Best RV House Battery Reviews (Deep Cycle 6V, 12V, AGM)

Getting a good RV Battery requires an investment. Unfortunately, we have seen over and over how this commitment is overseen. Very seldom we even pay attention to our RV battery until we sense there is a problem. Of course, to preserve the life of your battery, there are some measures you need to be taking.

The following are the 5 best-rated RV batteries for the money!

Image Product
Best AGM Deep Cycle RV Battery Product Vmaxtanks Vmaxslr125 AGM Deep Cycle Battery
  • Safe and easy to connect
  • Long life-span
  • Military custom-made plates with tin allow grids
Best Performance Product Optima BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery
  • Compact and lightweight
  • 750 cold cranking amps
  • More durable and resistant to vibrations than average batteries
Best Bang For The Buck Product Odyssey PC680 Battery
  • Shock and vibrations resistance
  • Twice more powerful and three times the life of average AGM batteries
  • Rugged build and compact design
Best 12-Volt Deep Cycle RV Battery Product Universal 12v 100AH Deep Cycle AGM
  • Equipped with a valve to regulate performance
  • Energy-efficient.
  • The best at handling deep cylcing
Best 6-volt Deep Cycle Battery For RV Product NP6-225Ah 6V 225Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery
  • Pretty versatile
  • Rugged design
  • Easy to mount and install

Best Deep Cycle Batteries For An RV

Vmaxtanks Vmaxslr125 AGM Deep Cycle Battery - Best AGM

This battery is a deep cycle battery with a 125 Ah capacity. If you are looking for a strong, maintenance-free battery, this is one you should turn to. It is one of our best choices when it comes to an RV deep cycle battery.

You probably already picked up on the fact that the reason why it is maintenance-free is that the battery is sealed and built with AGM. You can place it in any position without any risk of leak or malfunction. The inside of the battery has gas regulation so that no fumes from recharging are accumulated. 

Even further, more than 99% of the gas produced is recombined. The military-grade custom-made plates with tin alloy grids give the Vmaxtanks Vmaxslr125 AGM Deep Cycle battery an extra margin of performance. A depth discharge of 10% can still give you 3,500 cycles which is a pretty impressive performance. Even a total discharge depth will give you around 300 cycles.

When it comes to self-discharge, this battery is on the good low of 1 to 2% per month at room temperature. This makes it a champion in performance when it comes to other AGM batteries.

This is also a tough one, not only when on the pit but also while it is being charged. Let us start with the operational temperature. The Vmaxtanks can operate at a broad temperature of -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit when discharging and when stored. During charging, it takes temperatures from 14 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

But its durability does not stay only in temperature gradients. This resilient one is capable of withstanding vibrations, so there is no concern of low performance, even if you are riding on harsh roads.

On your hands, you will have a full package of reliability, performance, and durability. There is no way to go wrong with this one. You are getting a good deal for the price you will be paying.

The Good/What I like

We definitively love the versatility of this deep cycle battery. Yes, all AGM batteries can be placed in any position but this one offers an utmost performance and the battery life is not affected whatsoever. They are super safe to use and easy to connect and disconnect. In float mode, this battery has a life expectancy of 8-10 years.

We are also delighted at the fact that the battery is able to perform at a particularly broad temperature range. This is very important, especially when taking those interstate trips. Very few batteries give us the peace of mind that we get with this one. Getting these for your RV is a really great deal for the price.

The Bad/What I don't like

When first charged, we noticed that despite claims, the battery hardly gets to 125Ah. But that should not be an issue. The battery still delivers at running your RV. We believe that the battery is not too heavy duty as it takes longer to charge as you use it. Keep in mind that the 8-10-year life applies only in float mode. Never charge your battery more than needed and, if possible, disconnect it when you are not using your RV for a long period.

Optima Starting & Deep Cycle Marine Battery - Best performance  

The first thing that calls your attention about the Optima battery is that it can be used to power your RV and also to get it started. Its 750 cold cranking amp is a guarantee that it will always spew out that spark you need at any time. Given that it is charged, of course. Then, you will be delighted with the great performance.

The 8016-103 D34M comes with a 120-minute reserve capacity and a high resistance to vibrations. 

