storage, the method you choose will depend on the types of batteries you use. Standard lead acid batteries will self-discharge over time and need to be hooked up to a float charger or battery maintainer to ensure they don’t drain completely. Some newer technologies, like lithium iron phosphate batteries, have very low self-discharge rates and can be stored for long periods without issues.

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RV Battery Guide: Choosing the Right Travel Trailer Battery

Travel trailers are not self-propelled.

They follow you “trailing” a truck.

Therefore, they are battery-free.

They include crucial electrical parts that keep you and other drivers safe.

electronic wheel brakes, specifically.

If you wish to follow the law, they must be in working order.

For this reason, a travel trailer battery is required to power them.

Don’t neglect other necessities, however, including your water pump, appliances, and lighting.

Without the essentials, camping is less pleasant.

Consequently, you should have a travel trailer battery with you.

However, you may be asking yourself, “What sort of travel trailer batteries do I need?” What voltage and how many? In this short article on choosing a travel trailer battery, we address these concerns as well as others.

What Kind of Battery Do I Need for a Travel Trailer?

You need a deep cycle battery to power the electrical components in your travel trailer.

It is the same kind of battery that you would use in an RV as a house battery.

Long-lasting continuous power is provided by deep cycle batteries.

This is distinct from a starting battery in a car, which offers a significant energy surge for a short while.

Types of Batteries for Travel Trailers

You just purchased a brand-new, sparkling travel trailer.

Or maybe you’re prepared to change the battery in your dependable old trailer.

You may have observed that there are several deep cycle battery kinds available for usage.

It shouldn’t be difficult to choose a travel trailer battery, but it’s simple to become mired down in the specifics.

Here are the essentials.

The four primary categories of travel trailer batteries are as follows:

• Acidic lead

Lead acid is the least expensive choice out of these four.

However, it also has the shortest lifetime.

In order to guard against sulfation and leakage damage, these batteries need maintenance.

They cannot be emptied beyond 50% capacity and are as hefty and bulky as a pile of bricks.

AGM travel trailer batteries may be depleted up to 80% and need less maintenance than lead acid batteries.

However, they have a serious drawback—they often overpay.

Gel batteries are an improvement over lead acid batteries since they are sealed to stop leakage.

They charge relatively slowly yet perform effectively in high temperatures.

There’s not much room in your vacation trailer.

The smallest and lightest kind of travel trailer battery is lithium.

But it does not imply that they are any less effective.

They have greater stability, effectiveness, and safety thanks to the lithium iron phosphate chemistry.

This battery type lasts the longest and charges the quickest.

What Voltage and How Many Batteries?

It’s time to decide precisely how your battery bank will appear after you’ve decided which travel trailer battery you’ll employ.

The required voltage is 12V, but the required amp hours depend on how many components and how long you need to power them.

There are typically two options for travel trailers.

• Two to six 6-volt batteries
• One or two 12-volt batteries

These batteries’ amp hours (Ah) range from 50 to 400.

You’ll probably need 12V 100Ah or 12V 125Ah batteries for pull-behind campers.

In order to get 12 volts, you may connect a sequence of 6 volt batteries together.

You may connect 12 volt batteries in parallel to increase the amperage.

Accessories For Travel Trailer Batteries

A battery bank for a travel trailer is an investment.

So let’s discuss safeguarding that investment! There will always be some bumps when towing your pop-up or trailer, sometimes jolting everything around.

Therefore, you must ensure that your batteries are somehow “bound”!

A travel trailer tray might be useful in this situation.

Battery trays or boxes for travel trailers are made to resist, well, traveling! To prevent your batteries from rolling about and harming both them and other items in your trailer, you may bolt them down.

A charger is yet another useful battery accessory.

Your battery will charge as quickly as possible if you use a charger designed for your particular battery type.

Additionally, it guarantees that you get a full charge and guards against harm.

What could be superior than a reliable battery charger? intelligent battery charger.

The best method to maximize the performance of lithium travel trailer batteries is to use a smart lithium charger.

Your batteries are safeguarded from both undercharging and overcharging by smart chargers.

Once the battery is completely charged, they cease charging, allowing you to “set it and forget it.”

Do you have many travel trailer batteries? Do you often feel rushed? By charging up to four batteries at once, a bank charger helps you save time.

Does my travel trailer need a deep cycle battery?

For your travel trailer, which can only be powered by deep-cycle batteries, you must have one.

How long does a travel trailer’s battery last?

For the ordinary battery bank with the customary quantity of energy usage, it typically lasts two to three days.

However, you may survive for up to a week or more if you have a bigger battery bank or are extremely frugal with your energy use.

My RV battery will my truck charge it?

Trucks often do charge the travel trailer batteries while on the road.

However, the charge they provide is insufficient to recharge a dead battery.

(At the beginning, the vehicle offers a high charge rate.

