Is there a group of Astoria Owners?

[Hawk43]

I may have screwed up. I tried to replace the two 12 volt batteries. The new battery posts configuration would not fit and I may have messed up installing cables, but I don't think so. What is the best battery and source for 12 volt deep cycle batteries for the 2009 Damon Astoria? Sure would appreciate a picture of the cable configuration.

Hawk43

[dsbear]

Hawk I have a 2011. I use four 6-volt Lifeline AGM batteries for the house batteries. I will photograph the wiring in the morning and post for you.


David, Heidi, M and Moose(the lab)
2011 Damon Astoria
Pulling an'09 Chevy CrewCab.

[Baldtbird.06]

This might help the hookup process for 4 Coach Batteries.
http://www.rvforum.net/miscfiles/batterycon-1.pdf

[SteveOGilroy]

For the house batteries we have 6- 6Volt Lifeline AGM 220Amp hrs each. 4 in the normal battery tray and two extra sitting with the 12 V chassis batteries. We took the chassis batteries and moved them sidewise. Cable lenghts and connection need to be correct.

[Hawk43]

Originally Posted by Baldtbird.06

This might help the hookup process for 4 Coach Batteries.
http://www.rvforum.net/miscfiles/batterycon-1.pdf

Thanks. This what I needed. My Astoria uses Group 31 batteries 12 V. Next battery change I'll try the 6 V type.

Thanks again

[Britcanuck]

Originally Posted by Hawk43

Count me in as #5 Astoria owner. 2009 Astoria Pacific. thirty eight feet long 340 HP Cummins Bought it used a month ago. Having problems with the Lippert Ultra Level system and the QD8000 Onan genset (wont't start, goes click click....)
Thinking of putting a Safety Plus steering stabilizer on. It kind of wanders and that scares my wife. I agree; it's hard to find info on the Damons.

Skip Dent
Possum Kingdom Lake, TX

You'll get a lot of good advice about your genset on these pages so I will only add that it's important to have plenty of fuel on board as the generator supply is higher than the engine supply. When it comes to Lippert Ultra Level I don't believe that anyone has been through the grinder more than I have. Beginning with the early fluid pumps with single seals between motor & pump to the new one with triple seals. Replacing my pump just stopped it leaking, it didn't fix the erratic behavior of the jacks. As the problem comes and goes depending on the amount of fluid in the reservoir it took almost 2 years of back and forth with the Lippert technical support before I realized that the people I was talking to had no more information that the few pages of stuff that came with the coach. In utter frustration I wrote Lippert head office and was contacted by a gentleman named Shannon Hunter. What a breath of fresh air that was. He defended the corporate position that there was no problem but as a matter of goodwill was going to send me a new wiring harness. The wiring harness is quite a complex bit of gear so I had a local dealer install it for me. BINGO! all problems gone. PLEASE don't go lean on this gentleman but ask for him and explain your problems without mentioning my situation. I am sure you will find him most helpful and will assist you to resolve your issues.

[Raytaylor25]

Hi I had my motorhome weighed and the tire gentleman who appears to be very well versed in tires says I need 90 in the rear and 110 in the front. This of course all depending on the weights of the unit. He also told me it was of no use to cover the wheels when parked for any length of time it was of no benefit. The tires he said would break down on the inside if they are not run as the heat from running helps the chemical make-up of the tire stay pliable.

[SteveOGilroy]

Having the motorhome weighed at all tire points is very important. We weighed our motor home at Henderson in OR in 2010, fully loaded and on our way to Alaska. The tables showed 110 pounds all the way around. We still keep the 110 PSI in all six tires, even though we now travel much lighter in weight. I can not tell the difference between the ride at 100PSI or 110PSI. Our last tires showed very little ware but we replaced them at 7 years just to be safe. We do cover our tires and have not had cracking on the exterior of the tires. My truck with 5 year old tires, uncovered does have cracks and I'll replace them.

