Battery management and power systems are crucial in Overlanding since they are your only mobile power supply. While Overlanding, it is expected you will be powering electronics like tablets, phones, refrigerators, radios, inverters, light bars, and GPS units. You should be wary of the type of battery you use since all these appliances will require recharging once in a while.
Best Battery Choices
The ideal battery choices are what every overlander wishes to have as they head out for their exploration activities. These are durable batteries that do not drain easily, are quick to charge, and serve you for a long time. Typically, Overlanding happens in places where one cannot easily access electricity. Your only source of power is the battery which is why it should be a quality battery.
The battery could easily become over-taxed due to an increased number of electrical appliances. Having a good battery will make your trip memorable. It will serve the purpose and ensure everything electronic is still working and has power.
But how will you know which batteries are perfect for Overlanding? Here you will discover the proven battery choices for Overlanding but let’s start off with our three reputable choices.
Three of the best batteries for Overlanding include:
- Battle Born Battery
- Battle Born GC2 Battery
- Weize Battery
Now let’s take a closer look at these batteries and why we know they are the right choice for your next overlanding expedition.
1. Battle Born Battery LiFePO4
The Battle Born Deep Cycle Battery 12V and 100Ah is the pinnacle of the lithium-ion battery. The battery weighs around 31 pounds, and it can give you battery and power anxiety relief. Probably it is time to upgrade your adventure power and consider these LiFePO4 batteries. The battery has a high life expectancy of around 3000-5000 cycles. It also gives a 100 Amp continuous current, half a second surge for any higher loads, and 200 Amp surge current.
These lithium batteries can charge Shore power or solar panels to charge the handheld devices.
Discharge and Charge
This battery comes with a pulse current of 200Ah and a steady current 100Ah. You can practice the automatic cell balancing for the optimal charge that can be discharged without any glitches. With about 80% of energy still in the battery after 3,000 cycles, the lifetime of this battery could be somewhere between 3,000 to 5,000 cycles.
Warranty
This is one of the top reasons why many people decide to go for the Fight Born batteries over others. They come with a 10-year guarantee which is an assurance you won’t find in many other commodities. These batteries were built to last for a long time.
Temperatures
These batteries can be charged at -4 to 57 degrees Celsius (25 to 135 Fahrenheit). They can be discharged at -20 to 57 degrees Celsius (-4 to 135 Fahrenheit) while using a BMS (Internal Management System). The BMS is also responsible for protecting the battery against defects or other dangerous situations.
2. Battle Born Life PO4 GC2 12V Battery
It is a LiFePO4 substitute battery for the GC2 plastic acid battery. Update your Overlanding truck battery bank. If you initially used 6-volt GC2, then here is a chance to use a 12-volt deep-cycle lithium-ion battery. The Battle Born GC2 battery also comes with 12 volts and 100 amp-hour, beating most of the Overlanding batteries.
Easy Installation
The battery weighs about 30 lbs and does not require additional or new equipment to run your RV, trailer, or golf cart. The battery can be easily installed without the need for hydrogen gas. You will also not need to have terminal corrosion indoors, which technically reduces your battery bank.
Charging Speed
The battery’s output voltage is flat and enhances the performance of your device. This battery can charge five times faster than the typical lead-acid battery. The other great advantage of this battery and why overlanders love it is because it can last up to ten times more than the lead-acid battery. It is perfect for unattended storage.
Warranty
Everyone loves purchasing only long-lasting commodities. The Battle Born GC2 battery comes with a 10-year warranty. Technically, you are given ten years to return the battery in case of any defects or faults. That means the manufacturer trusts their product to last for a very long time before they start getting any problems.
The battery also has a life cycle of around 3000 to 5000 cycles. If used well, it can serve you for a very long time in your Overlanding itineraries.
