Golf cart batteries rental fleet Cancel The title field is required!

1. Lytle Mark W

   
   12/15/2011 8:12 AM

   I am looking for feed back on Trojan vs US batteries. I have been a huge fan of Trojans for years and have first hand experience using them. Lately we seem to have had a higher failure rate with the T-105 6 volt batteries. I have been aware of US Batteries for years, but little experience with using them. Looking for feed back on both brands of batteries and failure rate percentages. Needing to replace approximately 100 batteries in EZ GO carts.
   
   Thanks, Mark Lytle
   Salina Municipal GC
   Salina, KS
   785-452-5328

   
   
   
   
2. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   12/15/2011 9:12 AM

   Summer and Fall of 2010 we started noticing issues with the batteries (Trojan T-105) in our cart fleet that was new in March 2009. Weak batteries, overheating, etc... EZ-Go came and did some testing and quickly realized 60-70% of the batteries were bad or close. They had the local Trojan distributor come in and test and replace according. Replaced 60% of the batteries. Many of the batteries that passed the initial testing started to fail and that's when we noticed that EZ-Go was replacing them with US batteries. Most of the old Trojans that are left are continuing to fail and after meeting with EZ-Go this week they told us 2 things....They are getting more reliability out of the US batteries and since the carts are now out of warranty we are basically on our own now with any of the old Trojans. The other difference between the two brands is price. Right now the best price I can get on the T-105 with a core trade-in is $91.21 with I think a 1 year warranty. The US Battery 6v with core are $79.87.
   
   I have always been under the impression that Trojans were the best....not convinced anymore. Have replaced several sets of batteries for members with the US Batteries and have had no issues in the last 7 years. On the Trojans I have had 3-4 replaced under warranty and seen several premature failures.
   
   Trojan Contacts for Kansas
   Master Distributor
   Continental Battery
   800-442-0081
   http://www.continentalbattery.com/site/home.asp
   
   US Batteries
   http://www.usbattery.com/usb_index.html
   Standard Battery
   KANSAS CITY
   1616 Wyoming
   Kansas City , MO 64102
   (816) 421-8118
   http://www.standardbatteryinc.com/

   
   
   
   
3. Gordon Seliga

   

   4 posts
   
   12/15/2011 10:12 AM

   I went through this same process last year. I did as much research as I could and even talked to the engineers from the battery manufacturers. Of course, they all said their batts were the best.
   
   I would take a look at the NEW interstate golf car batteries. They are actually made by Johnson Controls. We recently replaced our golf car batteries and went with trojan and Interstate to do a comparison. Time will tell. Interstate has been touting better performance in their ads and they are less expensive. May be worth a look.
   
   All the Best,
   
   Gordon Seliga

   
   
   
   
4. Lytle Mark W

   
   12/15/2011 2:12 PM

   Keith,
   Is the price you stated in your post from a local dealer in your area for the US?
   The quote I have on US batteries is from Rick Fleenor @ Standard Battery
   in KC for $83.00 each, delivered with one year warranty.
   
   The interesting thing I am also getting back on quotes is just 12 month warranty from
   local dealers on Trojan T-105 when Trojan specifically states on there web site an 18 month
   warranty on T-105's. With Trojan it used to be nothing to get 5 years of service but not now.
   
   Thanks, Mark Lytle
   Salina, KS

   
   
   
   
5. Lytle Mark W

   
   12/15/2011 3:12 PM

   Gordon,
   I am actually familiar with the Johnson Industry battery the local Sam's Club sells them. I am looking for local interstate Battery dealer as I write this message. One local auto parts store is local dealer but would like to cut out the middle man. I have compared them in weight and they are the same as T-105's. I actually have a good
   quote from local auto supply store for AC Delco's and they have offered full 18 month replacement.
   
   Thanks, Mark Lytle
   Salina, KS

   
   
   
   
6. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   12/15/2011 3:12 PM

   marksal said: Keith,
   Is the price you stated in your post from a local dealer in your area for the US?
   The quote I have on US batteries is from Rick Fleenor @ Standard Battery
   in KC for $83.00 each, delivered with one year warranty.
   
   The interesting thing I am also getting back on quotes is just 12 month warranty from
   local dealers on Trojan T-105 when Trojan specifically states on there web site an 18 month
   warranty on T-105's. With Trojan it used to be nothing to get 5 years of service but not now.
   
   Thanks, Mark Lytle
   Salina, KS

   
   
   It may have gone up, but that was the price I was quoted with the core return in October 2011 by my local Club Car dealer who is the local distributor of US Batteries with a 18 month warranty. They would only give me that pricing and the 18 month warranty if I bought the batteries in minimum sets of 6. They said individually there is no warranty. He explained that only if you were replacing a complete set with all new US Batteries could they then offer the 18 months.
   
   Whoever you go with make sure you stay aware of the warranty period and test them when you get near the end of the warranty.

   
   
   
   
7. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   12/16/2011 1:12 PM

   We've been replacing batteries using Rayovacs. We can get a full set for under $550 with them changing them out and taking the old batteries.

   
   
   
   
8. Jason Knuutila

   

   0 posts
   
   12/18/2011 1:12 PM

   Been down this road guys. T-105 is an econo line battery that Trojan came out with to compete for a price point. Trojan doesn't recommend using these in most situations (except residential), but Ez-Go loves to use them becasue they're cheap and they'll get you into new carts faster. The T-125 is the battery they suggest and there is a 3 year warranty. Another aspect to consider is temperature. T-105 do not work well in cold temperatures.
   
