Is it a battery and what I think is for?
Howdy all, In preparing our motorhome for an impending trip, I went under the chassis on a creeper looking for potential troubles yesterday. That was when I noticed, for the first time, what appear...
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My 2018 Coachmen Freelander 21qb has the same frame-mounted battery (on a 2017 chevy 4500 express chassis). I spent a bunch of time in '18 trying to find out what it was. Like you, since it was near the generator, I thought it was a starting battery for said generator. However:
It is called the "Isolated 2nd battery" option. Isolated 2nd Battery — allows 2nd battery to be used when the vehicle is not running without affecting ability to start the vehicle
Chevy express This link I previously found used to take you to a better description of it, but it has changed. Click on "4500", then expand the performance tab, and under the "Available" column it briefly mentions it. If I am remembering correctly, it is one of the items that comes with the "RV prep" package for the Chevy Cutaway chassis from the Chevy factory. I have been to the Coachmen factory for warranty work on my unit, and while there I was looking at some of the bare-bones Chevy chassis sitting in their fields prior to being completed and the ones I looked at all had that extra battery. If I come across the better link I found in the past when doing a search for this option I'll post it.
Without the engine running, when you turn the ignition key to the very first accessory position, this frame-mounted battery will be powering the accessories instead of the battery in the engine compartment used for starting. I have used it quite often while camping without hookups to power the "cigarette lighter" outlets to power my small inverter to provide power for the tv and dvd player, or to charge devices, etc., so that the starting battery is not drawn down. It does not, unfortunately, power the built-in inverter (the 110 outlet, at least on mine), hence the use of my portable inverter.
They don't make it easy to find info about this battery, and the people I spoke with at Coachmen back-in-the day did not know about it.
I would hazard to guess that a whole 'lotta people that have a newer model year Chevy Chassis-based motorhome do not know they have this. As you said, it is not in the manual. Like the original poster, I only found out I had that battery because I was under the camper on a creeper. In my case, looking for potential mouse entry-points prior to winter storage.
EDIT: Here is another link. It is for current model years and it does not have as good a description as the brochure I found in the past but it mentions the RV package. Chevy Fleet brochure Go to page 112. You'll need to be searching through Chevy/Gm FLEET information online to find anything about it. I came across and downloaded a few things in the past, like the "Chevy Express Upfitter Electrical" guide/manual. That one helped me determine that there were indeed rear speaker wire termination points, and the colors of the wires, to add some more speakers for the radio (FYI: Remove Driver side B pillar plastic. The Wires terminate in a bundle at the floor there).
It is called the "Isolated 2nd battery" option. Isolated 2nd Battery — allows 2nd battery to be used when the vehicle is not running without affecting ability to start the vehicle
Chevy express This link I previously found used to take you to a better description of it, but it has changed. Click on "4500", then expand the performance tab, and under the "Available" column it briefly mentions it. If I am remembering correctly, it is one of the items that comes with the "RV prep" package for the Chevy Cutaway chassis from the Chevy factory. I have been to the Coachmen factory for warranty work on my unit, and while there I was looking at some of the bare-bones Chevy chassis sitting in their fields prior to being completed and the ones I looked at all had that extra battery. If I come across the better link I found in the past when doing a search for this option I'll post it.
Without the engine running, when you turn the ignition key to the very first accessory position, this frame-mounted battery will be powering the accessories instead of the battery in the engine compartment used for starting. I have used it quite often while camping without hookups to power the "cigarette lighter" outlets to power my small inverter to provide power for the tv and dvd player, or to charge devices, etc., so that the starting battery is not drawn down. It does not, unfortunately, power the built-in inverter (the 110 outlet, at least on mine), hence the use of my portable inverter.
They don't make it easy to find info about this battery, and the people I spoke with at Coachmen back-in-the day did not know about it.
I would hazard to guess that a whole 'lotta people that have a newer model year Chevy Chassis-based motorhome do not know they have this. As you said, it is not in the manual. Like the original poster, I only found out I had that battery because I was under the camper on a creeper. In my case, looking for potential mouse entry-points prior to winter storage.
EDIT: Here is another link. It is for current model years and it does not have as good a description as the brochure I found in the past but it mentions the RV package. Chevy Fleet brochure Go to page 112. You'll need to be searching through Chevy/Gm FLEET information online to find anything about it. I came across and downloaded a few things in the past, like the "Chevy Express Upfitter Electrical" guide/manual. That one helped me determine that there were indeed rear speaker wire termination points, and the colors of the wires, to add some more speakers for the radio (FYI: Remove Driver side B pillar plastic. The Wires terminate in a bundle at the floor there).