The GY G670 tires have a UV protection in them. Other tires like my newer Toyo do not.

If your are traveling down from BC along US Interstate 5, stop in at Henderson's Lineup in Grants Pass Oregon and have them do a four point weigh and assessment on your chassis. Time and money well spent. (Only a customer.... not an employee!)

[Kenh1]

Originally Posted by Baldtbird.06

This might help the hookup process for 4 Coach Batteries.
http://www.rvforum.net/miscfiles/batterycon-1.pdf

This is good information, but it does not show where the + and - are hooked up or the converter cable on 4 battery setup.

[Tankd]

Received a recall today concerning the step of our 2011 Astoria. Thought I'd pass this along in case there are second owners out there that may not get it.
--John--

[Alltooledup]

My Astoria bought used came with two 230 amper hour 6 volt battery. So wired in series they put out 12 volts at 230 amps. The genset a Guardian 7.5 KW unit states that it needs 370 cca. So it would seem that the coach 6 volts could never crank this genset. I can start it sometimes by pushing the dead battery switch on the dash next to the ignition but most of the time I need to have the coach engine running first and then can get it to crank and start. I dislike having to use the dead battery emergency switch to get the gen running. I have lost a layer of backup by doing this. Suppose the gen did not start and I run the engine battery down. I have reverted to starting the engine first then starting the genset with the emergency switch. Then I shut the engine off which has not run long enough to properly warm up. This is all taking place in campgrounds with no idling rules and 2 hour generator run periods 2 times a day. So I am thinking that I have to go with either 4 GC2 battery or some of the hybrid start/ deepcycle AGM types. Did anyone else experience this and if so what was your fix.
Running the furnace at night the batteries are to depleted to crank the genset in the AM. We missed the 4-6 pm run time once and the furnace fan motor was running slow by morning and causing the burner to cycle on the the high limit switch instead of the thermostat. I thought the coach was ready for dry camping but I am going to have to make some changes.

[Jim Estes]

That is strange...it should have 4 six volt batteries...is there room for four batteries in the tray?

[dsbear]

Here are photos of my house batteries and the wiring. The batteries are Lifeline AGM 6 volt 230 amp hour.




David, Heidi, M and Moose(the lab)
2011 Damon Astoria
Pulling an'09 Chevy CrewCab.

[Britcanuck]

Originally Posted by Alltooledup

My Astoria bought used came with two 230 amper hour 6 volt battery. So wired in series they put out 12 volts at 230 amps. The genset a Guardian 7.5 KW unit states that it needs 370 cca. So it would seem that the coach 6 volts could never crank this genset. I can start it sometimes by pushing the dead battery switch on the dash next to the ignition but most of the time I need to have the coach engine running first and then can get it to crank and start. I dislike having to use the dead battery emergency switch to get the gen running. I have lost a layer of backup by doing this. Suppose the gen did not start and I run the engine battery down. I have reverted to starting the engine first then starting the genset with the emergency switch. Then I shut the engine off which has not run long enough to properly warm up. This is all taking place in campgrounds with no idling rules and 2 hour generator run periods 2 times a day. So I am thinking that I have to go with either 4 GC2 battery or some of the hybrid start/ deepcycle AGM types. Did anyone else experience this and if so what was your fix.
Running the furnace at night the batteries are to depleted to crank the genset in the AM. We missed the 4-6 pm run time once and the furnace fan motor was running slow by morning and causing the burner to cycle on the the high limit switch instead of the thermostat. I thought the coach was ready for dry camping but I am going to have to make some changes.

Like the the other learned contributors have already said your coach was built to have 4 x 6 volt GC batteries. Around 230 amp hrs each is about the right capacity. Don't mess with cheap ones or 'hybrids'. I have had good luck with US Battery 2200. Heard some bad news about Interstate batteries but no personal experience. Once you get the correct batteries a lot of the problems you describe will hopefully fade away.