RV Podcast #316 – Lithium vs AGM batteries for the RV: Which are the Best?

When it comes to RV power these days, it's a battle of Lithium vs AGM batteries. If you are trying to decide between the two, we can make it easy. A new study shows one is clearly the best for RV boondockers and those seeking reliable power. It's lithium. By a long shot. Lithium batteries have been all the rage among RVers for several years now. But the one criticism some in the industry had was that lithium didn’t like cold weather. And while that is true – all batteries are stressed by cold temperatures – a new white paper study released today shows that when you compare lithium vs AGM batteries, lithium actually out-performs traditional AGM batteries even in extremely cold weather. And in warm weather, they beat AGM lead-acid batteries even more. In fact, in all environments and under temperature variations from hot to way below freezing, lithium batteries deliver more for longer periods of time than their lead-acid rivals. That is major news and we’re delighted to break it in this episode of the RV Podcast. The lithium vs AGM batteries study gives more credence to the “Lead is Dead” slogan started by Battleborn Batteries, the author of the white paper, and this week on the RV Podcast, we are joined by Battleborn’s top leadership team to discuss the findings and what it means to RVers. Plus, Jennifer and I have lots of RV news to share, some helpful information about staying overnight in an RV in an interstate rest area and a great off the beaten path report from our friends the Burketts. Jennifer joins me now on Episode 316 of the RV Podcast, being released on October 14, 2020. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. The Interview on Lithium vs AGM batters can be heard about 18:00 in. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. Show Notes for Episode #316 of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We hope you have been getting out there and enjoying some fabulous fall camping. This is such a great time of the year. After last week's visit to the Michigan Upper Peninsula, Jennifer and I are heading out this week for the Lake Michigan shoreline along the Southwestern Part of the state, hoping to see the fall foliage that way. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Hurricane Delta comes ashore in Louisiana, leaving flooding, strong winds across many southern states Yet another hurricane hit the coast of Louisiana last weekend, leaving thousands without power, and people everywhere from Louisiana through Georgia and even the Carolinas bracing for potential flash floods and strong winds. Hurricane Delta is the tenth storm to make landfall this season, according and the fifth hurricane to make landfall. Many campgrounds and national park sites in the path of this storm closed, and it is not clear yet how severely damaged they may be. The 2020 camping season is surely one none of us will soon forget, with pandemic restrictions, ranging wildfires, dangerous winds that struck the midwest, and hurricanes. Lots of hurricanes. To help you monitor emergency radio bands and stay safe, we want to again urge you to visit this page to see a story we did not too long ago on apps that could help. Toddler suffers second degree burns after running off trail and falling into Yellowstone National Park thermal area A three-year-old was flown to a hospital with severe burns last weekend after slipping into a thermal area at Yellowstone National Park. The accident happened after the toddler took off running, went off trail, then slipped and fell into a small thermal area. The toddler had second degree burns on his lower body and back. He is the second person to be injured by going off trail and falling into a thermal area at Yellowstone this year. Thieves are stealing guns from unlocked vehicles at North Carolina Outer Banks area campgrounds If you carry a gun, and plan on camping anywhere near North Carolina's Outer Banks, authorities are warning a thief may be after your gun. In the last month 15 pistols, many loaded, were stolen from RVERS who brought their weapon camping. The thieves generally strike at night, when everyone is sleeping, and according to authorities they simply open an unlocked vehicle door and find the gun under the seat, in the glove box or the center console. According to one story, many of the thefts were from Camp Hatteras in Rodanthe. If you are packing as you camp, be sure to lock your vehicle. Last year we addressed a reader question about carrying firearms on a podcast. To read it, scroll to reader comments and click here. Maine state park campgrounds set attendance record Maine state park campgrounds set a record this camping season, despite opening two to four weeks later than normal. About 270,000 visitors camped in Maine's state parks so far this year, setting records. Also Yellowstone