If you need a battery that’s compatible with your RV needs, you have to look for brands that are defined by efficiency, consistency and durability. As usual, you can only find all these in one battery by settling for globally-endorsed brands like Trojan.
They have a great portfolio of products that are suitable in different ways, and today we’re going to review the best 4 Trojan 6 Volt RV batteries which you can conveniently find at the stores near you. So, if you love Trojan and would love to explore more on the 6 Volt battery range, trust me, you’re in the right place.
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Categories of Trojan RV Batteries
Before jumping into the review, here are some of the different types of Trojan batteries that you’ll come across on the shelves:
Trojan RV Flooded batteries
This is a category commonly known to many as wet cell batteries. This name was derived from the fact that one of the key maintenance requirements involves topping it up with water which acts as the electrolyte. A plus for this type is that they come in handy when looking for something that’s fairly priced and still has the ability to hold charge effectively.
However, I would recommend that you settle on a different range when your focus is based on how sturdy the construction and design are and also if you’ll have problems with the recommended maintenance requirements.
Trojan RV Absorbed Glass Matte Battery
This is one of the developments that we have today in the RV battery world, and that’s why it’s not popularly known compared to the rest. However, they’re slowly becoming popular with more RV owners being impressed by how easy they are when it comes to maintenance.
This is all thanks to their spill-proof and shock resistant designs which cover the batteries from the common hazards even when constantly in use. These Lead-acid batteries share similar characteristics with the rest of the products classified under motorhome batteries.
Trojan RV Gel cell Batteries
Then finally, here’s something that will have you covered for all your camper needs. The previously mentioned product ranges use sulphuric acid as the electrolyte while this particular one uses sand or silica.
Their internal construction is equally strong making it a worthy investment. A thing to remember is that they’re not the best pick when you require a powerful charge or when in a hurry and you need a quick charge. Otherwise, they’re also maintenance-free, so you shouldn’t worry about the extra work.
Factors to Consider when buying RV batteries
With the volumes of products available in the market today, picking the best RV batteries can sometimes be quite a hassle. However, here are some of the factors we used to narrow down the list for the best four RV batteries in our review today.
Durability
It’s good to ensure that the battery has a life expectancy that will successfully run your appliances for the desired duration of time. A battery with a fairly longer life expectancy will save you some dollars from making replacements every now and then, and will also minimize the number of times you have to charge it. However, in our previous article, we highlighted some of the factors that can negatively or positively impact your RV battery life, the main factor being maintenance.
At the same time, how long the charge can last is also determined by the number of the items you have, how long you leave the appliances running and also how often you use the battery. In that line, always remember to unplug all the RV appliances depending on the battery whenever they’re not in use to ensure that you minimize on how frequently you’ll have to charge your battery.
Read more: RV House Batteries Not Charging
Power
The potential power of your battery of choice will also help you know if you’re making a good pick. Now if you’re wondering what this actually is, the potential is measured by the amounts of power that the battery can release to sustain appliances operating at an optimal level. With RV batteries, power is measured in reserve capacity (RC) or amp hours, irrespective of the category or type.
Amp hours reflect the measure of amps that the battery can provide in a period of 20 hours. Reserve capacity on the other hand is defined by the duration that the battery can last as it releases 20 amp outputs. This therefore means that you should always go for more when it comes to the power capacity of a battery.
Size
Size also has a role to play in terms of the amounts of power released by the battery. Both amp hours and reserve capacity are determined by the size of the battery in question. This means that when you go bigger in size, the power capacity also progresses and this is something that most of us have experienced.
However, this doesn’t mean that you should always keep your options fixed on the bigger batteries because the intended use also matters, so that your appliances don’t get overwhelmed with the power released from the battery source. It’s equally effective to buy a couple of batteries to use simultaneously compared to only sticking to one bigger size, although this will depend on the provisions placed in your device.
Type
We have already explained the different types of RV batteries that you can be able to pick from. What I didn’t clarify is that the other thing to have in mind before making a choice is the environment where you’ll be using the battery from. When by nature you won’t be able to find enough time to effectively put in place battery maintenance habits, it’s recommended that you pick anything other than a flooded lead battery.
Most valve-regulated lead acid batteries require minimal or no maintenance at all, apart from the general cleaning and charging needed for optimal performance. They’re also the right ones to go for when looking for a marine battery or you want something for a water vehicle. At the same time, availability also matters, because sometimes you might need to make urgent replacements. This is the reason why most RV users often go for flooded lead acid batteries because of how readily available they are.
Brand
The brand you pick has a way of determining durability, price and performance of an RV battery. We only have a few globally-endorsed brands like Trojan which will get the work done for you. This means that you should only buy from trusted brands, which also means that you have to pay attention especially when doing your shopping online. With quality, you’ll definitely have to spend more than you would on the regular brands.
However, this shouldn’t be a problem because of the value for money that later comes with them. At the same time, this doesn’t imply that all the pricey RV batteries we have on the shelves guarantee quality, and so ensure that you’re only spending on genuine products. It’s also important to consider the price depending on how often you plan to use the battery and also the number of pieces that the RV will require.
Reviews of the best Trojan 6 Volt Batteries
1. Trojan Trojan 6 Volt Battery T-105
Product Description
Voltage: 6V
Amperage: 225Ah
Type: Flooded Lead Acid
If you’ve had a fairly effective battery but unfortunately the battery life runs out, look no further than this equally productive RV battery. The T-105 reveals a greater value because in addition to the guaranteed productivity, it also costs less than most products under the same category. When tested in actual context, you’ll realize that even the capacity this battery delivers is way better than that stated by the manufacturer.