The 750 CCA makes it ideal to start large vehicles such as RV and boats. This versatile set of spiral-wound cells will make your investment be more than worth it.

We call this battery one of the most reliable products out there. It performs really great, even at very low temperatures, where other batteries will usually fail. During extremely cold environments, it will still deliver optimal power. Optima is already an authority in the production of spiral cells. They have a demanding standard for quality in their final products.

You can easily see that the design is, indeed spiral cells, which ensure a constant monitoring of critical tolerances, humidity, temperature, and automated processes. Each individual spiral wound cells is made of two 99.99% lead plates coated in lead oxide.

The Optima battery was designed to be lightweight and easy to handle. At 43 pounds, you can easily place it in any position in your battery compartment. So, you can easily place in on your RV anyhow you want as there is no risk of leaking and it is highly resistant to vibration and impacts. When it comes to weather conditions, this battery simply sees no difference as it continues to perform just as well in harsh weather conditions.

As a matter of fact, the case where it comes in is known for being especially more resistant to breaking than other batteries. We are talking about a heavy-duty battery capable of resisting deep blows. The manufacturer states that their battery can take as much as 15 times your average battery. There is no way to confirm this but the battery does look resistant.

This bluetop also impresses when it comes to charging it. It will take all the charge it needs and according to what it says in the manufacturer’s description, this battery will not overheat if you leave it charging. This is a great advantage for the time of charging.

This battery presents itself as a solution for very large vehicles, which not only need to get their engines started but also need a large amount of power to hold up their recreational vehicle. The designation D34M means that it will effectively deliver the amount of power needed for your RV.

The Good/What I like

The fact that this battery operates with 750 CCA tells you a lot about its performance. It is always ready to start the vehicle, even after several months. We also like the fact that this one is truly vibration-resistance and capable of taking some serious blows. Very few batteries out there have this strong vibration-resistance feature.

Of course, we are all about making is spill-proof and all. But it is its performance, even during harsh conditions, that should help you decide if this is the battery for you.

The Bad/What I don't like

The spiral wound design patented by Optima can be a little tricky. The cells can overcharge drastically so you must be careful there. This is probably an issue that has to do with the spiral wound design that makes plates stand very close to each other. 

However, this design is what makes it be able to hold all your device in your RV. Being careful when overcharging comes with being careful and not neglect your batteries. Plus, this is only a possibility and we have not heard of many customers running into this issue.

Odyssey PC680 Battery - Best value 

When it comes to efficiency, this beauty really delivers. Perhaps the first thing you notice about the Odyssey PC680 battery is that it is rugged and strongly built. This makes it good at resisting hard blows and deliver great performance, even during harsh conditions.

So if you are thinking of taking your RV to a demanding terrain on sea, land, or snow, the Odyssey gives you the peace of mind you need. All you need to think of is driving through the thick. But not only is it resistant to harsh soils but the compact design of its plates inside are composed of an inner build that translates into a spill-proof battery.

This design is also great at making this battery highly resistant to vibrations. Now let us go to the power. This battery boasts of having twice the power and three times the lifespan of your average AGM battery. This is achieved by the pure lead plates it is made of. We have not put this feature to the test yet but customer comments put it quite close to it. The fact that is built strong also helps provide a stable voltage. This means that it is pretty long-lasting.

According to the manufacturer, the Odyssey PC680 is capable of holding up to 400 cycles at 80 percent discharge depth, which is pretty impressive for such a compact battery. The vibration-resistance feature protects it from extreme shock and high-frequency vibrations.

ODYSSEY guarantees that this battery will be able to hold its charge and performance at extreme temperatures. So, besides being able to resist the impact of the tough soil, the high-frequency vibrations from the roaring engine, you can bring this tough one from the desert to the freezing North. This battery will be able to perform.

The life of the battery is set to be from 3 to 10 years. Of course, this will depend on how heavily you use and the number of charges you put into it. The PC680 is a tough one, though. Speaking of charging, it has the fastest battery charging time. It can be filled up back to 100% in 4-6 hours, which is an impressive turnaround.

Then, when set into action, it is capable of lasting a pretty long time. Have we mentioned that the Odyssey PC680 performs all this at a crazy cheap price? There is no mistake in getting this battery if you are looking for a long-lasting powerful battery with a compact design.