National Park set an attendance record for September, with numbers up 21 percent from 2019. Everywhere we look, more people are camping during the pandemic, and campgrounds are not only crowded, but sometimes near impossible to get in. If you decide to skip trying to get in a campground, don't give up on camping! Instead check out our boondocking guide on ways you can camp without a campground here. Snowbirds flocking to Vancouver to find place to stay since U.S. border is closed With the Canadian-American border closed to all but essential travel, many Canadian snowbirds who winter in their RV in southern U.S. states each year are finding themselves with winter quickly approaching and nowhere to go. Now reports are starting to surface that many are flocking to Vancouver. There campgrounds and RV parks are completely booked with many keeping waiting lists in case of a cancellation - something unheard of in normal winters. We've shared about the situation before, and how some groups are working with the hotel industry in Canada to find places for these folks to go when winter hits. To see the latest story, click here. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping RV PODCAST QUESTION OF THE WEEK - Overnight stays in Interstate Rest Areas Kathy posted this question recently on our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group: QUESTION: I just heard today that there is no overnight parking allowed in Rest Area’s? Is this true? ANSWER: We see this question surface a lot and it’s a complicated issue that varies state-by-state. Let us say this, though: If you are exhausted, pull over at a rest area and sleep. That’s not camping. That’s resting. We have personally slept overnight in rest areas all over the country and have never once been told we had to move on. The members of our RV Lifestyle Facebook community have lots to say on this issue, and a couple of resources to pass along… which we will link to in the shownotes for this episode on the blog at rvlifestyle.com/316. Here’s an assortment of their answers: Another Kathy said: I think camping is different than staying overnight for traveling, no one is going to tell a tired person to continue driving Donna: Camping no- but stop in vehicle and rest or. In camper ok. but no slides out and no bbq- cooking!! No side tents. 8 hr maximum Jeff: You are allowed to rest for some number of hours depending on the state. Usually somewhere between 8-16 hours. Usually online info is available Derek: I have parked overnight in rest areas all over this country and never run into this issue. This is precisely what they are for. Cheryl: Some rest areas have signs saying no overnight parking. A highway patrolman told me those signs just make it easier to run off people who stop to party (weird). He said by all means, stop, sleep. Do not drive tired. Just don’t put your slides out. Nellie: The only time we ever had any trouble staying overnight at a state rest area was in Wyoming several years ago. It was outside of Gillette. Some guy there literally ran us out of there. We weren't planning on staying, just stopped to stretch, but he wasn't having anything to do with that! A vehicle was leaving as we pulled in and there were no other vehicles there. We figured something fishy was going on. Rachelle: I’ve slept many times in many states. I always Google state name and sleeping and number of hours to find rules. I do NOT put levels down, slides out, etc. just park and snooze. I’ve even had Jehovas Witness come knocking early one morning in rest area! Tim: I sleep in a semi all the time no worries. Just don’t set up camp etc and don’t take up multiple spots. If you have to put slide out to go to bed park along grass etc because they get packed at night. Angela: I have seen no overnight parking, 2 hour limit, 24 hour on site security it just varies. I pull my camper with my work truck. I have to stop for 10 hours and sometimes 14 hours mandatory. Bob: Resting is what they're for we don't want people all over the road at night falling asleep! But with that said some have limited hours in California most are 8 hrs on the long sections on interstates I've seen 10 for commercial truckers and long RVs and trailers have to park with the commercial truckers anyhow. On the other hand I've seen as little as four in very small rest stops along 101 in northern California. Several Readers shared online resources about this: Dean: It varies from state to state. https://www.careersingear.com/.../states-ban-sleeping... Tricia: https://www.interstaterestareas.com/ Bottom line, if you can’t go on and have nowhere else to overnight. Do so. Don’t make it look like a campsite and be on your way as soon as you’re refreshed. Thanks to everyone who helped Kathy with an answer to her question. And if you are not a member of our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group,