We have a 2003 Fleetwood Prowler Trailer. We just bought it in August 2021.
Last time I was here we decided to get a Predator from Horrible Freight because availability of generators was low and we were going to be boondocking for a week. We got our batteries from Walmart, apparently a horrible idea as well. After trying to use this combination as our source of energy in the trailer for a little under a year, we returned everything. We decided to use the refund to help us to splurge on two of the 2200 Watt Honda inverter generators (one is a companion version so we can hook them up together) and I found some reasonably priced lithium 12V batteries so we got them as well. Lithium seems to be the best if you can afford it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1
Unfortunately, I didn't consider that these batteries seem to be a totally random size, certainly not the group 24 that my battery boxes are for. They are much longer and they can't really fit even in the slot even without the battery boxes. I was thinking it would be nice if we could wire them into the storage compartment right behind the front of the trailer. My fiancee said there is no way to do that without doing harm to the trailer. I can't remember exactly what he said, but he didn't think it was a good idea.
Do you guys have any fancy tricks for wiring into compartments without hurting your trailer's body? I saw an RV Youtuber who had his lithium batteries sideways in one of his storage compartments, so I think that's why I thought I could wire them where I would want to keep them, but he had a much newer and nicer RV. I would like to keep them in that compartment also because they won't be out in the open just asking to be stolen. The guy who we bought the trailer from had his batteries stolen.
My fiancee said we should try to find battery boxes for the size and just install them size ways (rotated 90deg from how I had the old group 24 batteries). But I think that's going to be hard because they aren't a standard size. I asked on the page for the product is there is one available, but was wondering if there's a good supplier online for specialty sized battery boxes?
Oh I also got a multi stage converter that I still need to install, but it seemed like a good idea from what I was reading. Hopefully I don't run into issues installing it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I wanted to get a SoftStartRV for the AC but my fiancee thought it wouldn't need it since we'll have 4400 Watts. But would it help save the generators in the long run? I want these new generators to have a long reliable life.
Also was wondering if it would be worth getting solar panels too, but I guess if we don't mind paying for gas this should cover us for energy day and night.
Thank you so much for any advice or tips you have! I hope our next trip goes better. The last one was a disaster in that the generator and batteries were both unreliable.
Linear Mode
