Deep Cycle Batteries

[Lipriper84]

Can anyone give me some guidance on which brand and what specs I should be looking for. I need 2 12V Deep Cycle batteries for my Maxxum 70lb troller. We have used Interstate in the past, but my cousin just bought some 2 years ago and they were already shot. Not sure if he just got a bad batch or what. But We had some last 10 years from Interstate before and they are finally showing their age.

Any recommendations would be helpful.

Thanks for your time.

[Hookmaster]

Interstates have the support of many on this HSOforum. I have been using Cabelas AGM deep cycles with very good results. The first set lasted 9 years, no worry about fluid level or acid spilling.

[Fish Head]

If you got 9 or 10 years out of your trolling motor batteries you are doing great!! Interstates are good batteries, he may have not taken good care of them. Not keeping them fully charged and leaving them in the cold all winter can shorten their life.

[huntnfish]

I just bought a group 27 Exide from Menards and so far so good. The price was right at 68 bucks.

[dan z]

Been buying batteries @ batteries plus, and have had nothing bad to say about them, the 1st one lasted seven hard working years. was dated jan05 and just replaced it this spring.

[ClownColor]

AGM's from Cabelas for me! 6 years going strong.

[jac714]

I have had good luck with Sear's Die Hard batteries

[Rick G]

Optima blue tops are the best battery I have ever owned. I think they are the M31s I am running now. Kinda spendy, but in batterie's you get what you pay for

[slammer]

Fleet Farm batteries here. Have used them for almost 20 years. Been getting 5-6 years from each of them. If you do some research, you will find that most batteries are made from only a few manufacturer's.

[Surface Tension]

I just bought a group 27 Exide from Menards and so far so good. The price was right at 68 bucks.

I put an Exide lawn & garden battery in the old lawn tractor a couple years ago.

It starts summer and winter and I've never had to give it a charge. In my mind that is as good as it gets.

For that reason I went with 27 Exide Deep Cycle for the boat and camper. Time will tell.

I've still got my Interstate gell cell deep cycle and Stowaway that are over 10 years old.

Charge them after each use with an automatic deep cycle charger. Keep them out of the sun and don't bang them around.

[Lipriper84]

Thanks for the info guys.

[huntnfish]

Charge them after each use with an automatic deep cycle charger. Keep them out of the sun and don't bang them around.

Is there a certain type of charger for a deep cycle or are you just talking about an on board charger? I've always just used my regular 6 amp automatic charger.

[harvey lee]

I use to use the Optima batteries and will no longer. They lasted no longer for me than any other battery. They would need to last 2-3 times longer than the Exides as they are that spendy.

I always charge my batteries right away when I get homre and they stay on a maintainer until I go again.

I went with 3 new Exide batteries and so far, no issues.

[Lund79]

Is there a certain type of charger for a deep cycle or are you just talking about an on board charger? I've always just used my regular 6 amp automatic charger.

[huntnfish]

Thats the same charger I use and I charge my deep cycle the same way. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't a special charger out there for deep cycles.

[bobbymalone]

Thats the same charger I use and I charge my deep cycle the same way. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't a special charger out there for deep cycles.

I have a sorta standard 12v battery charger like has been around for ever. It does have some sort of protection against overcharging though.

Mine has a little switch for "deep cycle" and "starting, lights, ignition"

[pikerliker]

If your buying from Batteries Plus just be advised that a mail in rebate from them apparently doesn't come back to you. I bought 2 new batteries from them May of 2011 and have yet to the see the rebate from either battery even though I had a store employee help me with filling out the rebate form. I hate mail in rebates anyway I think I've gotten less than 50 percent of them back.

[Surface Tension]

Yes there are chargers for deep cycle batteries and chargers that you can select deep cycle, automotive, maintenance free,and so on.

[ghostranger]

I've learned never to use anything from Exide. Interstates are the only way to go!