Previously, I've been unable to locate any threads or videos on how to replace coach batteries in our 2016 ERA (or any other model year). Hopefully these pictures and info will be useful for someone down the road.
This is one of the battery boxes located beneath the chassis, this one behind the wheels on the driver's side. Note the spare tire which significantly reduces the space to work on the batteries.
This is the battery box on the driver's side, minus the battery. Note the slots where the bolts on the battery tray slide in and down:
This is the battery box and battery on the passenger side:
This is one of the replacement batteries mounted in one of the battery trays. Note the hold-down bracket on top and the bolts on the bottom front that slide into the slots mentioned above:
Here are some notes I wrote for myself, on the off chance I ever need to remove or install one or both of the coach batteries.
Notes:
- our 2016 ERA has 2 coach (house) batteries. Under the impression that 1 battery
is standard and the 2nd was an added-cost option, but that may not be correct
Batteries:
- quantity: 2
- size: Group 31 (approximately 13" wide, 8" deep, 9" high)
- weight (each): 75 pounds
- originals: NAPA Commercial AGM 105AH (note: NOT deep cycle)
- replacements: VMAXTANKS SLR125 AGM 125AH deep-cycle, installed September 2022
Overview:
- 2 coach batteries:
- 1 on either side of RV, under chassis, behind rear wheels
- wired in parallel
- no access from outside (sides or rear) of RV
- very little room to work laying on the ground underneath the RV
- spare tire mounted underneath behind bumper limits room to move around
- getting the RV on a lift, or accessing from a bay, would be best options
- otherwise, use of a floor jack or something similar is required
- battery mounting info:
- each battery mounted in a 3-sided box secured to the chassis with 4 bolts from
above, with a 1.5-inch-wide lip on the bottom rear of the box that the battery
tray (see below) sits on
- box is approximately 14" wide, 9" deep & 11" high
- battery cable access may be difficult to impossible with the battery installed
- 4th side is open to inside of the chassis for battery access, removal & installation
- the bottom front of each side at the base of the box has a slot that starts
horizontal, then angles down. Each side of the battery tray has a captive bolt that
slides into the slot and then drops down, secured with a 1/2-inch nut
- a battery hold-down bracket fits across the top of the battery. It is held in place
by a pair of long bolts that pass through the bottom of the battery tray (front & rear)
and through the bracket, secured by 1/2-inch nuts
- the rear of the tray sits on top of the lip (see above) at the back of the box
Removing a coach battery:
- the following notes assume the use of a floor jack or alternative to support and lower
the tray containing the battery
- remove the cable clamp on the chassis to allow the cables to hang further down (optional)
- remove the 1/2-inch nuts on each side of the tray at the front base of the box
- raise the tray slightly (tray bolt moves up in the slot) so the bolt clears the slot
- pull the tray forward (towards the center of the RV) about 1.5 inches to clear the
lip in the back of the box, allowing the tray & battery to drop down
- lower the tray far enough to access the nuts or bolts securing the battery cables
- disconnect the negative battery cables:
- 2 negative (black) cables on batteries on both sides (driver & passenger)
- NOTE: 1 of the negative cables on the left (driver) side is VERY short;
the battery cannot be lowered very far without disconnecting this cable
- disconnect the positive battery cable(s):
- 2 positive (red) cables on battery on left (driver) side
- 1 positive (red) cable on battery on right (passenger) side
- drop the battery down as far as possible and remove it from the vehicle
- unscrew hold-down bracket nuts and remove the battery from the tray
Installing a coach battery (essentially the above steps in reverse):
- the following notes assume the use of a floor jack or alternative to support and
raise the tray containing the battery
- place battery in tray, position hold-down bracket and secure with nuts (2)
- maneuver the tray & battery under the battery box, positioned slightly to the
inside of the RV so the tray will clear the lip in the back of the box when
raising the battery
- raise the battery part way into the box
- attach and secure the positive battery cable(s):
- 2 positive (red) cables on battery on left (driver) side
- 1 positive (red) cable on battery on right (passenger) side
- attach and secure the negative battery cables:
- 2 negative (black) cables on batteries on both sides (driver & passenger)
- NOTE: 1 of the negative cables on the left (driver) side is VERY short;
the battery will have to be raised at least half-way into the box for
that particular cable to reach the battery terminal
- raise the tray and battery high enough so the rear of the tray will clear the
lip on the back of the box and the bolts on the tray will slide into the slots
on the bottom sides of the box
- push the tray & battery back into the box (towards the outside of the RV);
confirm the tray is sitting on the box's rear lip and the tray bolts are sitting
in the bottoms of the slots on both sides of the front of the box
- replace the nuts on the tray bolts and secure them
- replace the cable clamp and secure it to the chassis
Alternative method of removal & installation:
- Someone on one of the Winnebago owner forums suggested unbolting the entire battery
box (with the tray and battery in it), lowering it, replacing the battery and
reinstalling it. The box appears to be secured to the chassis by 4 bolts from above
- theoretically, that sounds like a significantly easier way to replace the batteries.
The main reason I did NOT go with this approach was not knowing how the bolts were
secured to the chassis. I did not know if I needed access to the heads of the bolts
to hold them in place while securing the battery box from below. I didn't want to
risk being unable to properly secure the battery box back in place.