However, once the truck’s battery achieves its ideal charge, the charging rate decreases.)

This implies that it won’t fully charge your travel trailer batteries; it will only do so in part.

You may purchase a charger to address that issue.

I need how many batteries for my RV.

It relies on a variety of factors. such as what you precisely need to power, for instance.

How much energy you’ll use, the length of your journeys, etc.

For your DC system, you’ll likely need five or so batteries.

Depending on your particular demands, there can be a little bit more or less.

Additionally, a more compact system is required to power your car or start the engine.

How long will a furnace operate on my RV battery?

You should be able to operate it for far over 12 hours as long as you aren’t using any more energy.

The condition of your batteries, whether they are lithium or not (lithium batteries last significantly longer), and other factors may all have a role.

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Published on September 24, 2022

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3+ Best RV Batteries for Travel Trailers

Key RV batteries power all electrical systems in your vehicle, ensuring smooth operation, longer lifespan, stable voltage, and peace of mind during adventures.

Embarking on a journey with your travel trailer opens up a world of endless possibilities.

From exploring breathtaking landscapes to camping in remote locations, the freedom that comes with an RV (Recreational Vehicle) is unmatched.

But to maintain that freedom, you need reliable power. And that’s where RV batteries come into play.

An efficient, reliable battery is arguably the lifeblood of your RV. It powers every electrical system in your vehicle, from lights and air conditioning to the refrigerator and entertainment systems.

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A high-quality battery not only ensures the smooth operation of all these systems but also offers a longer lifespan, saving you from frequent replacements.

Moreover, it can withstand extreme temperatures and other harsh conditions, adding to your peace of mind during your adventures.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Best Overall RV Battery: Battle Born LiFePO4 Deep Cycle

Battle Born’s LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery is one of the best choices for your RV. This powerhouse offers a long lifespan and reliable performance.

With a capacity of 100Ah, it delivers ample power for all your needs.

Weighing just 29 pounds, it is remarkably lighter than conventional lead-acid batteries, making it easier to handle and install.

Also, it maintains stable voltage throughout its use, ensuring consistent performance of your appliances.

Pros and Cons of Battle Born LiFePO4 Deep Cycle

One of the big advantages of the Battle Born LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery is its competitive price, especially considering it’s a LiFePO4 battery.

It’s lightweight, durable, and excellent for low-temperature use.

The battery comes with a generous five-year warranty, and it charges 50% faster than lead-acid batteries .

However, it might be somewhat expensive for some users, and it doesn’t have active battery management like more high-end LiFePO4 batteries.

Renogy AGM Deep-Cycle Battery

The Renogy AGM Deep-Cycle Battery is a superior choice for those looking for good value.

This battery is known for its robust design, high energy density, and long service life.

It can handle deep discharging and frequent cycling, making it ideal for extended trips.

Furthermore, it requires minimal maintenance and doesn’t leak or spill, enhancing its durability and safety.

Pros and Cons of Renogy AGM Deep-Cycle Battery

The Renogy AGM Deep-Cycle Battery boasts competitive pricing and positive reviews from customers.

However, it does have a limited one-year warranty, and some users have questioned the quality of customer support.

Also, at 66 pounds, it is quite heavy, which could be a drawback for some RV owners.

The Importance of Battery Care

How to Properly Maintain an RV Battery

Proper maintenance is crucial to extend the lifespan of your RV battery and ensure its optimal performance.

This involves regular cleaning of the battery compartment, checking the electrolyte levels (for lead-acid batteries), and keeping the battery fully charged when not in use.

Also, remember to protect the battery from freezing temperatures, as this can cause irreparable harm.

The Risks of Neglecting Battery Care

Neglecting proper battery care can lead to reduced battery life, poor performance, and even potential safety hazards.

For example, a poorly maintained battery may leak acid, damaging your RV and posing a risk to your health.

So, remember, investing a little time and effort in battery care can save you a lot of trouble down the line.

The Advantages of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries, particularly LiFePO4 batteries, have become increasingly popular in the world of RVs.

They are lightweight, efficient, and offer a higher energy density compared to traditional lead-acid batteries.

This means they can store more energy while taking up less space, a valuable advantage in an RV where every inch counts.

Comparison between Lithium-Ion and Lead-Acid Batteries

In comparison to lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries have a longer lifespan, maintain stable voltage during use, and are not harmed when fully discharged.

They operate at full capacity until they run out of power, unlike lead-acid batteries which gradually weaken until they die.

However, lithium-ion batteries are often more costly.

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Batteries

AGM batteries are a type of lead-acid battery that stands out for their low-maintenance design and high performance.

They feature a glass mat separator that absorbs the electrolyte, preventing spills and leaks. This makes them safer and more durable.

AGM batteries offer a good balance between cost and performance, making them a popular choice among RV owners.

