Community Forums

aza · 05-22-2021, 03:42 PM

* Does the 2022 Cornerstone now place house batteries on a pull-out drawer for easy servicing?

* Does the new Cornerstone have a "clearance camera"? This is a camera located on top of the front cap (similar to the rear camera). Camera provides a great view of the road as well as warning the driver of a clearance issue

LWBAZ · 05-22-2021, 04:25 PM

My answer to both of your questions is, "Not that I'm aware of."

Attached below is Entegra's "Cornerstone Model Year 2022 - What's New" document. I don't see either of the things you asked about mentioned in that document.

Gary.Jones · 05-23-2021, 05:39 AM

I think you will need to call Middlebury and ask them directly, but I doubt that either of those options are now included on a 22 Cornerstone, particularly. Being faced right now with changing the batteries in my Cornerstone, the battery shelf would make it a whole lot easier, but that just doesn't seem to be something they would do now.

Let us all know what you find out.

Gary

brobox · 05-23-2021, 07:06 AM

The pull out tray for the L16's would be a welcome upgrade. I hope Entegra is seeing this post. I am expecting a short life on my batteries due to the delayed delivery of 3 months without being plugged in. Other coaches just over 2 years old are now going through the replacements of the 120 pound L 16's that are very hard to get to.

Prairie Dog · 05-23-2021, 07:35 AM

Do you think Entegra would install a set of Lifelines during an annual service visit if you brought them to them?

Gary.Jones · 05-23-2021, 08:41 AM

A good dealer should be willing to do that.... I would think that Middlebury might decline to do that as they likely don't like to get into replacing their equipment with other stuff. If you can get the batteries, NIRVC will do it for you

Gary

brobox · 05-23-2021, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prairie Dog

Do you think Entegra would install a set of Lifelines during an annual service visit if you brought them to them?

The AIR is now Annual Inspection Review, $129 after the warranty period for annual inspections. The $129. inspection fee is applied to any corrective work. I don't know why battery replacement wouldn't qualify for corrective work. It would be worth asking.

LWBAZ · 05-23-2021, 02:59 PM

I’ve made most of the points that follow on previous occasions, but since we’re on the subject I’ll make them again here.

On the Anthem and Cornerstone, Entegra used to install eight BCI Group GC2 batteries on two slide trays (four batteries per tray) in the first compartment behind the driver’s side steer tire. As I recall, the Aspire had only four batteries, and I believe they were located on the passenger rather than driver’s side of the coach.

For years the Cornerstone has had a steer axle rated at 20,000 pounds, so it wasn’t like the weight of the batteries in that location was an issue. Starting with the 2020 model year, the Anthem now has the same 20,000 pound steer axle, but before that change was made some (maybe) all Anthems were getting close to the rated capacity of their steer axles. The obvious solution would have been to do what was eventually done (upgrade the Anthem’s steer axle), but instead of doing that someone had the idea to relocate the house battery bank to the center of the coach, side-to-side and front-to-rear. That change was implemented starting with the 2017 model year.

A number of observers lauded the brilliance of that move. A few went so far as to claim the handling of the coach would improve with the weight of the house battery bank moved to the center of the coach.

Our Cornerstone weighs approximately 48,000 pounds loaded for travel. Its four L16 batteries weigh about 120 pounds apiece, or 480 pounds total. A whopping one percent of the total weight of the coach. And it’s not like 100% of 480 pounds was forever removed from the driver’s side of the steer axle. Why? Because where the batteries used to be is now a rather spacious basement storage compartment. Did the designers somehow assume that compartment would be left empty?

In our case, that compartment is a really good place for my not-exactly-light tool box, my not-exactly-light leveling jack pads, a couple of jugs of DEF, a case of wine (which admittedly gets lighter the more days we’re on the road), and a number of other items. The items in there don’t total 480 pounds, but I’m willing to guess they easily approach half of that.

And did I mention the new location of the batteries and the change from 70 pound GG2’s to 120 pound L16’s makes accessing and/or replacing the batteries an anything-but-fun experience?

Bottom line, relocating the house battery bank to where it is now was no doubt well intended, but I’m not aware of any other Class A motorhome builder that has followed suit. Which tends to suggest it wasn’t such a great idea after all.

Just my two cents. Differing opinions welcome.

zman62 · 05-23-2021, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWBAZ

I’ve made most of the points that follow on previous occasions, but since we’re on the subject I’ll make them again here.

On the Anthem and Cornerstone, Entegra used to install eight BCI Group GC2 batteries on two slide trays (four batteries per tray) in the first compartment behind the driver’s side steer tire. As I recall, the Aspire had only four batteries, and I believe they were located on the passenger rather than driver’s side of the coach.

