The 10 Best RV Batteries For Boondocking 2025

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Last Updated on February 25, 2025 by Paul Clayton

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The 10 Best RV Batteries for Boondocking

Boondocking, or dry camping, is an increasingly popular way to enjoy the great outdoors with all the comforts of home. But to make the most of this experience, you need reliable power. This is where the Best RV Batteries for Boondocking come into play.

Key Takeaways:

- Boondocking: Off-grid RV travel, self-sufficient camping.
- RV Batteries: Power essentials off-grid, crucial for boondocking.
- Types: Lead-Acid, AGM, Lithium, each with pros/cons.
- Lithium Batteries: Efficient, long lifespan, despite higher cost.
- Solar Panels: Sustainable charging solution for off-grid RVs.
- Power Needs: Determine battery capacity based on the appliance usage.
- Battery Monitoring: Prevent complete depletion and prolong battery lifespan.

These batteries are designed to provide reliable and long-lasting power for all your RV needs when you are far from hookups.

The best RV batteries for boondocking are crucial to any successful trip. They power your lights and appliances and ensure your RV’s systems run smoothly.

Are you looking for the best RV battery for boondocking or dry camping? If so, you are in the right place.

For today’s review, we’ve chosen ten batteries that we consider the best for RV dry camping and boondocking. Since choosing an RV battery is tricky, we’ve crafted a handy buying guide to help you.

Let’s get started with our reviews without further ado!

Best RV Batteries For Boondocking

1. D34M Battery by Optima

Summary

First on our list is the D34M battery by Optima, which is a monster in starting capacity. With its 750 cold cranking amps, this battery shouldn’t have problems giving your RV engine the necessary kick at cold temperatures.

This battery’s cranking capacity isn’t the only good thing about it. It also boasts 55Ah of C20 capacity, which is decent, especially for small and mid-sized RVs.

As an AGM battery, the D34M is spill-proof and maintenance-free. This battery can be mounted in any position thanks to its spill-proof design. Optima has also designed it to resist extreme temperatures and vibrations.

As for the downsides, we can note this battery’s price and weight of 43.5 pounds, which is quite heavy compared to other batteries on the list.

Pros:

There is plenty of starting power.
It has good battery capacity.
Highly resistant to vibrations and extreme temperatures.

Cons:

Pricey.
Weighs 43.5 pounds.

2. Odyssey PC680 AGM Battery

Summary

The Odyssey PC680 AGM battery has the same spill-proof and durable design as the Optima D34M battery, but it is made with lightness and compactness in mind.

Weighing 15.4 pounds and measuring 7.15 x 3 x 6.65 inches, this is our list’s smallest and lightest RV battery. Those with a smaller RV or who do not have much cargo capacity to spare will probably appreciate its smallness.

On the other hand, the PC680 battery obviously can’t boast as much capacity as the D34M. It has 170 cold-cranking amps, which are decent but nowhere near the 750 of the D34M. Plus, it has a smaller capacity of 16Ah.

So, overall, this battery is a very suitable option for users of small RVs.

Pros:

Lightweight.
Compact.
Resistant to extreme temperatures and vibrations.

Cons:

Relatively low battery capacity.

3. 100Ah AGM Battery by Universal Power Group

Summary

Plenty of cranking amps are nice, but not every RVer buys a battery for engine cranking. Some are just looking for energy storage. This 100Ah AGM battery by Universal Power Group is a perfect option for such people.

100Ah isn’t the most powerful battery on the market, but it’s enough to power several electrical devices requiring DC. This battery should be sufficient for even large RVs with much stuff, not to mention smaller RVs.

As an AGM battery, this unit shares its benefits with the previous batteries—namely, it is spill-proof, maintenance-free, can be mounted in any position, and is shock—and vibration-resistant.

On the other hand, this battery isn’t as heat-resistant as others on the list. It’s designed to be stored at 5-104 degrees Fahrenheit and has operational charge and discharge temperatures of 32-104 and 5-113 degrees, respectively. And 104-113 degrees isn’t too hot for a battery.

Plus, this thing weighs 64 pounds, which isn’t surprising, given this battery’s power capacity.

Pros:

100Ah capacity.
Shock- and vibration-resistant.
It is pretty resistant to cold.

Cons:

Weighs about 64 pounds.
It’s not the best for hot temperatures.

4. VMAX V35-857 Battery by VMAXTANKS

Summary

The VMAX V35-857 battery by VMAXTANKS offers good cranking and power capacities for little money. 35Ah of 20Hr capacity and 300 cold cranking amps are great for the price that VMAXTANKS asks for.

It weighs 25 pounds and is a mere 7.7 x 5 x 6.1 inches.

Overall, judging by these numbers, this battery would be suitable for a mid-sized RV.

