These guides answer the questions we hear at campsites every day. Where are the batteries on my rig? Can I go lithium without replacing my converter? Why does my battery die in storage? Which brand should I buy?
A note on fitment. Manufacturers change battery locations, compartment sizes and electrical packages from model year to model year, and sometimes within a year. Nothing in these guides is a fitment guarantee for your exact RV. We confirm what your RV has in person before any battery goes in.
Battery brands
Interstate first, because it is what we install. Then the other brands RV owners ask about.
Battery brandsInterstate batteries for RVsInterstate batteries for RVs: deep-cycle house batteries, AGM, 6-volt and chassis starting batteries, and why we install Interstate for lead-acid and AGM work in Florida.Battery brandsTrojan batteries for RVsTrojan batteries in RVs: the classic flooded 6-volt deep-cycle setup, watering, charging, and Trojan's lithium products. What RV owners should know.Battery brandsBattle Born batteries for RVsBattle Born LiFePO4 batteries in RVs: what they are, charging and converter compatibility, cold-weather charging, and how we install them in Florida.Battery brandsRELiON batteries for RVsRELiON LiFePO4 batteries for RVs: what they are, low-temperature models, charging requirements and how we install them at your RV in Florida.Battery brandsRenogy batteries for RVsRenogy in RVs: LiFePO4 batteries, solar panels, charge controllers and DC-to-DC chargers. What works together, and what to check before an install.Battery brandsLithium RHINO batteries for RVsLithium RHINO LiFePO4 batteries: known for golf cart conversion kits, with marine and RV applications. What RV owners should check before installing.Battery brandsEpoch batteries for RVsEpoch LiFePO4 batteries for RVs: 12V and higher-voltage options, heated models, Bluetooth monitoring, charging setup and installation at your RV in Florida.Battery brandsOptima batteries for RVsOptima spiral-cell AGM batteries in RVs: RedTop for starting, YellowTop for deep-cycle and dual-purpose, BlueTop marine. Where each fits in an RV.Battery brandsOdyssey batteries for RVsOdyssey thin plate pure lead (TPPL) AGM batteries from EnerSys in RVs: starting and dual-purpose uses, charging needs and where they make sense.Battery brandsLifeline batteries for RVsLifeline AGM deep-cycle batteries from Concorde Battery in RVs: house bank use, charging profiles, equalization guidance and Florida heat.Battery brandsCrown batteries for RVsCrown Battery in RVs: deep-cycle flooded batteries for house banks, maintenance and charging, plus the company's other lines. A guide for RV owners.
RV brands
How the big RV makers tend to set up their batteries, with links to their own sites.
RV brandsWinnebago RV batteriesWinnebago motorhome and trailer battery guide: house and chassis batteries, typical locations, lithium packages, and what we see on Winnebagos in Florida.RV brandsThor Motor Coach RV batteriesBattery guide for Thor Motor Coach motorhomes (Four Winds, Chateau, Gemini, Aria, Tuscany and more): typical setups, common issues and lithium upgrades.RV brandsJayco RV batteriesJayco battery guide for travel trailers, fifth wheels and motorhomes like the Jay Flight, Eagle, Greyhawk and Redhawk: setups, common issues and upgrades.RV brandsForest River RV batteriesBattery guide for Forest River RVs, including Rockwood, Flagstaff, Cherokee, Wildwood, Salem, Cedar Creek, Sunseeker and Georgetown: setups, issues and upgrades.RV brandsKeystone RV batteriesBattery guide for Keystone fifth wheels, toy haulers and travel trailers like the Montana, Cougar, Passport, Springdale and Hideout: setups and upgrades.RV brandsAirstream RV batteriesBattery guide for Airstream travel trailers and touring coaches: where batteries usually are, lithium and solar packages, and what we see in Florida.RV brandsTiffin RV batteriesBattery guide for Tiffin motorhomes like the Allegro, Phaeton, Allegro Bus, Zephyr and Wayfarer: chassis and house batteries, diesel setups and upgrades.RV brandsNewmar RV batteriesBattery guide for Newmar motorhomes like the Dutch