Travato Battery Project

[wincrasher]

I installed a 2nd house battery in my 59G.

Blog post with pictures plus video:

Wincrasher's Travels: Travato Battery Project

[wanderso]

Thanks for sharing. I've noticed on both of the Promaster chassis RVs that winnebago built, they installed the battery below. While safer than standard flooded cell batteries, they are still not recommended to be installed inside but I do wonder if they could have chosen a different location? For example, inside the rig in a metal compartment with a vent to the outside or in a hatch accessible from the floor. AGMs also don't have to be installed upright which gives added mounting and space options.

[wincrasher]

It's a matter of the layout I suppose. There is room under the van, and being AGM, there is not need to check on them. Inside the cabin is problematic.

Not sure on the Zion where they have placed the battery. On the Lexor, they have a box mounted at the back of the van with an access door in the floor under the sofa. On the Winnebago, the black tank is in this location on both models of van.

[wanderso]

Thanks. It seems that things went down like this:

James:
"Hey Bob! Great design for the new Travato. There is just one thing: you forgot to locate a spot for the house batteries."

Bob:
"Oops. You're right! How about we install it in the open air under the chassis? That way it can be a dealer serviced item. We will have it be an AGM battery to reduce the need to service it."

James:
"Ok, but won't customers complain about how hard it is to access? What if they want to install a larger battery setup and inverter so that they can run the electric hot water heater before reaching camp without using the generator or if they want to boondock? 110amp hours with a recommendation of not using more than 50% of capacity sure doesn't leave much. Isn't there a risk of a puncture from road debris such as semi tire retreads? What about all the corrosion and rust risks for the connectors and mounts for folks in the rust belt states? Why not have a hatch in the floor and a reinforced battery box?"

Bob:
"Well if we did that, there is more R&D and we would miss 6 weeks of sales. Let's just distract buyers from the issue by offering a model that is painted red for 2015 and add kayak and mountain bike racks. We can fix the battery location in the 2018 model."

James:
"Wait! Don't folks with kayaks and mountain bikes often drive on gravel roads? That's where the good trails and rivers are! It seems like we are going backwards and encouraging folks to damage their battery."

Bob:
"I've solved that. We'll put a note in the Owner's manual recommending that they avoid gravel roads. Check it out on our website."

James:
"Good thinking. That way we can absolve ourselves of responsibility if it fails because we told customers to avoid gravel roads. It doesn't solve the road salt corrosion or road debris issue though."

Bob:
"I agree. We'll solve that on the 2018 model. Besides, Ben Trovato in Italian means: If it is not true, it is a good story. Italian company (Fiat). Italian van. A good story. Get it?"

James:
"Laughing... And the American spelling of Trovato as Travato. Genius"

[wanderso]

(A bit of tongue & cheek). Winnebago has added a 2 AGM batteries on the 2016 K model as standard (still exposed under chassis).