The Good/What I like

What is there not to like about this deep cycle battery? It has performance, power, long-lasting charge, long useful life and with a killer price. The mere sight of this little giant tells you how durable the battery is. Its AGM design and rugged build guarantee that this battery is maintenance-free and spill-proof.

Carrying this battery in your RV gives us the comfort that we get a powerful battery that can resist shock, vibrations, and extremes of temperature. There is no risk of fumes or toxic gases and all you have to care of is to charge it when needed. Oh, and we also have to mention that the compact design allows for 15% more surface area than your average spiral wound plates.

The Bad/What I don't like

Even though AGM batteries have less chance of spills and can be positioned in any way, it is always responsible to check them from time to time. Verify that everything is in check every time you recharge. 

This battery has only one small caveat and that has to do with its compact design. This makes it a bit more difficult to place in your battery compartment since it will usually use less space, making the positioning more difficult.

Now, what this might cause is that the battery might vibrate more. This is something that the battery can take, though. Plus, you can always make easy adjustments to keep the batteries safely in place inside the battery compartment.

Universal 12v 100AH Deep Cycle AGM Battery - Best 12-Volt

The UB21000 by Universal is an established authority when it comes to deep cycle batteries. This is probably the best of the best in the market right now. It is specifically designed to handle deep cycling, which is the main concern of our RV deep cycle batteries.

This battery has everything you are looking for in a 12-volt battery. It is perfect for use in a trolling motor and basically for any general use. In your RV, it will lift up all your 12-V devices with a long-lasting charge and an always peak performance. 

The cells inside the UB121000 by Universal are tightly packed and use the very popular AGM technology. You will soon realize that not only is this battery versatile but it is also reliable and versatile.

As we mentioned before, this impressive seat of electromagnetic force is versatile in that it is super convenient not only for RVs. It can also be used in boats, scooters, wheelchairs, golf carts, and many more. It offers the same great performance all around the way. 

It offers a consistent power delivery and a pretty low self-discharge of less than 3% per month. The AGM design makes it a great one at storing charge and keeping the battery maintenance-free. Even if you place it on any side, there is no risk of spilling. Not only AGM guarantees this but its tightly sealed design as well. 

The plastic body that cases the lead plates and the acid is strong, robust, and acid-proof. This also makes it super shock-resistant. It is capable of withholding high-frequency vibrations without its performance being affected at all. 

Under normal temperature conditions, the life expectancy of this battery is from 3 to 5 years. The operating temperatures go from 5°F to 113°F for discharging and 32°F to 104°F for charging. It really takes a good beating at harsh temperature conditions. If you will be storing the battery for a long time, a temperature range of 5°F to 104°F is optimal.

One important factor to look at when purchasing a deep cycle battery is the depth of discharge. The Universal UB121000 positively delivers there. At a 50% discharge, you can expect 500 cycles and 200 cycles when the battery discharges fully. 

One of the great advantages of this battery is that it has a 100-ampere-hour rating, which for its large storage capacity and its relatively long useful life. The AGM technology helps with longer usage period, shorter recharging time and better performance. 

Furthermore, this is an energy-efficient battery that can only discharge 3% of its monthly storage capacity if left unused. 

The Good/What I like

Rugged, durable, high performance, fast charge, and a lasting charge make this battery one of our favorite ones. When you look at it, you can tell it delivers a great performance. This tough one can resist shocks, vibrations, and blows. It is built to last for a very long time.

The sealed design guarantees that you will not be suffering from any acid spill. The body is made of a very strong plastic, shock-absorbent and acid-proof. We also like its versatility and flexibility. It has the right size for you to position it however you like in your RV. 

The Bad/What I don't like

There is only one thing that we do not enjoy about the Universal Deep cycle battery but luckily it has nothing to do with its performance. It is a bit heavy and will probably need two people to help carry it. This might be an issue at the moment of installation.

But it does have a convenient stainless steel handle to make the carrying easier. 

NP6-225Ah 6V AGM Deep Cycle Battery - Best 6-Volt

The typical battery for RV is usually a 12-V. However, for a number of reasons, people sometimes prefer to wire two 6-Volt batteries in series to add up. This is not really a problem as long as the batteries being used.

We found this set of 2 6-volt batteries and after we checked the price tag and tried out its specs, we realized we were in front of some valuable batteries. 

