Adding batteries

Sangone · 04-26-2005, 05:54 AM

I have a 2002 Adventurer 35U. Underneath the steps, I have 2 12volt batteries and one chassis battery. I'm looking to replace the 2 12volts batteries with 4 6volt deep cycle batteries - preferrably with Trojan T105's. Has anyone been successful putting in 5 batteries total (4 plus one chassis battery) in the battery bank area underneath the steps?

I ask because from the top it appears there's enough space but upon closer inspection, there is a small section that goes into the battery bank to accomodate the electric steps.

It looks like 4 batteries will fit for sure. Just trying to keep all 5 there to avoid relocating the chassis battery.

Sangone · 04-26-2005, 05:54 AM

I have a 2002 Adventurer 35U. Underneath the steps, I have 2 12volt batteries and one chassis battery. I'm looking to replace the 2 12volts batteries with 4 6volt deep cycle batteries - preferrably with Trojan T105's. Has anyone been successful putting in 5 batteries total (4 plus one chassis battery) in the battery bank area underneath the steps?

I ask because from the top it appears there's enough space but upon closer inspection, there is a small section that goes into the battery bank to accomodate the electric steps.

It looks like 4 batteries will fit for sure. Just trying to keep all 5 there to avoid relocating the chassis battery.

dirko · 04-26-2005, 06:05 AM

Hi Ho: We have a 2000 35U and did what you suggest. The chassis battery goes in the middle. We didn't even have to disconnect it. They fit so well it appears that someone actually designed the space for these five batteries. Be sure to use cables that are large enough and make good connections.

Lucchese1 · 04-26-2005, 06:06 AM

My last motorhome was an 2000 35U Adventurer. I put 4-T105s under the step but had to relocate the engine battery in the compartment to the right. I drilled a hole and used a rubber gromet for cables and a battery box,it was clean and worked well untill last year when I traded her in. Unless the battery area was made larger in 02 you should not be able to fit more that the 4-105s. As for the t-105s they are great batteries but keep an eye on the water level depending on usage I would check them every month. My new coach has three 12 volts and its still not enough, but battery slide out tray will not hold any more

Cruzer · 04-26-2005, 07:19 AM

Fred Bradley did this a few years ago. I posted a picture of the installation for him in the IRV2 Photo Gallery. Click Here to see it. If you want to do a search on his original post it was from August of 2003.

LandHo · 04-26-2005, 07:38 AM

I presume you want 4 6volt batteries so that you can have a 2000 watt inverter? If so how does one wire that in...

or you want 4 batteries to boondock longer...

Sangone · 04-26-2005, 07:48 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> I presume you want 4 6volt batteries so that you can have a 2000 watt inverter? If so how does one wire that in...
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That is correct. I bought a 2000 watt inverter/charger (Freedom 458 series) and would like to have the extra batteries to boondock longer or with less worries.

dirko · 04-26-2005, 07:52 AM

Hi Ho: I knew Mark would come up with the photo. It was a little easier to install the chassis battery in the middle, otherwise our installation looks the same. We used 4 T105's and the original chassis battery.

Sangone · 04-26-2005, 08:11 AM

Dirk - thanks for your post. I hope our 2002 is based on the same platform and will fit perfectly as yours.

Mark - great picture. It's exactly what I was hoping to see. I'll look for the post suggested. Hopefully it will be helpful.

RVDriver · 04-26-2005, 03:12 PM

Sangone,

Please let us know how this all works out.

Thanks

Sangone · 04-26-2005, 03:25 PM

Bruce - will definitely do it once done. I have to get my inverter/charger installed first (it should ship tomorrow hopefully). The batteries will come some time after that.

LandHo · 04-26-2005, 03:55 PM

yep...details please...I would like to run a bigger inverter too...waiting to see how expensive or how difficult this mod is...

Scooter · 04-26-2005, 04:18 PM

We replaced the two 12V under the steps with two 6V and then we installed four 6V in the cargo compartment next to the steps.

The four 6V were boxed in and sealed off and a Freedom 458/2000 inverter/charger was installed in the same compartment.

A Link 1000 finished the project.