NON-JEEP battery question

[ShadowsPapa]

To keep my cheap Coleman cooler going next weekend, and to maybe help power some other stuff, I'm thinking of getting a deep-cycle marine battery to take along on my car show/swap meet/weekend racing weekends. It could also function to operate a 2500 pound RV winch I have on my car trailer if I end up having to pull a dead car onto the trailer.
Coleman says the draw on my 12v cooler is 4 amps.
They say a deep cycle marine/RV battery with an R.C. (reserve capacity) rating of 210 would power it for 27 hours (all things being equal and best case)
And I can buy such batteries for a lot less than what a power pack would cost (500-1000 for those!) and since I do not need 110 volts, don't need any inverter or AC outlets, all I need is 12volt battery power at 4 amps for the cooler, or a couple of minutes at about 30 amps to pull a car onto the trailer, a battery makes a heck of a lot more sense to me - more versatile, can power small RV winch on the trailer, can power a cooler, maybe even something else I've not thought of yet.
That leaves the truck to recharge my phone and hearing aids via USB.

So what are the best of that sort of battery of roughly that capacity?
Everyone claims theirs is the best, and there are countless "brands" out there all vying for your business..... but I'm sure some of you have used similar batteries for RVs/camping, even with your truck for added power over the weekend.

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[rharr]

you can't relie on the jeep to charge your phone or aids, the onboard usb ports go dead when the lights shut off. Maybe you have a dedicated power setup in the back, i can't recall. If you don't pick up something like this that you can then clip to the new battery you get or the jeep battery.

https://www.batterytender.com/battery-tender-usb-charger-adaptor_2

I use half dead UPS batteries from work that still hold/take some charge and those will charge a phone for about 3 or 4 days.

you could buy 2 6v golf cart batteries and wire them in series..... those will have loads of capacity.

 

[kevman65]

Walmart brand batteries are made by Johnson Controls, or whatever current name that company is using.

So, find the one with the numbers you need and save more money because it's not a "Name".

 

[ShadowsPapa]

you can't relie on the jeep to charge your phone or aids, the onboard usb ports go dead when the lights shut off. Maybe you have a dedicated power setup in the back, i can't recall. If you don't pick up something like this that you can then clip to the new battery you get or the jeep battery.

https://www.batterytender.com/battery-tender-usb-charger-adaptor_2

I use half dead UPS batteries from work that still hold/take some charge and those will charge a phone for about 3 or 4 days.

you could buy 2 6v golf cart batteries and wire them in series..... those will have loads of capacity.

Yeah, you may have missed seeing and knowing about my bed power panel.
I turn it on with an aux switch and it's powered up all night. That aux switch is configured to operate with engine off, acc mode off, run from the battery, so I'm fine back there for those two items.
Did it last year and it was fine.
Since the phone and hearing aids take such a tiny amount of power they charge up fine and don't really even drop the truck's voltage (also have a volt meter back there)
So USB charging of phone and hearings aids is a non-issue with this panel. I proved it last year camping.
This will do my phone, hearing aids, even a light if I want one for some reason in the middle of the night - full power all the time via aux switch ->

Looking only to power the cooler (12 volts, 4 amps) and maybe run a small winch if I even need to do that. Likely that will not even be needed BUT I want a battery (not a pile of batteries in a box wired together) to run the cooler and whatever else I may need to use a battery for.
1 battery, something I might even rig into the back of the truck "some day" - or not, might just clamp it onto my car hauler, who knows.

RC of at least 210

Walmart brand batteries are made by Johnson Controls, or whatever current name that company is using.

So, find the one with the numbers you need and save more money because it's not a "Name".

Have heard bad things about Johnson Controls, though.
That's why I've been buying NAPA batteries for my cars - they are made in PA by DEKA, East Penn Manufacturing I think is their parent - a pretty well respected company.

Can't find any specs or ratings for Walmart stuff - they pretty much say "here's a battery, here's the price".
Coleman gives the marine deep cycle battery specs in RC for reserve capacity (minimum 210 for my needs) and MCA, or marine cranking amps.
Wallyworld lists "CCA" and I really don't care about CCA since it won't be 0 degrees and I won't be cranking an engine with it.