Pros and Cons of AGM Batteries

AGM batteries enjoy competitive pricing and good reviews from customers. They also offer hassle-free installation as they can be mounted in any position except with the terminals facing down.

However, they come with a limited one-year warranty, and their heavy weight (around 66 pounds) could be a concern for some users.

FAQs about RV Batteries

What Battery is Best for a Travel Trailer?

The best battery for a travel trailer depends on your specific needs, budget, and preferences.

However, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are generally considered the best due to their long lifespan, high energy density, and stable voltage.

What is the best brand of RV battery?

There are several reputable brands in the market, but Battle Born is often cited as one of the best due to the high quality and performance of their LiFePO4 batteries.

How long should a travel trailer battery last?

With proper maintenance, a typical lead-acid battery can last up to 5 years or more.

Lithium-ion and AGM batteries can last even longer. Many lithium batteries come with warranties for up to 10 years.

Are AGM Batteries Good for Travel Trailers?

Yes, AGM batteries are a good choice for travel trailers . They offer a balance of performance and cost, and their spill-proof design makes them safe and durable.

However, they are heavier than lithium-ion batteries, which could be a consideration for some users.

In conclusion, choosing the right RV battery is crucial for a smooth and hassle-free journey.

Whether you prefer high-performance LiFePO4 batteries or cost-effective AGM batteries, always remember to take care of your batteries.

After all, your adventures on the road depend on them. Safe travels!

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The best RV batteries of 2024

Autoblog may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

RVs are an effective way to travel and enjoy time off-grid . The electrical amenities inside motor homes make them feel just like more traditional houses. Depending on the model of RV, you can expect to find them fitted with air conditioning, a microwave and even a refrigerator. It takes a lot of electricity to keep those appliances running, and over time batteries will need to be replaced when they start to wear down. Keep your camper fully powered with the best RV batteries available on Amazon.

LiTime 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery - $251.99 (10% off)

$251.99 at Amazon

Key Features

• 100-amp BMS
• 1,280 watts maximum power output
• 24/7 technical support
• 5-year warranty

This LiTime LiFePO4 battery delivers 12 volts and 100 Ah. It can reach a maximum output up to 1,280 watts. The built-in battery management system provides protection from overcharging, over-current, over-discharge and short circuits. This battery is a great option for RVs, marine and home energy storage. LiTime offers 24/7 technical support and a 5 year warranty is included with the purchase.

Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery - $185.99

$185.99 at Amazon

• 12-volt 1,000-Ah battery
• 2,000-amp max discharge current
• No acid leakage
• Deep discharge recovery
• Corrosion resistant
• Works well in extreme temperatures and climates

The Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery has 1,000-Ah and a maximum discharge of 2,000 amps. It’s built to be maintenance-free and has no acid leakage, no water refilling and no hydrogen gas. It has great discharge performance and can work efficiently in temperatures ranging between 5° F to 122° F. This battery comes with a 2-year warranty.

Redodo 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery - $229.88

$229.88 at Amazon

• Maximum output of 1,280 watts
• Low discharge rate
• Overcharge, over-discharge and over-current protection
• Lasts up to 10 years

The Redodo LiFePO4 Battery has a maximum output of 1,280 watts. This battery offers high energy and stability and can last up to 10 years. Redodo offers 24/7 customer service and fast shipping to US customers taking between 1 to 3 business days. A 5-year warranty is included with the purchase of this battery.

WEIZE 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery - $229.99

$229.99 at Amazon

• Constant power
• 10 year warranty

This WEIZE 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery can be used for up to 8,000 charge cycles and has a lifespan that can last up to 10 years. It has a nominal voltage of 12.8 volts and a maximum output of 1,280 Ah. It maintains a constant power level and provides fast and efficient charging throughout the lifecycle of this battery. It has an extremely long 10-year warranty.

What can an RV battery be used for?

An RV battery can charge a majority of the appliances inside of your motor home. It can effectively operate the air-conditioner, refrigerator , microwaves, TVs and many other important appliances. They are great for RV owners to bring along during road trips and vacations.

Is there a difference between a car battery and a RV battery?

Car batteries and RV batteries may look similar and have 12 volts, but they are very different. RVs use deep cycle batteries, and this type of battery is meant to produce a consistent current for a long period of time. On the other hand, car batteries create a lot of current over a shorter period of time

Can a RV battery be used to start a vehicle?

An RV battery can start a car, but it’s not recommended. According to Jerry Insurance, “while you can use a deep cycle battery in your car, it’s not well-suited.” This is because it delivers half as much cold cranking amps as a generic car battery“ They also stated that “these batteries are designed to be drained and recharged without the help of an alternator. This can cause significant long-term damage ... since you’ll be wearing out the battery by continually draining and recharging”.

See our other guides to the best RV products 

• The best RV mattress options
• Best RV covers
• Best RV roof sealants 
• Best solar panels for an RV
• Best RV generator options
• Best RV tankless water heaters 

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