Re: What kind of battery?
I own a travel trailer and have started boondocking (camping off the grid) and I spent a lot of time reading about batteries.
1. Battery weight = more reserve capacity. If it's a Walmart battery or a Trojan and they weigh the same, your RC will be practically equal.
2. Warranty - Some people love Walmart batterys because they can get them replaced all over the USA. Johnson Controls makes most of the batterys in the USA with a lot of other labels on them, including Wally's. Trojans I believe are warranted longer, but I'd check that first.
3. Marine or golf cart? Marine batterys are designed to start a motor and have some deep draw ability. I've been told they do neither job well. Golf cart batterys are designed for a quick heavy load, then to discharge, then to rest. If you want a trolling motor battery and won't use it to start your motor, I'd get a golf cart battery.
4. What brand? Walmart/ Costco are the least expensive. Sears and Interstate are also made by Johnson Controls. They do occasionally fail. Trojan's cost about 2x as much but I have read of only one premature failure. Guess which one I'll put in my TT next? SUPPOSEDLY Trojans are dirt cheap in Florida because they have more golf carts there than any other state, I'll check it out this summer.
One last thing. Resist spending your hard earned dollars on the Optimax AGM batterys. They are great for starting but are poor deep cycle batterys on a dollar basis. They do have some other great advantages that may suit some boaters very well though.
