Dual batteries in an older Lance?

Has anyone installed a larger battery box? I'll have a look under the sink and see if there's room. If it's steel I'm sure I could fab up a larger one.

trail-explorer wrote:


Relying on the engine batteries to supply power to run the RV electrical systems isn't the best idea. You may discharge the batteries to the point of not being able to start the truck.

I would of course wire up a 100% duty cycle solenoid to isolate it from the truck when it's off. It would then part of the camper and also charged when driving.

pcoplin wrote:
That's not a bad idea. I have a diesel with two already. But I'm wanting to run some larger gauge wire directly to the camper, I could wire up a 3rd truck battery at the frame rail.

Relying on the engine batteries to supply power to run the RV electrical systems isn't the best idea. You may discharge the batteries to the point of not being able to start the truck.

Somehow, time marches on and I now have an older Lance. When we bought it, I was in your shoes and measured and hoped I could squeeze two batts. in a box made for one. But, alas, it was not to be. So I ganged all three (exactly the same battery) with a #4 wire coming from the engine compartment to the camper plug. Maybe I'm living on borrowed time, but we've had very good luck with battery power. Only once, when I left the DC mode on the fridge over night did the power consumption (which is mighty on the fridge) take me down so the truck would not start. You only make that mistake once. We are now battery misers, using propane on all appliances unless we're traveling more than 50 mph, in which case the propane flame blows out necessitating a return to DC power. We use a 4-D-cell lantern when we have our nightly backgammon games. It lasts for weeks with no power drain on the truck/camper batts. Minimal use of the incandescent bulbed interior lights. I know, I know, dump the incandescents. The only black cloud on the horizon is the increased use of personal electronic devices, some of which, like my 15" lap top can use a lot of battery power. It depends a lot on your traveling style too. We don't spend more than a night or two in one place with enough travel in between to recharge with the big alternator.
I wish there was an easy way with these older Lances.
jefe

my lance 945 had only 1 #29 battery .I mounted 2 size #31 batteries in the bed near the front door in the side of the camper under the sink(early lance campers had 4 little access hatches to give access to the truck bed. the batteries are connected to the truck when the camper is not on. when the camper is on I connect them to the camper battery when the truck engine is running the extra camper batteries are connected to the truck charging system through a marine auto charging relay and a #2 gage wire . I can send a wiring diagram to any member who wants one . tony barra. p.s i am a marine electrician and we do this on boats . contact me at email tbltony.barra@gmail.com

When we had a 1989 Lance Squire 4000 we had a second battery installed in the engine compartment of our same vintage GMC 2500. We needed two batteries as we almost always camped off grid and needed to rely on the furnace a lot. We also watched a lot of TV in those days.

I don't watch TV much while camping anymore but both our 5th wheel and my Traverse run a pair of G-27 batteries.

I was able to get two 6 volts in the bed of my truck as far foward as i could before putting the camper on.I used 6 guage wire to connect them in a series then used the truck bed it self as a ground vs using more wire.

Took some time but never ended up camping with them yet.I do know they have alot of capacity since i use them on my toyhauler too.

On my old Lance 1080 which only had room for one battery. I put another in front of the wheel well in a battery box accessed thru the little doors into the wheel wells from the inside of the camper. I made up heavy cables & drilled the plywood floor behind the lance battery holder (in the sink area) & ran the cables "down" to the new battery box. This area was ventilated well enough I believe & never had any problems. One did have to be careful hooking up the cables though & remember to remove the box & battery before taking off the camper.
Of course I had tight holes & sealed around the cables thru the holes drilled. Never smelled any gasses, (at least from the batteries that is) ha ha ha!

Torklift makes this. I haven't tried it but it looks like a nifty solution

http://www.torklift.com/index.php/products/auxiliary-battery-storage/hiddenpower

That's not a bad idea. I have a diesel with two already. But I'm wanting to run some larger gauge wire directly to the camper, I could wire up a 3rd truck battery at the frame rail.