Bigger, Heavier Batteries in Small Space?

[daveward]

I have a new-to-me 1998 Kountry Aire and the two 12v no-name house batteries will need replacing relatively soon. I'll bet quite a few of you have similar set-ups...a slide-out battery tray near the generator that measures 23.5" long and just over 8.125" wide. In my case my max battery height with terminals is 9.5".

Who has done something creative to stuff more battery power in that space?

Thanks.

[Soppy]

Unless you can make that space bigger , you're stuck with a couple of group 24 12volt batteries. You can't even go to the group 27 battery as they are 12" long. The 6volt deep cycles are all too tall. If you're handy with a torch welder and grinder , You should be able to enlarge the compartment to fit whatever batteries you desire. You could also look at relocating the battery bank.

[Finance]

Our previous Baystar had the house batteries in the engine space at the front, right behind the cap (2 batteries). Wanting more capacity, I converted the first basement space behind the door to a second battery space, and had 2 battery banks with a battery selector so I could use either or both together. Similar to boats, where the consequence of no electrical power can be... serious.

Because of the weight involved, I fabricated a supporting battery tray that was suspended from the framing above, no weight on the floor of the basement.

Also if you have batteries in 2 locations you should be cognizant of how to equalize the lengths of cabling so that all the batteries are equally depleted and charged.

It's definitely doable.

[joes2901]

I did not have that space. My Bay Star had 2 group 24 batteries in front of the radiator. I found space above the frame rails and had 4 Lifeline AGM L-16 batteries (for 800 AH) installed on a 1" plywood that was added to the space to support the batteries 480 lbs. The AGMs, though expensive, worked because they do not out gas and rot away the metal around them and were laid down on their 11' sides. AGMs can be used in any orientation except upside down. Look in your compartments, is there space above the frame rails to lay down AGM batteries?

["007"]

I removed two 6v wet cells and added two 12v AGM's on that tray after cleaning, no more of a mess plenty of voltage for overnight dry camping in freezing weather, on way to FL.