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No matter what you like to do, the right supplies make all the difference. While this applies to all situations, it’s especially true when it comes to travel. Choosing the best battery for your travel trailer is an important decision that can make or break your family’s experience on the road.
Don’t let poor equipment slow you down – here’s what you need to know about choosing the best battery size for your unique travel trailer.
What Are the Different Travel Trailer Battery Sizes?
There are critical differences between travel trailer battery sizes that you should understand before investing in them. Here’s what you need to know.
6-Volt Batteries
Motorhomes generally require 12-volt batteries to power accessories, such as lights, thermostats, radios, some electronically powered awnings, fridge controllers, and more. While motorhome owners can use 6-volt batteries, they typically don’t provide enough power on their own. You would need to string two 6-volt batteries together to power many of the basics in a motorhome.
12-Volt Batteries
12-volt batteries are the most common accessory power source in trailers. 12-volts are also referred to as starting batteries, as they are typically responsible for firing up a motorhome engine. Like a car battery, 12-volts do a lot of work in a motorhome and must be updated every few years to ensure a long-term reliable energy supply.
Both lead-acid and lithium-ion 12-volt batteries are available on today’s market, each with unique benefits and drawbacks. For example, lithium-ion batteries are significantly more expensive than lead-acid batteries but have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance.
8D Batteries
8D batteries are the largest 12-volt battery available today for motorhomes, boasting significantly larger energy storage than other varieties. To compensate for the extra storage, they are typically physically larger.
Travel Trailer Battery Group Classifications
Group classifications for travel trailer batteries categorise products based on essential characteristics, making it easy for motorhome owners to find the correct battery for their specific needs. Plus, different types of batteries may be better suited to different motorhomes, so understanding classification is important.
Some key differences between different group classifications include dimensions, weight, capacity, reserve capacity, cold cranking amp, and cost-effectiveness. Before purchasing, investigate what type of battery is best suited for your travel trailer.
What Size Battery Should You Choose for a Travel Trailer?
Choosing the right battery size is important to fuel your adventures in your travel trailer. The importance of this choice is especially crucial if you don’t have equipment like EcoFlow Solar Generators to power your trailer appliances.
As discussed above, group classification may influence the physical size requirements for your specific motorhome, so do your research and thoroughly review your user manual before buying a battery. That said, 12-volt batteries are a standard and reliable choice for most motorhomes.
Adding products like the EcoFlow DELTA Series Portable Power Station to your arsenal ensures you’re never left without power when you need it most.
How Long Do Travel Trailer Batteries Last?
How long a battery lasts depends on several factors, including how frequently you charge it, how long it sits idle, and even the weather conditions your motorhome typically encounters. Broadly, travel trailer batteries have a lifespan of between 3 and 8 years.
How Long Will a 12V Battery Last on a Travel Trailer?
How long your 12-volt battery will last depends mainly on your battery type. If you have lead-acid batteries, which have been around for decades and are incredibly common in motorhomes, you’ll need to replace them every 3 to 5 years. These batteries also require more maintenance than other varieties, including charge and electrolyte top-ups.
Alternatively, lithium-ion batteries have a longer lifespan of 6 to 8 years. While they are more expensive, they require less maintenance and can tolerate deeper discharges than lead-acid batteries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing the right battery can be daunting. To ease the confusion, here are some commonly asked questions and answers.
Various battery sizes, from 12-volt to 8D, can do the job. However, the size you choose, as well as the battery type, can influence the experience you have when using your trailer. For example, 8D batteries have a higher capacity than other varieties, making them great options for long-haul trips. Consider your priorities and choose a battery accordingly.
While two 2 6-volt batteries can do the job, investing in 12-volt batteries may be the better choice. Plus, you can invest in solar technology and storage to harvest your electricity directly from the sun. EcoFlow Power Kits make it easy, as they come equipped with everything you need to power the essentials in your motorhome.
Final Thoughts
Purchasing the right battery, based on your specific motorhome model and unique adventure needs, can make or break your travel trailer experience. This guide offers tips to simplify the decision-making process. Investing in a portable power station, like the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max, is a great way to reduce your reliance on a motorhome battery, making the size you have less significant.
Check out EcoFlow’s Portable Power Stations and the rest of their impressive product line today to power your next adventure.