Battery question

luckyc1423 wrote:
I am going to be purchasing a used 5th wheel from an individual.

It is a 2016 dutchmen denali 316res.

This will be my first rv, so definitely my first 5th wheel so I apologize for the stupid question.

We have been looking for almost a year and finally found a good deal. Most of the ones we have looked at in the past have a battery tray in the front compartment with an inverted so you can open slides and power the refrigerator when you are not hooked up to shore power.

Well when I was going through this rv there was no battery tray and I didn't see any batteries anywhere. Do 5th wheels sometimes come without batteries? If so, how do you open slides and keep the refrigerator on while towing the fifth wheel so your "cold goods" don't go bad when not hooked up to shore power?

The fifth wheel is in great shape and we love it. The previous owners used it full time for two months so they never had a need for batteries (always hooked to shore power) and when I mentioned it they told me they didn't think it had batteries.

You should ask the previous owner to show you where the battery is. If there is =not= one there, then he needs to either make that clear that this is how the rig is being sold or he needs to include one. As has previously been mentioned, the coach battery also powers the breakaway switch and it is not legal for you to tow with that inoperative. FWIW, the 2016/17 Jayco Eagle HTs I've looked at have the battery tucked into the furthest forward corner on the passenger side, outboard of the landing leg. From the pics I've seen of this model, it looks like there's a battery vent to the left, as seen looking at the front storage door, so if there's not one there, I'd be willing to bet that's where it's supposed to be. Can always call a dealer to ask, too. :-)

Lyle