expanding my battery bank

[sdb1103]

Hello,

I am new to the forum and this is my first post so hi everyone. I found this when doing a google search for an RV forum and so far from the posts I have read it seems like a good place.

Well the reason I started looking for as forum was to get an idea on some battery modifications for the project I have in mind. I understand the 12 volt side of life and am fairly good with dealing with electricity. The goal of my project is to install two heavy duty deep cycle batteries, have a wireless monitor for current, voltage, drain, etc. and a control switch to select 1 or both batteries. This type of design I have done before but in a 5th wheel with tons of space. I love my 2008 21SSO StarCraft but is really lacking space when it comes to certain mods I want to do on the outside.

The newer campers solved this space issue with wire supported drop down bunks and a better platform on the tongue for the dual propane tanks and batteries. So my question is has anyone installed dual batteries on a hybrid and if so how did they get mounted? I have some ideas like widening the tray the propane tanks are on or welding a stacked battery box where the existing box is but not sure what is best and most economical. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
-Steve

[sdb1103]

rjxj - I plan on using the campers existing charging circuit to charge the battery. I am also planning to pickup some solar panels to maintain the system when I am not on shore power or have my generator. I use the rig for dry camping 90% of the time. 1 or 2 times a year I have shore power but its few and far between.

[RoyB]

Looking at the two tent bed supports in this google photo doesn't look like it would be too big a deal to modify as necessary. They look to come almost straight down from the tent bed area to the tongue area.


They may not need to be modified at all after you move the PROPANE TANKS up to that area.

The tanks will also have to modified with adding a tongue tray that may extend out on both sides just a little as well as adding a new arrangement for the fuel lines.

Nothing comes easy when you start modifying things.

The weight of the batteries almost wants you to be as far back as you can get on the trailer tongue frame. Even up against the front of the trailer the 48-inch metal box is going to extend out over both sides of the trailer tongue. My planes is to use automotive round rubber mounts between the bottom of the tool box and the top of the tongue frame. I also will be using PVC Electrical boxes and PVD FLEX tubing (LOWES) to route all of the required battery cables and control lines in getting back inside my trailer.

The extended LIP area of the 48-inch tool box is perfect for installing all of your battery cable routing to the battery terminals and also a great area to mount the required four position BLUE SEA Switches and terminal blocks. I really liked the way that LOWES SINK DRAINs was used to provide battery vents next to each installed battery. Great idea from 'gilldawg79'

You really will need to come up with a lockable metal latch battery box to help prevent battery thief. It is becoming a real problem around these parts keeping the Propane Tanks and Batteries out of the hands of thieves. These items get used in making drugs I guess...

It is much harder for the thieves to bust into a metal lock latch verses just cutting off pad locks with their portable grinder tools. Along this line of thinking I will also be using the ROUND STOVE BOLT heads on the bottom of the trailer tongue with the bolts and washers being insides the bottom of the metal tool box. You have to get the tool box opened to steal it...

I'm sure you can come up with something - Your project not mine haha... Just passing along food for thought...

Roy Ken

[terry_thiessen]

I have a 2006 21sso that I added two 6volt golf cart batteries to. Made my own box placed between propane tanks and tounge jack tight but fits. Don't know how to load pictures but can email pictures if you want.

[mbopp]

Our '05 21SSO had the prop rod supports so tongue space was limited. But since it had dual 30# tanks I made my own dual battery tray and went with a single 30# tank for the propane.

[sdb1103]

RoyB ... great design and thanks for the link. Sounds like Phemens did something very similar. However I am not sure this mod will work for me. As far as space goes I could move my tanks forward and install one of these tool boxes (I actually have a spare) but I will run into problems with the fold down bunk. It is an 08 so is still pole based for support. The spot the pols go into on the frame are directly on the top side of the frame next to the existing battery spot. I have a bad feeling moving my tanks will get in the way. I am still going to go home later and take a look and see if there is anything I can do.

thanks again for the advice. 🙂

[azrving]

Welcome, you have actually found the best forum. 🙂 IMO. How do you plan to charge your batteries? How do you plan to use your rig?

[sdb1103]

Thanks for the info and will go check it out now.

I will also have to change my preferences. I didnt know I was blocking images. Now time to find that setting before doing some google engineering. 🙂

[phemens]

Hi,

I have 4 x Trojan T-125's mounted on the tongue of our Jayco hybrid. I moved the propane tanks forward as far as they would go against the electric jack, then I made some metal brackets and bolted them to the tongue (2 brackets on each side). Then I installed a truck box on top, and put the batteries inside. This gives me an enclosed box with enough clearance underneath to access the spare tire. Be careful that you do not exceed the max weight on the tongue.
When we had a popup, I didn't have room on the tongue for more than one battery, so what I did was to install the extra battery in a battery box with a 7 pin plug - this matched up with a receptacle on the battery box mounted on the tongue, so when we got to the site, I pulled the extra out of the truck and put in on the ground next to the tongue, then plugged it into the other battery and voila, double the amp hrs. Note this was with 12v batteries, would not recommend this with 6v, as you'd lose power to the brakes in a break-away situation!
Good luck!

[RoyB]

I would probably move your PROPANE TANKS to the front of the trailer tongue and add one of these 48-inch side mount diamond plate tool boxes across the trailer tongue between the propane tanks and the trailer front wall.

This will allow you to add up to four each GC2 6VDC Batteries (two groups of 6VDC Batteries in series) to give you around 450AHs 12VDC Battey Bank capacity.



It would look something like this when completed...


Search GOOGLE for 'gilldawg79 battery bank' and when it loads up select 'IMAGES' for photos of this mod...

This is a layout of my switchable four each 12VDC GP24 Interstate battery setup.


Looks like this across my trailer tongue... I originally had four each 12VDC batteries here but lost one due to boiling out the battery fluids. My next layout will be using the 48-inch side mount tool box...


Roy Ken