The next big project was installing two additional batteries. This is a follow-up to my earlier post
here. SMB Indiana installed two group 27 AGM batteries, one under the right rear of the van, the other on the right side of the rear storage compartment (see my
web site for diagrams and photos). For winter use these were not adequate, 200 A-Hr total, to last overnight when we are using lights, electric fridge, TV, and Espar D2 furnace, and there is little solar gain in the winter. Even in the summer it is nice to have more battery storage for the microwave, and so we don't have to run the generator every day.
Options for placing them were under the hood (a very tight squeeze), in the rear storage compartment (a very tight fit considering they need to be in vented boxes back there), and under the van, an alternative suggested by SMB. The best place I found under the van was between the diesel generator and the rear axle. So I designed and welded a steel cage as shown in the photos below. I purchased plastic battery boxes, threw away the lids, and placed them upside down over the batteries. This keeps water and salt off of them, allows them to vent out the bottom, and they take up less space without the lids. I attached with two posts left over from the spare tire carrier and two new ones I made.
The batteries plus cage weigh a total of 150 lbs, and so I needed a way to raise and lower them for inspection and repair on the road. I ended up buying a small winch from TECA as is used for storing a spare tire under a truck. It conveniently mounted at the rear of the storage area in the back behind the spare tire. I operate it with a socket wrench. The cable connects to the hole in the center of the top bar as shown here:
The photo below shows how the cage mounts under the van. You can see the generator on the left and the tail pipe on the right.
Here is the cage painted and batteries installed:
And here it is ready to be hoisted up under the van. I used 2/0 gauge cables.
Let me know if you have questions.
David