Aside from that, the V35-857 battery can boast a very good temperature resistance. It has a discharge temp range of -4-140 degrees, a charge range of 14-140 degrees, and a storage range of -4-140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pros:

- Relatively inexpensive.
- It has good battery capacity and cranking amps.

Good resistance to temperatures and vibrations.

5. Renogy’s 100Ah Deep-cycle AGM Battery

Summary

Up next on our review is Renogy’s 100Ah deep-cycle AGM battery. This battery is very similar to the Universal Power Group 100Ah battery we reviewed earlier, but it seems to be aimed at more moderate usage.

Renogy doesn’t indicate any vibration resistance for this battery, which may mean it isn’t too shock-resistant.

However, given that this battery is designed for marine use, it should resist vibrations; it’s just surprising that Renogy didn’t mention it anywhere.

Other than that, this RV battery is very similar to the UPG 100Ah battery.

Of course, as an AGM battery, the V35-857 has all the constructional benefits of the previous batteries.

In particular, their operating temperatures are very close, though the discharge temperature range in the Renogy battery is 5-122 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a bit more than in the UPG battery.

Pros:

100Ah capacity.
Sealed and maintenance-free.
Decent resistance to cold temperatures.

Cons:

Heavy and bulky.
Steep price.
It’s not too suitable for hot temperatures.

6. WindyNation 100AH AGM Deep Cycle Battery

Summary

Yet another 100Ah RV battery is on our list! This battery is more or less similar to the Renogy battery we’ve just reviewed, but without the marine orientation.

In addition, at the time this material was written, this battery didn’t have a price tag as steep as the Renogy battery.

So, if you don’t need a marine-oriented battery (which you probably don’t), this one will be a better choice.

The specs of the WindyNation battery are similar to those of the other 100Ah batteries we’ve examined so far.

They share their high capacity, AGM design, big size, heaviness, good resistance to cold temperatures, and not-so-good resistance to high temperatures.

WindyNation boasts that the 99.995% pure virgin lead allows for a meager discharge rate, but we can’t compare this battery’s discharge with that of others due to a lack of exact figures.

This battery seems a good option for smoother rides since it is not mainly designed to be shock-resistant.

Pros:

100Ah capacity.
Sealed, maintenance-free design.
There seems to be a meager discharge rate.
Good resistance to cold temperatures.

Cons:

Big and heavy.
Rather expensive.
Poor resistance to hot temperatures.

7. Odyssey PC925 Battery

Summary

Remember the lightweight and compact Odyssey PC680 battery we reviewed above? Well, if you like everything about it apart from its starting and power capacities, then maybe the PC925 battery will be a better option for you.

The PC925 battery boasts cold cranking amps of 330 and a 20-hour power capacity of 28Ah, making it suitable for small—to medium-sized RVs.

At the same time, this battery still isn’t too heavy – 28 pounds – though heavier than the PC680 battery. The same goes for the size.

That’s basically where the difference between the two Odyssey batteries ends. They have the same number of cycles, non-spill design, and maintenance-free design.

Pros:

Good starting and power capacities.
Excellent tolerance to temperatures, especially to cold
Spill-free and vibration-resistant design.

Cons:

Rather expensive.

8. Optima D31M Deep Cycle Battery

Summary

The Optima D34M battery had a remarkable starting capacity—750 cold-cranking amps isn’t a joke. However, the Optima D31 M battery pushes this number even further.

The 900 cold-cranking amps this battery offers should be enough to start most, if not all, RV engines. Moreover, this battery will be excellent for use in cold weather, not to mention warmer conditions.

This battery also has a higher power capacity—75Ah versus the 55Ah of the D34M. It’s not the most we’ve seen on the list, but 75Ah is a decent amount of power.

On the other hand, this battery is heavier, larger, and more expensive than the D34M. Thus, the Optima D31M battery would require a decently sized RV and a big budget.

Pros:

Huge starting capacity paired with good power capacity.
Highly resistant to extreme temperatures and vibrations.

Cons:

Very expensive.
Heavy.

9. Battle Born Lithium-Ion (LiFePO4) Battery

Summary

Well, what you see now is the priciest battery on our list. Being a LiFePO4 battery, this unit has many advantages over all the other batteries on the list, but it comes at a very high price. However, this battery is worth it for those who need its benefits.

Lithium batteries generally have many benefits, and we’ll touch upon them later. However, the key advantages of the Battle Born Batteries 100Ah RV battery are its long lifetime and weight.

This battery is designed to deliver 3000-5000 cycles, more than any other battery on the list. With a power capacity 100Ah, it is half the weight of AGM batteries with the same capacity.

And this is just the surface of the benefits this battery offers. This battery offers many other advantages associated with efficiency and lifetime for a relatively astronomical price.