The very first thing we noted about this battery is that it is pretty versatile. It can be used in a series of applications, not only for RV. These can be used for motor boating, firefighting equipment, alarm systems, and many other applications. 

The battery cases are obviously smaller, but you will be impressed by its tough design. The entire piece is pretty rugged and looks durable. The ABS plastic that makes the case is highly durable and resists shocks.

Not only will this little one resist blow and vibrations but it is also suitable for extreme weather temperatures. We are referring to harsh both ways. The battery is sealed which means it does not allow any acid to gush out from it. 

Of course, these batteries are AGM, which means that you do not need to worry for any spilling Even if they fall on their side, there is no risk of spilling thanks to the sealed case. Of course, this also means that you can place them in any position in your battery compartment as with all AGM batteries.

The performance delivered by these batteries is also quite impressive. It is very important that you know how to install them in order to better take advantage of them. If you connect them in series, you will get 12 volts with the same Ah, which is the ideal to provide more power to your RV. But if you are interested in having 6V operating at twice the Ah, then you connect them in parallel. 

You can tell that the design is pretty rugged and they have a combined weight of 74 pounds. Luckily, you get half that in every battery which should not be a problem for mounting and storing. The batteries are very easy to install and require no maintenance. 

The Good/What I like

When we hear that a battery is versatile and can be used in a number of other vehicles and devices, we think of versatility, performance, and power output. This battery has a great output and is so easy to carry, mount, and use. The order includes two 6-V batteries that you can easily install in series in your RV to get a potential gradient of 12 Volts.

They are so easy to mount that you will probably not go back to 12-volt batteries again. We love the fact that these little ones really put a fight and can easily deal with harsh conditions of temperature, chemicals, harsh weather, etc. Of all the batteries we have examined, we can safely say that these are the ones that require less maintenance. 

The Bad/What I don't like

This is not a biggie really, but the tread pattern is slightly different than the others. But then, this is really not an issue, at least when it comes to safety.

Not everything can be good about a battery and the NP6-225Ah is no exception to that. Despite all the marvelous investment that this battery represents, it has come to our attention that it drains easily. But then, as long as you carry your RV always have a spare or a charge ready to crank up these beauties.

Buyer's Guide

Now that you have had the chance to take a look at the deep cycle batteries we propose here, you probably have found out that your needs are different. Sometimes you need the best power for a very short trip or maybe you are going on a long road trip and need unfailing performance and substantial charge.

You have read some terms that maybe you are familiar with, or maybe not too much. We will try and unravel some of the terms in order to help you find a good deal and bring home the best deep cycle RV batteries. 

The following is an extensive buyers guide to help you decide which way to go. We will focus on the characteristics you should be looking at when buying an RV battery.

Capacity

The capacity of a battery is measured in Ah, which stands for amperes-hour. This indicates the amount of current it can deliver per hour time. For example, if a battery says it delivers 225Ah, it means that it is capable of delivering 225 amperes in one hour.

Technically, the higher the capacity, the more power is stored and the battery lasts longer. So, bigger capacity is better. Size does matter here but not the way you think, perhaps. Keep in mind that not all battery sizes will fit into your RV. Not only size is important here, but you should also consider weight. The heavier a battery, the more added weight to your RV.

So, even when you wished you could have all the power to help you cross several states, you simply cannot fit as many batteries in your RV. 

The trick here is to figure out how much capacity you will need and then add some more. You know, it is better to have in excess than to be wanting. Establish clearly what your daily power consumption will be. This will help you budget a total power needed.

Once you have that covered, find a battery that is able to deliver this capacity without going down to a 60% or 50% of charge. Thankfully, you can also bring a generator to recharge the batteries when needed.

Your trip must be then planned and budgeted into what amount of power will you be needing. All of these are factors to consider.

Voltage

Voltage refers to the potential difference between the terminals in the battery. Typically, RV users go for 12-volt (DC current) batteries. Others prefer to use 6-V batteries which they connect in series to obtain the total voltage. 

In most cases, 12-volt batteries do the job just perfectly. Just make sure you also check out what are the requirements of your RV. When you first bought it, it probably came with a cheap battery. This will help you guide yourself as to what is the type of connection and potential difference that your RV needs.