Star, King Aire, Ventana, Bay Star, Canyon Star and Essex: diesel chassis batteries, big house banks and lithium.RV brandsGrand Design RV batteriesBattery guide for Grand Design fifth wheels, toy haulers and travel trailers like the Solitude, Reflection, Momentum, Imagine and Transcend: setups, solar and upgrades.RV brandsCoachmen RV batteriesBattery guide for Coachmen RVs including Freelander and Leprechaun Class C motorhomes, Mirada Class A, and Catalina travel trailers: setups and upgrades.RV brandsEntegra Coach RV batteriesBattery guide for Entegra Coach motorhomes, including the Anthem, Cornerstone, Aspire, Accolade, Odyssey and Qwest: chassis and house batteries and lithium.RV brandsFleetwood RV batteriesBattery guide for Fleetwood motorhomes like the Bounder, Discovery, Flair, Southwind and Pace Arrow, including older coaches: chassis and house batteries.RV brandsHeartland RV batteriesBattery guide for Heartland fifth wheels, toy haulers and travel trailers like the Bighorn, Landmark, Big Country, Cyclone and Torque: setups and upgrades.RV brandsDutchmen RV batteriesBattery guide for Dutchmen travel trailers, fifth wheels and toy haulers like the Aspen Trail, Kodiak, Voltage, Atlas and Astoria: setups and upgrades.
RV battery basics
Plain answers about how RV batteries work and why they fail.
RV battery basicsHouse vs. chassis batteryHow to tell whether your RV's house (coach) battery or chassis (starting) battery is the problem, how they charge, and how the boost switch works.RV battery basicsWhy RV batteries keep dyingThe real reasons RV batteries keep dying: parasitic draws, converters that quit charging, old batteries, inverter drain, solar settings and storage habits.RV battery basicsLithium vs AGM vs floodedCompare lithium (LiFePO4), AGM and flooded lead-acid RV batteries on usable capacity, weight, maintenance, charging, cold, heat and cost over time.RV battery basicsConverters and lithiumHow RV converters and inverter-chargers charge batteries, why older converters may not suit lithium or AGM, and what we check before a battery upgrade.RV battery basics6-volt vs 12-voltTwo 6-volt golf cart batteries in series or 12-volt batteries in parallel? How each RV house bank works, pros and cons, and how to wire them correctly.RV battery basicsStorage in Florida summerHow to store RV batteries through a Florida summer: charging, disconnecting, maintainers, water levels, lithium storage and what to do when you return.RV battery basicsHow long RV batteries last in FloridaWhy RV batteries often wear out faster in Florida, what shortens their life, signs they are failing, and how to get more years out of them.RV battery basicsHurricane season prepGet RV batteries ready for Florida hurricane season: test, charge, plan for evacuation and power outages, and what to do after the storm.RV battery basicsRV solar and batteriesHow RV solar charging works with your batteries: panels, charge controllers, settings by battery type, shade, and how to size panels and batteries together.RV battery basicsBoondocking battery sizingEstimate your RV's daily power use and size a lead-acid or lithium battery bank for dry camping, with simple math and Florida-specific tips.RV battery basicsClass A, B and C batteriesHow battery setups differ between Class A, Class B and Class C motorhomes: chassis and house batteries, typical locations, diesel pushers and vans.RV battery basicsTrailer and fifth wheel batteriesWhere travel trailer and fifth wheel batteries usually are, how they charge from the tow vehicle, breakaway systems, and Florida care tips.RV battery basicsBattery disconnect switchWhat the RV battery disconnect switch does, where to find it, why your RV may still drain with it off, and how to use it in storage.RV battery basicsChecking battery voltageHow to check your RV battery voltage with a multimeter or monitor, what resting voltage tells you about lead-acid and lithium batteries, and its limits.RV battery basicsBattery safety and wateringHow to safely work around RV batteries: hydrogen venting, acid, sparks and terminals, plus how and when to water flooded lead-acid batteries in Florida heat.