Replacement Batteries For Tab 400 2021

RayJim
RayJim Member Posts: 146
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
Trying to decide between these two batteries has anyone had any experience with either? I don't know why they have a $100 price difference.

$269 for one
MIGHTY MAX BATTERY 6V 230AH Dual Terminal SLA Replacement Battery Compatible with BCI Group GC2 Deep Cycle AGM Scrubber MAX4093450 - The Home Depot

$369 for one
Duracell Ultra | 225AH | 6V AGM | Golf Cart & Floor Scrubber Battery | Deep Cycle | Group Size GC2 - SLIGC6VAGM at Batteries Plus
2021 T@B Boondock 400. 2021 Toyota SR5 V6

Comments

  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,593
    edited December 2025
    Lets get this out of the way first:
    For the 500-700 dollar price of these dual 6v batteries, you can get about 135 usable amp hours.
    For this single LiTime 230 amp hour lithium battery, you can get more than 200 usable amp hours for only 519 dollars.
    I'm not sure on the difference in price in the Duracell. I have noticed in the last year or so, the Duracell 12V Group 24 sized deep cycle battery still advertises itself as an "80 amp hour" battery, where in many instances, other Group 24 sized batteries are "shrinking", often less than 65 amp hours.  These are mostly the "auto store Marine/RV hybrid type batteries".  So, even though the Duracell Group 24 battery can be more expensive than a Group 24 100 amp hour battery, if owners are dead set on staying with the AGM, the Duracell seems like you get what you pay for, which is the proper amount of amp hours that "Group 24" deep batteries used to have.
    Many owners in the Forums have also installed "VMAX Tank" dual 6V batteries, and they fall in between the two prices you mention in your posts at 289.  This is an Amazon link to them.

    Here are other Forum threads with recommendations with examples of other dual 6V AGM's owners have used, including the VMax.
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
  • RayJim
    RayJim Member Posts: 146
    Thank you for taking the time to respond my question and provide the associated links. I will make the change to lithium the next battery change out, but for now will stay with AGM's.
    2021 T@B Boondock 400. 2021 Toyota SR5 V6
  • donmontalvo
    donmontalvo Member Posts: 187
    Just gonna leave this here...

    Don Montalvo | Retired Veteran | Full time boondocker
    Camper: nuCamp T@B 320S BBC | 12V 2x100Ah LiFePO4 | 600W Solar
    Tow Vehicle: Jeep JLU Rubicon | 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 | 200W Solar
    https://revkit.com/donmontalvo/ | https://donmontalvo.com
  • manyman297
    manyman297 Member Posts: 1,434
    Definitely stay away from AGM at this point. 5 years ago it made sense to keep using them but the price of lithium batteries has so drastically fallen that it just doesn’t make sense anymore. I have the LiTime batteries the past couple of seasons. The extra amp hours coupled with solar make these hard to beat for the price. 
    2021 400 BD
    2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 
  • RayJim
    RayJim Member Posts: 146
    I considered using lithium, just don't feel comfortable with one of those batteries under my bed while I'm sleeping. 
    2021 T@B Boondock 400. 2021 Toyota SR5 V6
  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,740
    edited December 2025
    You may be confusing Lithium Phosphate and Lithium-Ion. We use LiFePO4's in our T@B's which are very safe. On the other hand, even AGM batteries can off gas under the right (wrong) situation. About the only justification for AGM is continuous extreme cold conditions, but even then a heated LiFePO4 might be a better alternative.
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

  • RayJim
    RayJim Member Posts: 146
    edited December 2025
    They recommend not charging your batteries in a wooden box including LiFePro.
    2021 T@B Boondock 400. 2021 Toyota SR5 V6
  • ckjs
    ckjs Member Posts: 137
    edited December 2025
    RayJim said:
    They recommend not charging your batteries in a wooden box including LiFePro.

    This engineer is curious: which “they” says this?

    LiFePO4 chemistry has none of the “thermal runaway” characteristics of lithium ion batteries; the latter are the type which can burn up and are nearly impossible to extinguish

    I’ve never seen a manufacturer, seller, or internet “influencer” of LFP batteries recommend against using them in enclosed spaces.

    I have seen people be confused in thinking that LFP have the overheating risks that Li-ion batteries do.
    Charles & Judy, Santa Cruz, CA
    2018 T@B 320 CS-S; Alde 3020; 4 cyl 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx XT
  • Grumpy_G
    Grumpy_G Member Posts: 750
    To answer the OP's actual question, Mighty Max batteries are made in Thailand while the Duracell are made by East Penn (AFAIK) in the US. 
    Most people on this forum do not use lead-acid batteries anymore so I'd venture nobody has any hands-on experience. 
  • RayJim
    RayJim Member Posts: 146
    Read and share your thoughts.

    Lithium Battery Guidelines for Installarion
    2021 T@B Boondock 400. 2021 Toyota SR5 V6
  • qhumberd
    qhumberd Administrator, Moderator Posts: 845
    @RayJim Thanks for the link and Happy Holidays!  I am glad to see what other countries are doing about RV batteries and lithium in particular. I was not aware that there was a requirement for enclosure and for venting. Hoping someone with more knowledge can explain this further, as all the information I have read indicates that gas venting is not required. Not sure of the reasons. And I discarded my enclosed box in my 400 when I switched to the LiTime battery.
    2019  T@B400 Boondock Lite "Todd"
    2016 Toyota Tundra 5.7 Crew Cab
  • Horigan
    Horigan Member Posts: 880
    That article is focused on lithium ion batteries, not LiFePO4 batteries that typically go in trailers. Those requirements, including venting, are appropriate for lithium ion batteries. 
    Rich
    2019 T@b 400
    2025 Toyota Highlander 2.4L Turbo
    Bellingham WA
  • Grumpy_G
    Grumpy_G Member Posts: 750
    There are numerous battery chemistries that use lithium and technically all of them are lithium ion batteries. In the US "lithium ion" typically refers to lithium cobalt oxide batteries which are the ones that have spectacular thermal runaways. Poking around Australian websites it appears they generally refer to lithium iron phosphate batteries simply as lithium ion. It's fair to assume the article refers to LiFePo batteries because that is what is typically used in RVs. I'd also assume that whoever wrote the government regulations has no clue about the specifics of the batteries and just did a copy/paste/edit of what was used for lead-acid batteries. ;) 
  • donmontalvo
    donmontalvo Member Posts: 187
    It’s almost as confusing as HAM operators talking about Ground Plane vs Grounding. LOL

    Don Montalvo | Retired Veteran | Full time boondocker
    Camper: nuCamp T@B 320S BBC | 12V 2x100Ah LiFePO4 | 600W Solar
    Tow Vehicle: Jeep JLU Rubicon | 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 | 200W Solar
    https://revkit.com/donmontalvo/ | https://donmontalvo.com
  • elbolillo
    elbolillo Member Posts: 562
    RayJim said:
    I considered using lithium, just don't feel comfortable with one of those batteries under my bed while I'm sleeping. 
    Just curious, are you comfortable with lead acid batteries under your bed? If so, why do you consider them safe but not LiFePo4 batteries?

    _____________________________________________________
    Ken / 2023 Tab 400 “La Bolita” (39,000+ miles) / 2024 Toyota Sequoia

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