 

[kevman65]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStar...t-750-MCA/164242687?athbdg=L1200&from=/search

EverStart Lead Acid Marine/RV Deep Cycle Battery, Group Size 27DC:

• 1 Year free replacement warranty
• 12-volt marine deep cycle battery
• 750 MCA
• 109 amp hour
• Dual post
• Superior cycling and recharge capabilities
• Battery is maintenance free under normal operating conditions
• Free battery testing and installation at your local Walmart Auto Care Center
• If you need to get rid of your old battery, there is free lead acid battery recycling at your local Walmart

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

I’ve had very good luck in all applications with Duracell batteries. Have one of their deep cycle marine units providing backup on my sump pump, easy maintenance, well built, and 5 yr warranty via Batteries Plus.

they’ve been my go to battery for the past decade.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Lately Deka is my favorite for marine batteries.

I have 5 of them that I've been using for 3 years.

 

[Mojave2021]

I like Odyssey batteries. My 1977 Trans Am needed to be on a tender nearly every day with the Optima batteries I was running in the past. I actually haven't needed a tender at all with the Odyssey, although I use it from time to time to keep it healthy just in case. It has started up without issue even when I've left it for a few weeks.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStar...t-750-MCA/164242687?athbdg=L1200&from=/search

EverStart Lead Acid Marine/RV Deep Cycle Battery, Group Size 27DC:

• 1 Year free replacement warranty
• 12-volt marine deep cycle battery
• 750 MCA
• 109 amp hour
• Dual post
• Superior cycling and recharge capabilities
• Battery is maintenance free under normal operating conditions
• Free battery testing and installation at your local Walmart Auto Care Center
• If you need to get rid of your old battery, there is free lead acid battery recycling at your local Walmart

That's small, but you've got some info that helps, there.
Need at least 210 RC / 900 MCA to run 27 hours according to Coleman. I figure that would give me 24 hours (nothing is ever perfect)

Lately Deka is my favorite for marine batteries.

I have 5 of them that I've been using for 3 years.

That's who makes NAPA last I knew...........

I like Odyssey batteries. My 1977 Trans Am needed to be on a tender nearly every day with the Optima batteries I was running in the past. I actually haven't needed a tender at all with the Odyssey, although I use it from time to time to keep it healthy just in case. It has started up without issue even when I've left it for a few weeks.

Don't really know much - or actually anything - about the Odyssey line.

 

[kevman65]

That's small, but you've got some info that helps, there.
Need at least 210 RC / 900 MCA to run 27 hours according to Coleman. I figure that would give me 24 hours (nothing is ever perfect)

I just grabbed the first one I saw. If you go into their Marine/RV section of batteries it gives you all that info.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

That's who makes NAPA last I knew...........

I think you’re right and Google confirms it. East Penn. I’ve had good luck with Napa batteries too.

Don't really know much - or actually anything - about the Odyssey line.

Odyssey became king when Optima stepped down. One of the best you can buy. A little pricey though.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think you’re right and Google confirms it. East Penn. I’ve had good luck with Napa batteries too.



Odyssey became king when Optima stepped down. One of the best you can buy. A little pricey though.

Another one to look into anyway.
Gotta get something in the next couple of days so I can have it fully charged, strapped into my truck or onto my car hauler and ready to go. Still working on the car getting it ready after it having been apart for almost 3 years and having a lot of leaks to deal with, getting the shop scum off it, swapping hoods on it (two guys to lift the hood for that car and then it's a hassle - long huge heavy steel hood)
So a ton going on, scrambling and figured I'd pick the community brains as I've not kept up on this sort of battery since I sold my last camper. (and boat with trolling motor and so on)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I hate Walmart's web site since you get stuff from other sellers or that has to be ordered and shipped and so on. I want to look only for what they have in the store, I can go buy. And I tried to filter by that and ended up finding out they actually only carry 3 batteries, all too small so they are out. Can't mess with shipping........ takes too long and then if it's a problem, gotta deal with returns. So, will be concentrating on what can be bought locally.
This is sort of a last minute thing deciding to go this route and it leaves basically only a couple of days to find and bring one home.
I was surprised that Walmart only carries 3 deep cycle 12v batteries. There's a lot of fishing and boats going on around here, campers everywhere. You'd think they have at least a half dozen or more in store. Big surprise.

 

[Hootbro]

What about a agriculture supply type place like Tractor Supply, Farm and Fleet or similar?

My local Tractor Supply stocks a decent amount of deep cycle batteries to select from.

 

[RudeJeepin]

I'd recommend an AGM or even lithium over an old school lead acid.
Odyssey has a good reputation these days.
What battery powered cordless tools do you have? Several brands make inverters/converters that might work for your needs.

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