I need anew battery plan!!!

[Mr.Geritol]

I had intended to remove the two deep cycle marine batteries and change to QTY four or six six volt golf cart batteries ( In the craziness of buying these things it is some times cheaper to buy a lot of six than a lot of four).
I had some pictures that I studied over the winter where my batteries are located in front of the rad and had decided it would be doable. However now that the warm weather is here and I have done a physical look the frame I had intended to mount too is no where near strong enough to take 360 pounds of batteries going up an down the road. and I had missed the fact that the the batteries would also shadow the trans cooler (not good).
So now I am on the hunt for an alternate plan and wondering where others have installed their battery banks?
I cannot sacrifice the storage compartments and again the weight would be an issue. Venting would also be an issue in the compartments.
Has any one frame mounted the batteries under the coach?
Or maybe I should just look for AGM or other batteries that will fit where the originals are.
I am open to suggestions and Ideas.
We plan to boondock a lot next year and I have two 170 watt solar panels and charger installed.

[Gary RVRoamer]

If 6 are too heavy, then use 4x 6v GC2, or 4x real 12v deep cycles (not the marine type). Get them large enough for the amp-hours (AH) you feel you need for your off-grid usage. More AH means more weight, though, so if weight is your limiting factor you are going to have to live with fewer AH. AH capacity is directly related to the amount of lead in a battery, so a battery with more AH always weighs more.

AGM or not is a different question and basically a no-maintenance vs maintenance discussion. You pay a lot more to get the zero maintenance that comes with AGM.

Trojan makes some dandy 12v deep cycles in both flooded cell and AGM designs and either will give you many years of good service. My Trojan AGM 31's (Group 31 size, 102 AH each) are 8 years old now and still doing quite well.

And 12v batteries gives you the option to use 5 instead of 6, if that helps the weight issue.

[Mr.Geritol]

The 12 volt deep cycle option is one that I had not considered. That is what happens when you let your mind run down a fixed path.