6 volt deep cycle batteries

[JoeCich]

Our '85 FC31 uses 6 volt deep cycle batteries. Currently they are all Trojans, and unfortunately they all test medium to poor. I checked Duracells at Walmart and Die Hards at Sears, and neither offer a 6 volt, high capacity deep cycle battery. Is Trojan the only option for 6 volt deep cycle? Thanks, Joe

[MRPutz]

There are MANY sources for 6v batteries. Do not use marine deep cycle/starting batteries, those are not true deep cycle batteries.

Best bang for buck is Coscto or Sam's club. They have 220ah 6v batteries for around $80 each.

[markusfmeyer]

+1 - that's where I got mine with Shane when I first bought my bus.

[Clueless]

Often they will be called golf car batteries.

Napa has them also and maybe with that cool AITA discount card the deal would be good. My NAPA dealer "matched" costco.

[sfedeli]

I've used 6V Golf Cart batteries for 8 years. I got 5 good years out of the first set, but once they started to use alot of distilled water, I replaced them. I always figured that if they could hold up to hauling overweight golfers all over the place in a cart, they would probably work well in an overweight bus with an overweight driver. So far, my rationale has been validated. The key to longevity in any battery will be a good 3-stage charger, so if you are still charging with the old battery boilers, replace the charger or you'll just cook your new batteries and kill them in a few years.

[irmagoo]

yep...
what shane said!! mike

[MRPutz]

Originally Posted by sfedeli

The key to longevity in any battery will be a good 3-stage charger, so if you are still charging with the old battery boilers, replace the charger or you'll just cook your new batteries and kill them in a few years.

As Shane stated we "assume" a good 3-stage is being used when advice is given. A good 3-stage charge system is a MUST.

[Turbokitty]

Originally Posted by rtpn60

There are MANY sources for 6v batteries. Do not use marine deep cycle/starting batteries, those are not true deep cycle batteries.

Best bang for buck is Coscto or Sam's club. They have 220ah 6v batteries for around $80 each.

Uncle Sam's Club

[schamp]

Lifeline make a 6 volt. Prices are high. 350.00 plus, each. I have seen some as high as 500.00.

Originally Posted by schamp

Lifeline make a 6 volt. Prices are high. 350.00 plus, each. I have seen some as high as 500.00.

Spencer,

I believe that price would be for an AGM battery; but that price is high. I would expect the price to be around $225 for a 6V Lifeline GPL-4C.

This thread is about deep discharge flooded lead acid (wet cell) batteries and specifically 6V batteries. If you google "AGM FLA Gel batteries" you'll find lots of info detailing the tradeoffs of each. The earlier birds all shipped with FLA since that's all that was available. The later birds all shipped with Gel's or AGM's. Most buyers of the later birds expect to see Gel's or AGM's installed.

I purchased 6 Lifeline GPL-4D's AGM batteries from:

Tom at Trans-Specialists (WOG member: Truk4u)
P. O. Box 661
Waleska, GA 30183
770-634-7530

The price was $448 per battery - that's for a 12V. A 6V Lifeline would be about half that price. I highly recommend Tom, he's got the best service and the best prices.