one or two coach batterys

I have a 2002 RT Chevy and several years ago I added a 2nd AGM battery forward of the right rear wheel. It fits very snug in the compartment and I ran heavy cables aft to the existing battery in the slide out. I just drilled holes where the cables needed to be routed and fastened the cables to the inside of the wheel well. I don't have a slide out and the batteries are maintenance free so I rarely need to pull them out.

i also have 2004 roadtrek, i was told that the compartment needed to be reinforced and the slide out tray installed which would cost several hundred dollars for the parts. I wanted to do the battery also, but it
sounded like more problems than it was worth. You also had to drill holes in the compartment with no templates available. I ended up changing to the led lights and new 12 volt tv. If you find it is easier to do please post how it went as I would like the second battery also.

wincrasher65 wrote:
You can either reduce your consumption or increase your battery capacity, or do both.

On a 2004, you could change your lights to LED and change your TV and stereo to 12v native units and remove an inverter. With the refer in gas mode, and having LED lights, 12v TV and use of the water pump, I can get by fine on one battery in 24 hours. The furnace blower will kill it pretty quick - overnight is iffy, same with refer in 12v mode.

If you have room for a second battery, I'd go with 2 group 31 batteries - that would give you about 200 ah total, or around 100 ah useable. That would get you thru 2 or 3 days fairly easy.

Correct. I would get a 2nd battery if I had room for one ie for lights during dry camping.

SS - sorry for the delayed response - was actually on the road with my RT!!! To answer your question - no - no need to change fixtures - very easy to get LED "bulbs" that are on the same bayonet or wedge base to fit the existing sockets. Only exception was when I replaced the 2-pin halogen bulbs in a couple of reading lamps - just had to find the closest pin-base on an LED fixture. Folks at "SuerbrightLED" were very helpful in my choosing the correct LED replacements. ST

wsfurrie wrote:
I have 2 in my PW Excel just for the odd time I am going to stay in a spot with no power more than 1 night. If we are careful we can go 3 or 4 days. However usually a B gets moved and the battery gets charged.
Wayne
05 PW Excel

Wayne,
We have a 2013 Excel and want to add a 2nd battery. Where is your 2nd battery installed on your 05 Excel?

Hello Loggenrock did you have to change your light fixtures to use the led lights.
SS

the trend is 4 6 volt agm batteries for max power at most reasonable weight

kccwoodworks wrote:
It seems most of the discussion is about one or two batteries. I was planning on four AGM 100AH batteries, with 400 watts solar, and wind power. Obviously I'm planning on mostly boondocking. The trip as planned is to circle the country in 15 months starting in Chicago in May, going counter clockwise. The only items running on AC will be the fridge, and recharging laptop. Am I overdoing the batteries?

The OP's question was about adding a second battery to a space available. In a way that does not materially change how the B is used. Going four batteries with solar does materially change how the B could be used and probably a topic for another discussion. I plan to do the same with my next B.

It seems most of the discussion is about one or two batteries. I was planning on four AGM 100AH batteries, with 400 watts solar, and wind power. Obviously I'm planning on mostly boondocking. The trip as planned is to circle the country in 15 months starting in Chicago in May, going counter clockwise. The only items running on AC will be the fridge, and recharging laptop. Am I overdoing the batteries?

Hi SS - I have an 03 190 with 1 battery. I have changed my lights to LED, tend to run the fridge on propane. We can easily get 5 days from the single group 27, without driving. I have recently added a portable 100W PV (solar) system, since these days I find I use more amps charging things, like smartphone, tablet, GPS, camera batteries, etc. That kept the battery going for 5 nights last month, and that was in a shaded location (hence why I went with a portable system - move it to catch the most photons)! Another battery adds another 75-ish pounds - my PV system adds 30#. I prefer that 2nd compartment for outside storage of items like my 1# propane grill cylinders, Coleman fuel, etc. - stuff I don't want to carry inside the van! ST