Pros:

A lifetime of 3000-5000 cycles.
100Ah capacity and 200A surge output.
It is very lightweight for its capacity.

Cons:

It’s the priciest battery on the list.

10. NPP NP6 225Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery

Summary

The NPP NP-6 225Ah battery is our list’s best AGM deep cycle battery. For a very steep price, this battery offers excellent power capacity and superb resistance to shock and high and low temperatures.

Surprisingly, this battery weighs just 65 pounds, as much as batteries half its capacity weigh. This is a plus for RVs with few spare cargo capacities left.

So, if you are looking for a high-capacity battery without the aim of cranking amps, the NP-6 battery may be an excellent choice for your RV.

Pros:

225Ah capacity.
Resistant to shock and temperatures.
Surprisingly light for the capacity.

Cons:

It’s a very steep price tag.

Things to look for in the Best RV Battery for Boondocking/Dry Camping

Batteries are complex electrical devices with many technical aspects to them. To make the buying process a little bit clearer for you, we will now describe the things that matter the most in them, starting with their type.

What is a Deep-Cycle Battery?

Before moving on to the types and features of RV batteries, let’s revise what deep-cycle batteries are.

Deep-cycle batteries are batteries designed to be deeply discharged regularly.

In other words, they allow you to use most of their capacity in contrast with starting or cranking automotive batteries designed to deliver a small part of their capacity for cranking vehicle engines.

Like any battery, deep-cycle batteries have an anode (a negative element) and a cathode (a positive element).

In addition, all batteries have some electrolyte, which allows energy to flow between the positive and negative elements.

Types of RV Batteries for Boondocking

Deep-cycle RV batteries can be classified into four types:

Flooded lead-acid.
Absorbed glass mat (or AGM).
Gel.
Lithium-ion.

Each battery type has advantages and disadvantages, so let’s look better at them. We cannot say there is a best RV battery type out there – each has its uses, which you’ll see clearly once you read their pros and cons.

However, due to downsides, flooded lead-acids are the least suitable for boondocking/dry camping. None of the other types can be used for either.

Flooded Lead-Acid RV Batteries

This kind of battery is built from lead “plates” or “grids” immersed inside a liquid electrolyte; hence the name “flooded.”

The pros of flooded lead-acid batteries are the following:

Inexpensive and easily obtainable.
Reliable, robust, and tolerant of abuse and overcharging.
Low internal impedance.
Capable of delivering very high voltages.
If stored without electrolytes, have an indefinite shelf life.
It can be left on float charge or trickle for long periods.

On the other hand, flooded lead-acid batteries have the following downsides:

Heaviness and large size.
30-50% of typical usable capacity.
70-85% charge efficiency.
It cannot be charged fast.
5% of self-discharge per month, which is high.
Require you to top off the electrolyte monthly.
Tend to overheat when charging.
Generate poisonous gas when charging and thus need regular top-ups with distilled water.
300-500-cycle lifetime.
It must be stored fully charged.
Do not tolerate freezing.

Gel RV Batteries

Gel RV batteries have a viscous gel electrolyte, which makes them much safer and easier to use than flooded lead-acid batteries. However, there are some significant downsides to know about as well.

The pros of gel RV batteries are:

The electrolyte doesn’t spill easily.
The gel cells are sealed, and there are no off-gases during use or charging.
Require no maintenance.
Low self-discharge of 1-3% per month.
85-90% charge efficiency.
Good tolerance to heat.

The downsides of gel batteries are:

Rather costly.
Do not tolerate fast charging.
Sensitive to overcharging.
A specific charging profile that differs from other battery types is required.

AGM RV Batteries

Absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries are technically sealed lead-acid batteries. Developed in the 1970s, they are relatively new yet prevalent in RVs.

Unlike a flooded lead-acid battery, all liquid electrolytes in AGM batteries are soaked into fiberglass mats, which makes this kind of battery spill-free.

AGM RV batteries have other advantages as well. Among them are:

It can be charged much faster than gel or lead-acid batteries.
60-80% usable capacity.
The sealed AGM cells do not off-gas during use or charging.
Require no maintenance.
Low self-discharge of 1-3% per month.
95% charge efficiency.
Resistant to freezing.

AGM batteries have two downsides as well:

It is costlier than flooded lead-acid but not as costly as gel batteries.
Sensitive to overcharging.

Lithium-ion RV Batteries

In lithium-ion batteries, lithium ions move between the cathode and anode, usually in some lithium salt solution that isn’t based on water. Therefore, lithium-ion batteries are very different from other types of batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are available in various formulations, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In RVing, lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4) are one of the most popular types due to their stability, longevity, and safety.

