Adding AGM batteries to a Lance 845.
I picked up my Lance 845 camper recently. We will be doing quite a bit of dry camping. I have a Onan Camp Power LP gas 2500w factory gen. But I've been considering adding a couple of AGM batteries a...
Forum Discussion
With the limited low storage areas for canned goods or other heavy items I did not want to put a battery in the dinnete area of my 845. Instead I borrowed an idea done by another couple of camper owners and made a rack to fit under the right rear corner of the camper. There is space for a Group 31 battery on its side such that it does not come down past the bottom of the camper bumper.
I removed the plastic tray inside the generator compartment and replaced it with a piece of 3/16" plate steel. I welded a rack to the bottom of the plate to hold the battery.
I removed the cover for the blackwater holding tankI ran 4ga wires alongside the tank and up past the dump valves and into the house battery compartment. This is the same way that Lance ran the wires from the generator compartment.
After I saw the amount of propane needed to operate the Onan generator I decided it was not something I wanted for the camper. It's high rate of propane consumption does explain the need for the second LPG tank in the 845. But for running a generator one tank is more than enough for 5-6 weeks on the road, winter or summer.
I did not want to have to carry a gas can for a Honda or Yamaha generator so I use the generator space to carry tools, water hoses, and other items I will be using outside the camper. Having a flat metal plate made the compartment easier to use for this purpose.
Adding a Trimetric is a worthwhile project. I found that the Lance supplied battery charge status gauges were very inaccurate and they provided not information on the rate of discharge or rate of recharge so I was in the dark so to speak.
If I had it to do over again I would still opt for mounting the second battery under the camper and in this location. Until it comes time to replace it in a couple of years I pay no attention to it and it is completely out of the way having taken up none of the camper's inside or exterior storage space.
I removed the plastic tray inside the generator compartment and replaced it with a piece of 3/16" plate steel. I welded a rack to the bottom of the plate to hold the battery.
I removed the cover for the blackwater holding tankI ran 4ga wires alongside the tank and up past the dump valves and into the house battery compartment. This is the same way that Lance ran the wires from the generator compartment.
After I saw the amount of propane needed to operate the Onan generator I decided it was not something I wanted for the camper. It's high rate of propane consumption does explain the need for the second LPG tank in the 845. But for running a generator one tank is more than enough for 5-6 weeks on the road, winter or summer.
I did not want to have to carry a gas can for a Honda or Yamaha generator so I use the generator space to carry tools, water hoses, and other items I will be using outside the camper. Having a flat metal plate made the compartment easier to use for this purpose.
Adding a Trimetric is a worthwhile project. I found that the Lance supplied battery charge status gauges were very inaccurate and they provided not information on the rate of discharge or rate of recharge so I was in the dark so to speak.
If I had it to do over again I would still opt for mounting the second battery under the camper and in this location. Until it comes time to replace it in a couple of years I pay no attention to it and it is completely out of the way having taken up none of the camper's inside or exterior storage space.
