What’s the Best RV Battery for Dry Camping & Boondocking?

RVs are a fantastic way of getting off the grid and exploring everything off the beaten path. It allows you to explore the boondocking and dry camping lifestyle and experience nature and the world around you the way it was meant to be. Raw and away from the distractions of your everyday life, getting in tune with yourself while kicking your feet up and looking at the stars. Doing so in an RV is a great way to relax and unwind naturally while still experiencing some of the more modern benefits.

However, without the proper preparation, you can wind up more stressed than before—the secret: the right RV battery for your dry camping and boondocking adventure. Getting the right RV battery is paramount to a successful adventure off the beaten path.

Choosing the Right Battery

Not all RV batteries are built the same, especially when it comes to your requirements. To dry camp or boondock successfully in your RV, you need something that is able to withstand the most nature can throw at you. Selecting the right RV battery is critical because you want to be able to trust what you buy.

Understanding Different Types of RV Batteries

There are going to be different types of RV batteries that you might find. Each has their own benefits and setbacks.

1. AGM Batteries

Absorbent glass mat batteries (AGM) are a type of sealed lead-acid battery. Essentially, lead plates sit in between fiberglass-saturated electrolyte mats, allowing for increased efficiency when in use or charging.

Pros: These batteries are pretty low maintenance, so you can use them without worrying about whether or not they need to be recalibrated.

Cons: They have a slow charge and require a break to fully charge between uses. Plus, they are significantly more expensive than some of the other batteries

2. Gel Batteries

Gel batteries are similar to AGM batteries in that they are sealed with suspended lead plates holding the gel together.

Pros: These batteries are leak-proof, low maintenance, and good for deep discharges, meaning you can use them a lot without having to worry about anything.

Cons: They can get very expensive, however, and have a very slow charging rate, requiring a full charge after a deep discharge.

3. LiFePO4 Batteries

LiFePO4 batteries are relatively new and very popular batteries in the RV world, becoming the preferred choice for many.

Pros: These batteries are lightweight, have a fast charge, and have a long lifespan on top of their low maintenance. In fact, you may be using a lithium battery already without even knowing it as they are that reliable.

Cons: Lithium and other LiFePO4 batteries typically have a higher upfront cost. Likewise, they require a specific battery management system to function properly and safely. Most lithium batteries already come with a trustworthy BMS, however.

Shop Sunrich Energy 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery

Determine Power Needs

The next thing you need to determine is all your power needs. It’s a lot simpler than it looks: all you have to do is gather all the electrical devices you’re using and find out their daily power usage. Most of your devices will have a description in their instruction manual or on the actual item detailing their power consumption.

Essentially, all you need to do is find out how much power an appliance uses in an hour. For example, if a refrigerator uses 1500W every hour, that would equal to 1500 watt-hours or 1.5kWh. Do that for all your appliances, and add them up to discover how much energy you use in an hour. You can then multiply that number by 24 to discover how much energy you use in a day.

If you’re having trouble finding the number, you can also use this handy chart from Silicon Valley Power that provides estimates of how much power many common appliances use. One quick tip: you don’t have to be exact; in fact, being a bit over what you actually use is safer than not.

Consider Battery Capacity

When you’ve found out how much energy you’re going to use in a day, you’ll want to find a battery that has enough energy storage capacity to meet your needs. It’s recommended that you pick a battery with a larger capacity than what you use in case of emergencies or periods of excess use.

Other Factors to Consider

A few other factors to consider when choosing your RV battery include the size and weight of the battery. Some of these batteries can become quite cumbersome and heavy, and you don’t want something that is going to get in the way of all your essentials. Even if you are going as bare-bones as possible, having a battery that isn’t a burden should be taken into consideration.

Likewise, consider how fast your battery can charge. Find a battery whose charge can meet your needs, as you don’t want to be left without any power, waiting for your battery to fully charge when you need something at the moment.

Optimizing Battery Usage

Getting the right battery for your dry camping or boondocking adventure is important, but it’s still a battery and there are great methods to optimize your battery usage.

Energy-Saving Tips

1. Use LED bulbs for all your lights; they use less power and reduce energy consumption.
2. Use the day to your advantage by opening the curtains and windows to let all that great natural light and nice draft in without using your appliances.
3. When you aren’t using your devices, turn them off to avoid any unnecessary power drain.
4. Use an outdoor grill when you can - you are experiencing nature to its fullest after all.

Power Management Tips

1. Plan your power usage by using high-powered appliances and devices when your battery is fully charged.
2. Use timers and smart power management systems to control the devices automatically.
3. Optimize the settings on appliances that are one 24/7, like refrigerators to reduce the load on your energy system

Backup Power Tips

1. Have a portable generator as a backup power source.
2. Use portable chargers for smaller devices like phones or radios.
3. Practice safe battery management by keeping your batteries in cool and dry places.

Consider Solar Power Charging

No matter what kind of battery you have, they will always need to charge. To keep your RV battery charged and ready for use, solar charging is the best option available to you. Using a solar charging kit or mounting solar panels to your RV allows you to charge your batteries just by being outside.

The best part about it is that solar power is free and quiet, so you don’t have to use a loud generator that guzzles gasoline just so you can turn on the lights. To maximize efficiency, clean your panels and use an MPPT Charge Controller to better manage the BMS of your battery and perfect the charging capacity.

Routine Maintenance

All batteries require routine maintenance, even if they are advertised as low maintenance. To keep your battery running to its fullest capacity:

• Regularly check battery voltage and electrolyte levels (this is only for AGM and Gel batteries)
• Clean the battery terminals to prevent any corrosion.
• Keep batteries safe and away from the elements.
• Store batteries in a cool, dry place to extend their life.

Keeping your batteries safe and secure is the best way to maintain their longevity.

Knowing how you keep your devices running with the best RV battery for your dry camping or boondocking adventure will keep you focused and stress-free. Consider using Sunrich Energy’s LiFePO4 batteries with optimal battery life and BMS safety. They’re made exclusively to withstand harsh environments and deep discharge.