   If you use the US batteries they are fine, but they use a shit load of water. If you don't have automatic fillers it's very tough to keep up. Another option is Excide they seemed to have the best prices for desired amps.
   
   Ez-go replaced (they bought) 1/2 our 4 year old T-125 with T-105 because Ez-Go had a manufacturing issue with our battery cables. The cables were dipped in varnish, then crimped not soldered. The solder would melt the varnish on the ends and the stranded wire was good, but since they were crimped the strands were not in full contact with each other and you had a condition similar to an undersized wire. I was the one who identified the problem, when my azz almost caught on fire going up a hill.

   
   
   
   
9. Richard Wit

   

   1 posts
   
   12/21/2011 11:12 AM

   We also had issues with batteries. T-105's were not lasting as well. Found out that the battery cable size was too small. Melting posts and cables, after changing out to a 4 gauge cable problem went away. Also had issues with T-105's and run time not being what EZGO said it would give us. They came in and replaced with T-125's issues went away. We have went with another fleet of EZGO's and now they have a 48 volt system now verses 36 volt system. Seems funny on the timing of the switch and all the issues they were having.

   
   
   
   
10. Spotts David A

    
    12/21/2011 3:12 PM

    [quote">We have went with another fleet of EZGO's and now they have a 48 volt system now verses 36 volt system. Seems funny on the timing of the switch and all the issues they were having.[quote">
    
    
    
    
    We have 35 2002 Club cars,48 volts with 8 volt batteries that hold up well
    
    we have 35 2006 Club Cars, 48volts with 12 volt batteries that don't hold up well at all.
    
    Club Car stopped making the system using the 12 volt batteries.
    
    Methinks this is no coincidence but good luck getting someone to admit it.

    
    
    
    
11. McCallum David K

    
    12/22/2011 6:12 AM

    Great thread as we are in the process of replacing nearly 200 batteries. All Club Car with the 4 battery, 12 volt system. Carts are 5 years old an the old batteries have got to go. Lots of great info in this post, thanks.

    
    
    
    
12. Rockwell Brent S

    
    12/22/2011 7:12 PM

    I have always been a Trojan man until a recent bad experience left me making midnight diaper runs and not getting any sleep... Now I am exploring all other options.

    
    
    
    
13. Tom Forsythe

    

    0 posts
    
    12/22/2011 9:12 PM

    gordo said: I have always been a Trojan man until a recent bad experience left me making midnight diaper runs and not getting any sleep... Now I am exploring all other options.

    
    
    I was wondering how long it would take for this thread to have a Trojan reference thrown in

    
    
    
    
14. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    12/22/2011 10:12 PM

    osprey said:

    gordo said: I have always been a Trojan man until a recent bad experience left me making midnight diaper runs and not getting any sleep... Now I am exploring all other options.

    
    
    I was wondering how long it would take for this thread to have a Trojan reference thrown in

    
    
    Their quarterback is sticking around for one more year, too.

    
    
    
    
15. Mark Van Lienden

    

    14 posts
    
    12/23/2011 6:12 AM

    We just changed out all 12 volt batterys in our club car precident fleet after four years and still seeing problems.Our previous fleet needed all of the 8 volt batterys changed out after 3 years.We are considering other cart makers and would like to hear comments on electric and gas carts.

    
    
    
    
16. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    12/27/2011 4:12 PM

    Played golf yesterday (won $137, by the way) and noticed they had Trojan 1275 batteries in their Yamahas. There was 3 of them and they were huge, like a double battery. What the heck are those????

    
    
    
    
17. Michael Posey

    

    0 posts
    
    12/28/2011 7:12 AM

    Like others have mentioned, Trojan has had to introduce different batteries to meet price points. Our distributor in Birmingham told me to get Series 31 batteries for the trolling motor on my bass boat. I thought the series 27 would be fine since that is what other stores sold at similar prices. They were pushing it to get through a day of fishing, lasted two years. Went back and ponied up to get the Series 31. I can fish the whole weekend without charging them and they are going on three years with no noticeable decline in performance. (I was a loyal interstate user until late 90's when it seemed like their quality declined. They would still be my second choice) Just like everything, you have to decide where the break point is in price verses longevity/performance and see if it is worth paying less and replacing the cheaper battery more often or paying more up front for something that will last longer. I still believe Trojan is the best deep cycle battery maker.

    
    
    
    
18. Dennis Cook

    

    1 posts
    
    12/29/2011 7:12 AM

    We have the 48 volt yamaha with 6 8 volt batteries in them. We had 24 carts with US batteries and 36 carts with Trojans. We got 5 to 6 years out of the trojans and only three yrs out of the US batteries. The US batteries needed constant maintenance because they used so much water. We have usually started the yr off with all the batteries full and then we would fill batteries three times throughout the season and then once again at the end. The US batteries could barely go three weeks, a month if we were lucky.
    
    If a cart could not go 18 holes, we would lift up the seat and always see it was a cart with US batteries.

    
    
    
    
19. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    12/29/2011 9:12 AM

    I remember when I was growing up in the 70's my dad on our closed day (hey that's another thing that has changed) would have to go through the cart batteries on a weekly basis during the summer (in Florida) filling up water in the batteries, I would get a kick when he let me help him. Don't know what brand of batteries they were.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
20. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    1/23/2012 3:01 PM

    J Ben,
    
    Check some of the threads in this post, it might help with your cart battery question.
    
    Things used to be so easy with electric carts so many years ago.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
21. Taylor J Benjamin

    
    1/23/2012 3:01 PM

    thanks Mel,
    I had seen this post as well