So what is the best battery for van life? There’s so much choice these days, some good, some not so good.
After installing a couple of van battery systems myself, I’ve picked three that I consider to be the best, two excellent choices and a best budget option.
My choice would be the SOK 12.8V 206Ah LiFePO4 battery.
Ok, let’s take a look at some of the best RV batteries on offer.
Contents
Things To Consider
There are a few factors to consider when choosing an RV battery.
Capacity
What size battery do you need?
Size And Weight
How big is your battery compartment? Do you plan on expanding the battery system?
Affordability
What is your budget? What is the performance vs cost?
Here are my top 3 picks.
Best Battery For Van Life
- SOK 12.8V 206 Ah – Best Overall
- Battleborn 12V 100 Ah – Choice #2
- LiTime 12V 100 Ah – Best Budget
SOK 12.8 Volt 206 Ah
⭐️Best Overall
The SOK 12.8V 206 Ah battery is my number one choice RV battery.
SOK manufactures batteries in a number of form factors, with this particular battery being well suited for smaller RVs and van life.
The build quality of this battery is excellent, including the BMS. Suppliers of this battery report a very low return or failure rate.
The BMS will monitor and take action on all the usual faults and also balance the lithium cells if needed. Importantly, this battery has a low temperature charging cut off, and won’t charge the battery below 0°C. (Charging lithium batteries below this temperature can cause irreparable damage).
The battery has bluetooth connection, and from the app you will get lots of in depth information about the battery status. If there is a problem you will get a notification with a fault code.
One of the major advantages of this battery is the fact that it is designed to be accessible for maintenance. You can unscrew the lid and replace parts or cells if necessary. (Way cheaper than a new battery).
You can also wire this battery series up to a maximum of 4 batteries.
The SOK 12V 206 Ah is excellent value for money for its great performance and features.
Pros
Large Capacity
Excellent Build Qulity
Bluetooth
Great Value
Cons
Sells Out Often
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
SOK Battery Specifications - 12V 206Ah
| Voltage | 12.8 V |
| Capacity | 2636 Wh |
| Max Continuous Discharge | 100 Amps |
| Surge Capacity | 200 A (3s) |
| Dimensions | 12.3" x 12.9" x 7.9" |
| Weight | 45 lbs |
| Battery Type | LiFePO4 |
| Battery Life | 4k – 8k Cycles |
| Low Temp Disconnect | Yes |
| In Series Maximum | 4 |
| Max Charge Rate | 50 Amps |
| Warranty | 7 Years |
Battleborn 12 Volt 100Ah
⭐️Choice #2
The Battleborn 100 Ah is my second choice RV battery. If you know anything at all about RV batteries, or you’re just researching, you will have heard of the Battleborn brand. The batteries are made and distributed from their US base in Reno, Nevada.
The battery itself is excellent quality, and the performance is equally as good.
These batteries have been pulled apart and put through all manner of independent tests, and it is extremely hard to find anyone who can fault them.
One of the many advantages of purchasing a Battleborn battery is the excellent customer service. They are always happy to assist, and they offer lifetime tech support.
Another obvious plus is the 10 year warranty.
The only drawback is the high price.
When buying a Battleborn battery you are obviously getting the excellent build quality and performance, but you are also paying for the support and decade long warranty.
Pros
Excellent Build Quality
Lifetime Tech Support
Great Reviews
10 Year Warranty
Cons
Expensive
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
Battleborn Battery Specifications -12V 100Ah
| Voltage | 12 V |
| Capacity | 1200 Wh |
| Max Continuous Discharge | 100 Amps |
| Surge Capacity | 200 A (For 30s) |
| Dimensions | 12.7″ x 6.8 x 9″ |
| Weight | 31 lbs |
| Battery Type | LiFePO4 |
| Battery Life | 3k – 5k Cycles |
| Low Temp Cut-Off | Yes |
| In Series Maximum | 4 |
| Max Charge Rate | 50 Amps |
| Warranty | 10 Years |
LiTime 12 Volt 100Ah
⭐️Best Budget Option
The Li Time 100 Ah battery is my budget choice van life battery. Li Time is the new name for the brand formerly known as “Ampere Time”, and this is their latest offering in the 12V category.
The company has acted on user reviews and updated the features to make the LiTime a really good choice.
The battery is a good deal smaller than the original, and now features a new robust BMS made by LiTime themselves.
As well as all the usual battery management features, the BMS now has a low temperature cut off function which cuts off charging at 0°C. Additionally, you can override this function in case you need to charge in an emergency. A major plus.
The bluetooth feature is another great upgrade, and you can now check the status and any faults via the app. You can get the app via QR code and when installed will give plenty of useful metrics.
The battery comes with a handy waterproof wallet so you can store the manual right next to the battery if you wish.
Overall, a good value for money, very well made battery.
Pros
Great Build Quality
Bluetooth 5.0
Low Temp Protection
Good Value
Cons
Sells Out Often
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
LiTime Battery Specifications - 12V 100Ah
| Voltage | 12 V |
| Capacity | 1200 Wh |
| Max Continuous Discharge | 100 Amps |
| Surge Capacity | 280 A (5s) |
| Dimensions | 6.6" x 10.2" x 8.3" |
| Weight | 21.8 lbs |
| Battery Type | LiFePO4 |
| Battery Life | 4k+ Cycles |
| In Series Maximum | 4 |
| Max Charge Rate | 20 Amps |
| Warranty | 5 Years |
Sok vs Battleborn
This is an excellent review on how SOK batteries compare to the Battleborn brand.
This is a really good comparison that definitely gives food for thought.
NB: SOK have now added bluetooth connection to this battery.
What Size Battery Do You Need?
Working out the battery capacity size you need is obviously the most important factor when looking for an RV battery.
Here’s the formula for working out your daily usage requirements:
Appliance/Device watts x how many hours a day you use it = daily watt-hours for that appliance.
For a more detailed look at calculating your battery requirements, see my post on working out usage and watt hours.
If you plan on building a power bank, don’t forget to check the battery specs for details of wiring in series and parallel.
You can always opt for a larger version of a battery, rather than wiring smaller capacity batteries in series or parallel. But this is always dependant on weight and the space you have.
Ultimately, it comes down to finding the right balance of performance and value for money.
Of the choices available on the market today my recommendation is the SOK 12V 206Ah battery.
Please see my other RV battery reviews, and also some portable RV solar options.
See how we rate products in our reviews here.