For years the Cornerstone has had a steer axle rated at 20,000 pounds, so it wasn’t like the weight of the batteries in that location was an issue. Starting with the 2020 model year, the Anthem now has the same 20,000 pound steer axle, but before that change was made some (maybe) all Anthems were getting close to the rated capacity of their steer axles. The obvious solution would have been to do what was eventually done (upgrade the Anthem’s steer axle), but instead of doing that someone had the idea to relocate the house battery bank to the center of the coach, side-to-side and front-to-rear. That change was implemented starting with the 2017 model year.

A number of observers lauded the brilliance of that move. A few went so far as to claim the handling of the coach would improve with the weight of the house battery bank moved to the center of the coach.

Our Cornerstone weighs approximately 48,000 pounds loaded for travel. Its four L16 batteries weigh about 120 pounds apiece, or 480 pounds total. A whopping one percent of the total weight of the coach. And it’s not like 100% of 480 pounds was forever removed from the driver’s side of the steer axle. Why? Because where the batteries used to be is now a rather spacious basement storage compartment. Did the designers somehow assume that compartment would be left empty?

In our case, that compartment is a really good place for my not-exactly-light tool box, my not-exactly-light leveling jack pads, a couple of jugs of DEF, a case of wine (which admittedly gets lighter the more days we’re on the road), and a number of other items. The items in there don’t total 480 pounds, but I’m willing to guess they easily approach half of that.

And did I mention the new location of the batteries and the change from 70 pound GG2’s to 120 pound L16’s makes accessing and/or replacing the batteries an anything-but-fun experience?

Bottom line, relocating the house battery bank to where it is now was no doubt well intended, but I’m not aware of any other Class A motorhome builder that has followed suit. Which tends to suggest it wasn’t such a great idea after all.

Just my two cents. Differing opinions welcome.

I have zero experience getting batteries out of the new location. However as far as prime storage real estate putting them mid coach frees up some prime real estate for my huge toolbox.

As long as I don’t have to replace the batteries but every 3 to 5 yrs I think it’s a good move for me at least

LWBAZ · 05-23-2021, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zman62

I have zero experience getting batteries out of the new location. However as far as prime storage real estate putting them mid coach frees up some prime real estate for my huge toolbox.

Kert, you’re making my point about there being little or no change to the weight on the steer axle as a result of relocating the house batteries. And I agree that the compartment which previously housed the batteries is a convenient location for my toolbox and well as yours.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zman62

As long as I don’t have to replace the batteries but every 3 to 5 yrs I think it’s a good move for me at least

If Entegra was kind enough to install Lifeline L16 AGM batteries I’d be inclined to agree. But based on my experience and that of other Entegra owners with the made-in-China Discover/Relion AGM batteries, good luck with getting three to five years of life out of them.

Gary.Jones · 05-23-2021, 03:51 PM

Chuck

Well, here is why I say I doubt that they will be willing to make the change. When I have discussed my battery situation with Middlebury, what I get is "Well, we know nothing about Deka or Lifeline batteries. If you would like to replace your current Relion batteries with other Relion batteries, we could provide those. Do you want the number of their dealers?"

Me: "Well, you know Relion batteries are not considered very good batteries and many owners have found that they don't last very long and the last thing that I would want to do is put new Relion batteries in my coach to replace the battery bank that failed after exactly three years"

I got something like: "Well, I don't know anything about Lifeline or Deka L-16s or any other brand but I can give you the New York City number for Relion's headquarters ......."

Make your own guess.... I could be wrong

And that front driver side compartment is too darn hard to get into without giving yourself a concussion from the super slide for me to use that compartment for often needed tools. My tools boxes are on the first half of the motorized slide on the passenger side so I can at least move most of my tool chests out beyond the slide when deployed. No concussion yet!

Gary

zman62 · 05-23-2021, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWBAZ

Kert, you’re making my point about there being little or no change to the weight on the steer axle as a result of relocating the house batteries. And I agree that the compartment which previously housed the batteries is a convenient location for my toolbox and well as yours.

If Entegra was kind enough to install Lifeline L16 AGM batteries I’d be inclined to agree. But based on my experience and that of other Entegra owners with the made-in-China Discover/Relion AGM batteries, good luck with getting three to five years of life out of them.

I will keep my fingers crossed

brobox · 05-23-2021, 05:13 PM

I wasn't referring to moving the L16's back to the outside compartment I was referring to putting a sliding tray for the L16's to sit on in their current location. Pulling them out to changing them in 2 years would be much simpler. Then again, just installing batteries that last longer than 2 years would be a much better alternative.