All you have to do is charge it the right way especially when it’s winter season as with the norm surrounding lead acid batteries. This also means that you have to keep it at the right temperatures because exposing it to extreme temperatures will result in damage. Still on charging, this battery calls for a smart charger in order to regulate currents for the charge and voltage during a full charge cycle. It’s only with the smart charger that the voltage delivered once the battery is fully charged can be regulated so that it doesn’t go beyond the float charge voltage put in place.
Pros
Cons
2. Trojan T-125 6V 240Ah Flooded Lead Acid GC2 Deep Cycle Battery
Product Description
Voltage: 6V
Amperage: 240Ah
Type: Flooded Lead Acid
This is a battery you can count on when you’re set for a couple of nights of camping, without the worry of having to have it recharged every now and then. This is because Trojan has designed them with the capacity to hold charge longer than other products. The better part is that they are compatible with different appliances, so you can charge them with a solar or a board generator.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the discharging rates are fairly slow, even when you forget to unplug the appliances that aren’t in use. However, this doesn’t mean you should leave it in that state for prolonged durations of time because the battery can end up dead when not recharged soon enough.
Pros
Cons
3. Trojan T-145 GC2 6V 260Ah Flooded Lead Acid Battery
Product Description
Voltage: 6V
Amperage: 260Ah
Type: Flooded Lead Acid
True to the Trojan tradition, this is yet another reliable and durable deep cycle battery that brings to you exceptional value for money and consistency. It’s designed with deep cycle cells that keep the battery covered from degradation in case you plan to use it with appliances that make the battery susceptible to discharge.
You can therefore count on this product when you need uninterrupted power supply for your needs. It also has fairly thicker plates that deliver less peak-current. The battery fits in solar electric use and several other stand-alone energy systems. This T-105 GC2 has unmatched durability that also makes it cost effective in reference to the cost per amp-hour compared to other products available in the market today.
Up to this moment it’s now clear that with any flooded lead acid batteries, you have to bear the weight of maintenance in addition to the greatness that they bring to your RV. Therefore, don’t forget to regularly check the water levels, equalize the charges and keep the terminals clean.
Pros
Cons
4. Trojan 6V, GC2 189Ah (20hr) Gel Battery
Product Description
Voltage: 6V
Amperage: 189Ah
Type: 6V-Gel
Away from flooded lead acid batteries, here’s one of the reliable deep-cycle gel RV batteries from Trojan. Trojan understands that not everyone can keep up with the maintenance requirements for the other types of batteries, and so if you want a durable RV battery which is equally durable, look no further than this particular one. Instead of water being used as an electrolyte as seen with the previously reviewed products, this one comes with gelled electrolyte.
Basically, this is a formulation that combines sulphuric acid, demineralised and deionised water, phosphoric acid additive and fumed silica. The only major difference between the gel and flooded batteries is the chemistry design; otherwise you’ll still get equal measures of durability, performance effectiveness and a prolonged battery life. This gel battery is engineered with features that make it outstanding in a market full of competitive brands.
Another plus here is that the design reveals a heavy-duty active material on the grid network and with this, it can effectively deliver better concentrated energy to its terminals. However, being maintenance-free doesn’t include the cleaning bit, thus always remember to clean the battery regularly for consistency in performance.
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use battery additives with a Trojan battery?
Trojan, just like many brands out there strongly discourage the use of any form of additive because of the harm that they cause to your battery life. Research has also proven that some of these additives might not even work, so it will be a double loss considering the money spent during purchase, and the extra expenditure you’ll incur once the battery becomes malfunctioned. Therefore, if you’ve picked on a flooded Trojan battery, ensure that the only thing you’ll be adding there is distilled water as recommended by the manufacturer.
Does temperature affect battery performance?
The thing with temperature is that when it’s extreme, you have to compromise on either the battery life or the capacity. You’ll find that when you’re operating yours at temperatures above 27 degrees, the capacity naturally increases and what gets compromised is the battery life. On the other hand, when it’s fairly colder, the performance will not be optimal even though the battery life will be prolonged.
Therefore, always try to strike a balance between the two by working under an average of 27 degrees for optimal performance and battery life. However, most globally-renowned brands have put in place battery designs that ensure that the battery performance isn’t hindered even as you use them under different degrees of temperature.
Can you recycle a battery?
Now there’s always the question of what to do with a dead battery, and just like most household items, lead acid batteries can actually be recycled. There’s much more that can be done with the covers and plastic containers and basically Trojan is one of the companies which remodel these into the cases used on new batteries.
The electrolytes on the other hand can be re-used as a battery-grade electrolyte after being cleaned and reprocessed. Therefore, if you have any collection of old batteries and still have no idea of what to do with them, you can drop them off at any recycling station around you in a bid to help keep our environment safe.
What are the common battery operational mistakes?
Most mistakes many RV battery owners do are closely linked to the general maintenance guidelines. Examples of these mistakes are: Undercharging, overcharging, under-watering and over-watering. Your battery will only deliver an optimal performance when charged correctly, therefore don’t let the Sulfation process accelerate by ensuring that it’s always charged at the right times.
This doesn’t however mean that you should charge it continuously because this will also damage your battery. Similarly, you should constantly check the water levels to see to it that it doesn’t go below the marked level or above the same when refilling.
Conclusion
After looking at the reviews for the best four Trojan 6 Volt RV Batteries, it’s my hope that you can now confidently make a decision on what’s best for your RV. Now, if you want something that you can also use for other needs apart from RV, I recommend that you go for the Trojan T-145 GC2 6V 260Ah Flooded Lead Acid Battery.
On the other hand, if you can’t keep up with maintaining the water levels in a flooded battery, you can try the Trojan 6V, GC2 189Ah (20hr) Gel Battery that we included for you in the list. As you pick the best in the industry, also ensure that you take good care of your investment. So, in case you missed our guide to how best to prolong the life of your RV Battery, you can still get more of that from our previous article.