Power at a temperature gradient

When we say the temperature gradient, we basically refer to a temperature difference, which usually goes from a very low temperature to a very high. So, we advise that, before purchasing, you find out what is the lowest and the maximum temperature the battery can withhold. 

Types of trailer tires

Knowing what are the two types of trailer tires is important at the moment of choosing which goes best with what you need. There are basically two types of trailer tires.

You should have the assurance that your battery will keep supplying the promised power even at the lowest temperatures. So, when you purchase, verify that this battery will have the proper performance during a heavy winter.

But not only will your RV roam through the snow and cold but also through the hot and humid. Choose a battery that can at least withstand a high of 95 degrees Fahrenheit.  Once again, this choice ultimately depends on where will you be taking your RV for a trip.

Vibration-proof

You have also noticed that we keep mentioning that these batteries are vibration-proof. Constant vibrations due to the vehicle’s engine and the conditions of the road will take its toll on a battery eventually. This is why you should look for a battery that is able to withstand these shocks and vibrations.

Batteries that are sturdy and have a strong build are the most resistant to these external forces. They are shock-resistant and able to handle vibrations. If your battery does not perform well here, you will end up spending more money on repairs.

Depth of Discharge

The depth of discharge is expressed in percentages and it is related to the life cycle of the battery. This number shows the specific amount of power delivered by the battery. In general, deeper individual cycles mean the battery will provide fewer cycles overall.

Our suggestion is to look for a deep cycle battery with a depth of discharge capable of optimizing its overall life cycle. 

Cycle life

This factor should play an important role in your decision. The cycle life of your battery can be measured by the number of charge or discharge cycles it can provide based on its capacity. If you notice carefully, you will see that manufacturers usually create deep cycle batteries with very similar capacity.

The issue here is that even if the capacity is the same, the materials, designs, process, and materials used differ and all these have an effect on the battery’s cycle life. 

Charging your battery

One important aspect that you should also take into account is how will you be charging your battery. If you will either be using solar power, a generator, shore power or combinations of the three. check out the best RV generator and best portable solar panels for RVs

We will go ahead and recommend you use a smart charger or a charge controller. This device creates a charge profile that depends on the type of battery you are charging. In this way, your battery gets the correct amount of charge at the correct time. 

This smart charger also balances off any surge of voltage and current, providing extra protection to your battery. This device works regardless of the type of charger you use. 

Charging your battery

In general, a high price usually means that more work was put into the design of this battery. Hence, the greater the quality. But this does not mean that you can get great performance at a low price. But before going head-on towards a cheaper option, you have to make sure it meets all the requirements we have mentioned above.

You know what they say, if you buy cheap you will wind up spending more money. If you find a battery that seems too cheap to be true, make sure that its performance and quality will not fail you in the long run. Look for a battery that is offered at a reasonable price and provides real value for the amount of money you will spend. 

Conclusion
If there is one thing that we have learned on the road is that experiences tend to vary among users. This, of course, is a testimony to the different contexts for each one. Consider this when you go through users reviews online. Deep cycle battery manufacturers try to create high-quality products that are able to successfully meet most of these conditions. Some users drive their RV on monthly adventures while others will do it more scarcely. In one case, the battery will undergo heavy and in the other, it might suffer from lack of use. This is mainly the reason why, when buying or ordering a deep cycle battery, make it point to focus on the conditions this battery will be used. Nowadays, there is a lot of technology involved in the manufacturing of a deep cycle battery but the principles remain the same. Pretty much all deep cycle batteries use lead-acid technology but it is stored inside the battery in different packages. All AGM batteries are considered maintenance free since the cells are sealed, preventing any leak outside the battery. In the past, you were supposed to vent your batteries because, during every recharge, some acid would react to produce hydrogen gas, which is explosive. Today, the risk of a battery leaking or producing fumes is reduced. There is also another type of deep cycle batteries, the gel type for instance, which is completely sealed. These batteries are pretty good at holding their performance when going through constant charging. Very importantly, ask about the warranty and what are the specific steps to follow in case you need to enforce it in the future. Some manufacturers will make it a hassle if you are not well informed about the conditions of your warranty. If you like what you read check out more help info about the best RV battery review and the best RV surge protector review.