Best Brand Start Batteries?

[siberyd]

Which is the best brand moderate cost start battries out there?
The pair I bought last for my 4104 wont hold a charge.

Something that will put up with the abuse of quarterly servicing.

Siberyd

[Len Silva]

I've had good luck with Interstate and NAPA.  What do you mean by quarterly service?  Is the bus being used regularly.  Batteries need exercise just like everything else.  Sitting idle, even with a trickle charge on them seems to shorten their life.

[chessie4905]

  Several battery brands will suffice. If they sit a lot, consider one or two pulse chargers to remove/reduce sulphate and keep them fully charged. Also make sure you don't have phantom drains. Letting batteries of any kind drop way down before charge will reduce life. Our 4104 got about 3 to 3 1/2 years, as they were the house batteries also. (12volt/110 refer) Regularly checked cells spec gravity and added water when needed.

[siberyd]

Bus is parked most of the time. I figure use it twice a year and work on it twice a year.

Siberyd

[Zeroclearance]

Info from a previous thread

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=25394.msg278804#msg278804

[TomC]

If you want zero maintenance, consider an AGM battery. The 8D is both starting and deep cycle. Granted, they cost about twice what a wet battery costs, but then once you experience the zero maintenance of AGM batteries, you'll never have a wet battery again. My first 2-8d's lasted 7yrs. I use Lifeline since they are made here in the L.A. area. Good Luck, TomC

[Mike in GA]

My local Interstate dealer often has 8-D wet cells that are blemished, and I bought two of these about five years ago at substantial discount - still going strong.
I check water level and service them 2 - 3 times per year.
HTH.
Mike in GA

[TomC]

If you do use a wet battery (that still has caps) consider using Thermoil. You pull out 1/4" of electrolyte and replace it with Thermoil. It floats on top of the electrolyte and slows down out gassing and evaporation to the point that adding water is done maybe once a year. I used it when I had wet batteries, and liked it. But-you just can't beat the absolutely zero maintenance of AGM batteries. In the 7 years I had the first set, I think I cleaned the terminals once.  Good Luck, TomC

[siberyd]

Tom,

I like the concept of the AGM batteries, not the price.  But I am going to have to replace 2 batteries before I use the coach again. I pulled the start battery from my skoolie so I could drive my 04 to the Pet Expo in Costa Mesa this weekend.  Do you know if there is a dealer for those batteries in the Fontana area? I work in Fontana.

Thanks,

Jon

[Lin]

Jon, there is a shop that sells blemished AGM's in Ontario.  I just got 3 group 31's for $100/ea.  He had 4D's and maybe 8D's also. Email me if you want the info.

[TomC]

Lifeline is in Irwindale-not that far from Fontana. The main reason I went with AGM is that my height at the batteries made for hard inspection. I made a water pump out of an old fresh water pump with a momentary off switch and then with a small inspection mirror, was able to water up the batteries. Believe me when I say, I don't miss that pane in the you know what action that the AGM's don't require. Good Luck, TomC