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Lifeline 6V batteries install in AF996

CAJW
Explorer
Explorer
I ran into a slight snag installing a set of Lifeline 6V batteries in my Arctic Fox 996 that I haven’t seen addressed. Measurements from the manufacturer are to the top of the post, but don’t take in account the height of the cable stack and retaining bolt. The result is that although my battery box door had enough height to accommodate the batteries, once the cables and bolt were installed, the battery would not clear the top of the opening to slide back into the compartment on the sliding tray.

The fix was to remove the sliding tray as these batteries are AGM (sealed) so no servicing is necessary as with my old wet cell 12V with caps and more recently a battery fill system.

Updated with Pics added below:

Battery tray removed to gain more vertical clearance



Factory hold down strap re-positioned



Rubber strip installed to protect battery case from screw heads



Foam blocks to keep batteries parallel to each other (right rear corner of compartment is angled, not square)




Hold down blocks installed



Batteries securely installed, ready for boondocking!

2013 AF 996, 2013 Chevy 3500 CC,LWB,4X4, Duramax, DRW, 3.73 rear, Torklift Stableloads & Tie-downs,Fast Guns, Ride Rite Air Bags, Superhitch w/ 32" extension.Big Wigs, Front Timbrens, TST TPMS-507,CubbyCam, Trimetric. TM & SC 2030 150W + 100W suitcase
13 REPLIES 13

Steve_in_29
Explorer
Explorer
dave17352 wrote:
I think I would leave the tray out and leave the battery upright. Even though they can be laid on their side. Probably won't come out again until it fails which could be like 8 years?

My Lifeline AGMs are still going strong after almost 10 years.
2007 F350,SC,LB,4x4,6.0/Auto,35" tires,16.5 Warn,Buckstop bumpers
2007 Outfitter Apex9.5,270W solar,SolarBoost2000e,2 H2K's,2KW inverter,2 20lb LP on slide out tray,4 Lifeline AGM bats,Tundra fridge
95 Bounder 28' ClassA sold
91 Jamboree 21' ClassC sold

deltabravo
Nomad
Nomad
I see a shunt in there. My shunt is mounted on top of the battery enclosure.

Back when I worked at Heart Interface, one of the other customer service / tech support guys came up the a phrase "Shunt Happens!"
2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually, D/A, CCLB 4x4 (bought new 8/30/09)
2018 Arctic Fox 992 with an Onan 2500i "quiet" model generator

deltabravo
Nomad
Nomad
Here's mine:

2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually, D/A, CCLB 4x4 (bought new 8/30/09)
2018 Arctic Fox 992 with an Onan 2500i "quiet" model generator

Mello_Mike
Explorer
Explorer
Nice job!!! I just put a pair of these in my Laredo.
2016 Northstar Laredo SC/240w Solar/2-6v Lifeline AGMs/Dometic CR110 DC Compressor Fridge
2013 Ram 3500 4x4/6.7L Cummins TD/3.42/Buckstop Bumper with Warn 16.5ti Winch/Big Wig Rear Sway Bar/Talons w/SS Fastguns
My Rig
1998 Jeep Wrangler
US Navy Ret.

hedge
Explorer
Explorer
very nice, I want a set of those.
2017 F350 Platinum DRW
2013 Adventurer 89RB

deltabravo
Nomad
Nomad
Congrats on the AGM and "ditch the battery slide tray in an AF" upgrade.

I ran in to the same issue when I wanted to go with Deka AGMs. Batteries fit, but the cable stack would not clear the opening of the door. The battery slider tray is kind of useless too, because you cannot expect it to support the weight of two batteries when extended all the way out, such as when checking the water level.

The only way to service my wet cells was to totally dismantle all the connections and pull both batteries out. Imagine doing that on a ladder?!?

NO BUENO!

That's what killed my wet cells is not servicing them often enough, which was a result of the difficulty in servicing them.

My AGM setup is pretty similar - I used small sticks of wood as spacers and gap fillers that hold the batteries in place, though I went with Group 31s, which are a bit taller and wider. There's very little space left in the box.
2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually, D/A, CCLB 4x4 (bought new 8/30/09)
2018 Arctic Fox 992 with an Onan 2500i "quiet" model generator

jimh406
Explorer III
Explorer III
Looks good to me!

'10 Ford F-450, 6.4, 4.30, 4x4, 14,500 GVWR, '06 Host Rainer 950 DS, Torklift Talon tiedowns, Glow Steps, and Fastguns. Bilstein 4600s, Firestone Bags, Toyo M655 Gs, Curt front hitch, Energy Suspension bump stops.

NRA Life Member, CCA Life Member

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
very good
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

CAJW
Explorer
Explorer
2oldman wrote:
I see that, but he may be able to put the tray back.

No way, unless you want to remove/install the cables while in the retracted position. There is extremely limited vertical clearance with the slide tray installed, which makes installing/removing the cables very difficult, which would be necessary to operate the slide tray. No need to service them so taking the slide tray out just makes sense.
2013 AF 996, 2013 Chevy 3500 CC,LWB,4X4, Duramax, DRW, 3.73 rear, Torklift Stableloads & Tie-downs,Fast Guns, Ride Rite Air Bags, Superhitch w/ 32" extension.Big Wigs, Front Timbrens, TST TPMS-507,CubbyCam, Trimetric. TM & SC 2030 150W + 100W suitcase

dave17352
Explorer
Explorer
I think I would leave the tray out and leave the battery upright. Even though they can be laid on their side. Probably won't come out again until it fails which could be like 8 years?
NOW 2017 Leprechaun 260ds
2005 Forrest River Cardinal 29rkle FW
1998 Lance 980 11'3" TC
2017 CHEVY 3500 SRW 6.0
B@W turnover ball @ companion Hitch
Honda eu3000 generator mounted on cargo rack
Crestliner 1850 Fish Ski boat mostly fishing now!

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
jimh425 wrote:
I think the OP fixed their issue,
I see that, but he may be able to put the tray back.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

jimh406
Explorer III
Explorer III
I think the OP fixed their issue, but I can't see the pics either.

'10 Ford F-450, 6.4, 4.30, 4x4, 14,500 GVWR, '06 Host Rainer 950 DS, Torklift Talon tiedowns, Glow Steps, and Fastguns. Bilstein 4600s, Firestone Bags, Toyo M655 Gs, Curt front hitch, Energy Suspension bump stops.

NRA Life Member, CCA Life Member

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
Link error: "Not authorized to view this page."

Could you lay them on their sides?
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman