Dual 6-volt battery box for TC wheel well

travelnutz wrote:
I have had 2 Group 31 deep cycle 12 volt batteries ahead of the rear wheel well on 2 different Chevy 2500 long box truck since 1993 with 2 different Lance TC's on the truck. Do not have them in a box but do have a 5 sided (no bottom) cover I made myself to shield the battery top and sides from the weather. Works perfect!

Why 3 Batteries for the TC? We have a 1500 watt inverter in the TC and for the 5th wheel, it has 5 same batteries inside the RV and the 2 bed batteries give us 7 group 31 batteries as the 5th wheel has a 2500 watt inverter. That's 875 amps of battery capability and 1575 minutes reserve. The bed batteries are connected to the diesel engine's dual alternators for fast recharging of all batteries with #2ga both + & - same welder cables in plastic sheathing running under the truck attached to the truck frame to the high capacity control engine inexpensive starter solenoid then to the alternators so it can't run the truck starting batteries down. Dead batteries are no fun! The + cable is fused at each end with a simple 80 amp replaceable blade marine HD fuse. Just a big sized blade fuse like all the other fuses in a vehicle!

The cover has a chain over the top that goes between 2 glued and screwed on rails across the top of the Thompson's treated plywood battery cover for security when our 5th wheel is being used. Also is protection when the 5th wheel is in a CG and driving the truck to the stores etc.

The battery cover is left off when the Lance TC is on the truck as the batteries are under the over the bed rails so no need to protect them from the weather and no one could possibly get to them as there's only about an inch between the top of the bed rail sides and the bottom of the TC and the 2 batteries are secure between the wheel well and the fron of the bed box.

I use 2 group 31 batteries 12 volt batteries as the Lance battery space has another of the same batteries. This gives 3 large batteries having 125 amps woth 225 minites of reserve power from full charge capability. Total of 375 amps and 675 minutes for the 3 batteries. Using 12 volt batteries I can have 3 but if 6 volt batteries were used I could only have 2 batteries as I need to have 12 volts output.

The 2 external batteries are coupled to the 1 Lance internal with #2ga fine strand welder wire (one for positive and one for negative) stainless wingnut screwed onto the two 3/8 brass bolt studs going thru the lower TC wall about an inch below the TC overhang and extending out about 1-1/2", For clarification: The 3/8 brass bolt has a brass washer on either side and a brass nut outside to squeeze caulk sealing and secure so no leaks. The roughly 1" of the threads sticking out is where the + & - heavy wire leads from the 3 batteries connect to with the wingnuts.

Before lowering the TC down the final maybe 4", I connect all 3 batteries together with the wing nuts on the brass studs. Reverse the process when taking the TC off.

Going on 27 years now without one single hitch and having gobs of 12 volt and 110 AC power anywhere/anytime...

Also have a Honda EU 2000 on the rear of the 5th wheel with a 6 gal aux gasoline tank plus the one gallon internal the Honda has. The Lance has a 3400 watt propane built in generator. Yes, we are always very well prepared! The Lance and the 5th wheel both have 2 - 30lb PP tanks - 60lbs of propane total each.