3. Weize Battery
The Weize 12V 100AH Battery is a lightweight Sealed Lead Acid battery. Apart from Overlanding the battery can be used for other purposes since it comes with 12V 100AH. However, it is ideal for outdoor camping and home environments due to its constant stream of power. You achieve maximum results of the battery when used in indoor and enclosed settings.
If you are looking for the best battery for your RV or Overlanding truck, then the Weize 12V 100Ah is what you need. It is among the best overall lithium battery for your outdoor truck. The battery does not come with acid inside, which means you can install it in any direction without worrying about leakages. This battery weighs just 27.5 pounds which is way lighter than the lead-acid battery. It supplies a cumulative charge of around 100 amps and 12 V, just like its name suggests.
Weize Battery Life Cycle
Weize battery has a life cycle of 2000 to 7000 cycles, but this highly depends on the depth of the average cycle. The battery comes with an in-built BMS (Battery Management System). BMS prevents the battery from overloading, overcharging, and overheating.
Precautions with the Weize Battery
Do not link this battery in series with other batteries as this will weaken its lifetime and even cause severe damages. Weize battery is safe and very practical for any RV you might be having. That is because the battery does not have any harmful metals or acids such as mercury, lead, or cadmium. With this battery, you do not need periodic maintenance. Weize battery comes with a shelf life of over a year. A majority of lead-acid batteries have a short shelf life. They contain a six-month shelf life only.
The Battery Management System
A BMS (Battery Management System) is typically the brain of the battery cycle. The BMS defends the battery against common battery failures such as ground failure and volatility. It monitors the power withdrawn from the battery and protects your battery cells from harmful working conditions. The LiFePO4 can is easily installed since it does not have any acid. These are the perfect batteries for campers, RV, off-road, golf carts, and other outdoor applications.
Suitable Voltages
The batteries are suitable for systems with a high voltage such as 12, 24, 48, and 36 volts. To avoid damaging the battery, consider connecting this battery with another Weize battery and not other brands. In case mishandling occurs during charging or discharging, you can be sure that the lithium phosphate cells are not combustible and are pretty stable in short circuit conditions or overcharging. The battery can still work perfectly even at high temperatures and not decompose.
Upon any abuse, its phosphate-based cathode material will not burn. The battery is also not vulnerable to thermal runaway. One of the top pros of this battery is its lightness. It is pretty light compared to other Overlanding batteries.
Understanding The Criteria
As you look for Overlanding batteries, there are some things you have to consider to make sure you have the perfect battery for your itineraries. That means you have to study different batteries to see whether they fit your power requirements, among other things.
Consider Battery Maintenance
If you are a frequent user of these batteries, you need to look at the maintenance of the battery you want to purchase. You should know the power status of your battery before you embark on that overland trip. However, the good thing with these lithium batteries is that no maintenance is required.
The responsibilities and maintenance costs are minute with these batteries. Both off and on-season, you will not worry about the maintenance of the battery.
How Powerful Should Your Overland Battery Be?
One of the most crucial things you must consider when looking for an Overlanding battery is the power requirement. It largely depends on the type of vehicle you have for Overlanding. You could try batteries that are 51.2 V, 25.6V, 12.8V as you look for your ideal batteries. You could also look at the amperage, among other measurements, before buying the batteries.
How Much Would You Pay For Your Overland Battery?
Of course, just like anything else you want to buy, you have to consider the price. Typically, there are several battery types such as GEL, AGM, GEL, and LiFePO4. You have to look at the various budgets for these batteries. Even though lithium batteries have a higher initial cost, they are low maintenance when considering their efficiency and life cycle.
Switching your batteries less categorically means fewer labor and replacement costs. The lithium batteries’ properties make them much more valuable than their counterpart lead-acid batteries. That means if you want long-term investment in your batteries, go for the lithium batteries.
Final Thoughts On Overlanding Batteries
If you are looking for the best battery for your Overlanding truck, these are the top batteries. Consider them and also look at the individual battery qualities. They should suit your Overlanding requirements.