Overall, the advantages of lithium-ion batteries are:

80-100% usable capacity.
99% charge efficiency.
2,000-5,000 cycles.
High energy density.
Accept very high charge rates, higher than in other battery types.
Don’t suffer from battery memory.
Require no maintenance.
Lose minimal charge at low temperatures.
Low self-discharge of 1-2% per month. During the first 24 hours, the discharge can reach 5%. The discharge is the lowest if the battery is stored partially charged.
It can be stored with a low charge without damage.
Light and compact.

The downsides of lithium-ion batteries are:

The priciest up-front. However, it is inexpensive in the long run, given the many cycles.
Some lithium-ion formulations are thermally unstable and pose a fire hazard.
It cannot be charged at low temperatures (near freezing or lower).
Complex battery management systems are required for safe operation.

Essential Things to look for in RV Boondocking Batteries

Capacity

Capacity is the most crucial spec in any battery. It is measured in ampere-hours (Ah) @ some period. Ah indicates how much electricity the battery can deliver for an hour. For example, a 200Ah battery can deliver 200A for one hour.

The period indicates the length of time over which the battery has been discharged for testing. Usually, the testing is done for 20 hours at 5-amp loads.

Calculating the energy needs of your devices and appliances will help you determine the proper capacity for your RV battery.

Don’t just add up all their energy needs – consider which ones you will use simultaneously and which one at a time.

After you have the number, add some extra room so that your devices consume only about 50-60% of the battery’s total capacity. This will prevent too-deep discharges, which can shorten the battery life.

Voltage

Voltage is also critical in batteries. Typically, RV batteries have 12V DC (direct current) voltage, but there are also other battery voltages.

When selecting voltage, ensure it corresponds to the voltage of the equipment you want to hook your battery to. Otherwise, your devices won’t get the required power or will blow up from excessive current.

Cranking AMPs

Cranking amps measure the current that batteries provide to start the engine. They are usually measured by testing the battery’s performance for 30 seconds with at least 1.2V per cell. Two-in-one deep-cycle and starting batteries usually have very high cranking amps.

This metric is helpful if you, for example, have a motorhome and will be using the battery to start its engine. But if you only use the battery to power your appliances, cranking amps are of little relevance to you.

This measurement has two main types: cold cranking amps (CCA, the amount of current provided at 0 degrees Fahrenheit) and regular cranking amps (at 0-30 degrees Fahrenheit).

There are also hot cranking amps (at 80 degrees Fahrenheit), but they are rarely used nowadays since automotive industry requirements are based on cold cranking camps.

The proper CCA in the battery will depend on the power requirements of your vehicle.

Depth of Discharge & Charging Cycles

The depth of discharge indicates how deeply the battery is depleted. When the battery is fully depleted, its depth of discharge is 100%, and when it’s fully charged, it’s 0%.

Depth of discharge is crucial since it heavily impacts the number of charge/discharge cycles a battery can undergo over its lifetime. Frequently going deep into the battery will significantly shorten its lifespan.

Due to this, when indicating the number of cycles, manufacturers indicate the depth of discharge at which that number can be achieved, e.g., 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge.

Going deeper too often will decrease the battery’s lifespan and vice versa.

Resistance to Vibrations

A vital consideration is the battery’s ability to resist vibrations. A solidly built battery is much more likely to withstand the shocks of an RV journey, especially if it is long.

Thus, get a shock-resistant battery that will allow you to avoid wasting money on repairs.

Resistance to Extreme Temperatures

The ability of the battery to deliver power at low and high temperatures is also essential.

This isn’t something everyone will need, but you should probably go for a temperature-resistant battery even if you don’t need it. Otherwise, if the weather suddenly changes drastically, you may be unable to use your RV battery.

How can I make my RV Battery Last Longer?

Extending the lifespan of your RV battery can significantly improve your recreational vehicle’s performance and prevent unexpected disruptions during your travels.

Regular charging is the essential strategy for making your RV battery last longer. Lead-acid batteries, commonly used in RVs, naturally self-discharge at about 2% per month.

To counteract this, ensure you charge the batteries every week or fortnight, irrespective of usage. Consistent charging can mitigate self-discharge effects, enhancing the battery’s longevity and reliability.

Final Words

In conclusion, the best RV batteries for boondocking are crucial for successful off-grid RV travel and a self-sufficient camping experience. The choice of battery type, whether Lead-Acid, AGM, or Lithium, should be made considering their pros and cons.

Lithium batteries stand out for their efficiency and long lifespan despite their higher initial cost. Solar panels can be integrated as a sustainable charging solution for these off-grid RVs.

The power needs of each individual or group will determine the battery capacity required based on the usage of various appliances. Regular battery monitoring can help prevent complete battery depletion and prolong its lifespan.

Therefore, selecting the best RV batteries for boondocking requires careful assessment of power needs, investment capacity, and a commitment to regular monitoring for optimal power management.

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