Battery Upgrade

[mdf]

Hi All,

Wanted to share a recent battery upgrade I was able to complete (with professional help) based on great advice from the forum. I have a 2016 Interstate Lounge 4x4, with the stock batteries under the coach on the drivers side. My goal was to simply add battery and solar capacity to expand dry camping flexibility. Eventually, I would like to add a more robust solar system (read: Lewster, when he has time!), but we didn't have time to take that on before a 5000 mile summer trip starting next month. So to get me through the trip I :

1) added a second 100W go-power flex panel on the roof, utilizing the existing wiring, controller, etc. I realize this system isn't ideal, but it will have to do for now, and was relatively simple as they make an add on kit which greatly simplified wiring and installation.

2) Converted the (2) stock 12v batteries to (4) Lifeline 6v 4CT AGM batteries.

I looked into trying to modify the under coach battery boxes, but that didn't work so well. So instead, we found that the Lifeline 4CT's fit perfectly in the metal under floor storage box under the floor of the storage area. See the attached pic.

Shout out to Vinnies Airstream repair in Santa Rosa, CA. Vinnie installed these batteries for me. Highly recommended for any of your service needs while in the NorCal area! Second shout out to Lewster for all the great advice -- can't wait to do the rest of the project when schedules permit.

[Boxster1971]

No picture attached to your post. Id like to see how your squeezed four batteries into that storage box.

[mdf]

Sorry, my internet must be too slow to upload the hi res pic. Will post when I can save in a smaller footprint. We had to take the plastic hatch off to get them in, then reinstall once they were seated.

[UKDUDE]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

No picture attached to your post. Id like to see how your squeezed four batteries into that storage box.

Yes - I was wondering about that too! 4 batteries?

[rnelson]

MDF,

I saw your Interstate at Vinnie's. I had my trailer in for some service work. The batteries looked great and are a perfect fit. I want to second your opinion of Vinnie's work! He did a great job for me.

[mdf]

(4) Lifeline 4CT 6 volts

[mdf]

One more thing about Vinny. He was previously the service manager at Mercedes Benz of Santa Rosa, so he is more than familiar with the Sprinter. Conveniently, his shop is literally across the street from MB Santa Rosa. Easy to get anything fixed or serviced!

[toskeysam]

Very nice picture......hmmmmmm.....

[toskeysam]

Looks like a great idea. My only concern comes from memories of my Ford Pinto....granted these are not gas tanks....but....

[lewster]

Interesting placement and nice work but remember that 4 Lifeline 4CT golf cart batteries weigh in at about 270 lbs. Thats a bit of weight to place that far to the rear of the long wheel base Sprinter.

[mdf]

Thanks everyone - to be clear - this was a stop gap solution to get me through this summer. The 4cts are heavy, although I think not an issue. I did remove the stock 24s, which were also pretty far back (and off center) and almost equal in weight to two of the 4cts. Lewster, we will go lithium when the big project gets done!

[73shark]

Might make the rear ride less bouncy.

[Teamaron]

Originally Posted by 73shark

Might make the rear ride less bouncy.

+1 on this

If not batteries maybe put some cinder/concrete blocks in temporarily


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by lewster

Interesting placement and nice work but remember that 4 Lifeline 4CT golf cart batteries weigh in at about 270 lbs. Thats a bit of weight to place that far to the rear of the long wheel base Sprinter.

Well within the Sprinter's/Interstate's load-bearing capacity.

It would be a good idea to weigh the loaded van (including rear-seat passengers) by axle to see how close it is to the Gross Rear Axle Weight rating— which can determine if the added weight of the batteries takes away any tongue weight capacity for trailer towing or use of a hitch-mounted cargo carrier. As long as GRAW is still at least 500 pounds more than the actual rear axle weight, there should be no reduction in towing capacity with regard to tongue weight.

[LB_3]

CAT Scales are everywhere. Once you set up the phone app, weighing your vehicle is pretty easy.

Here was our T1N a couple weeks ago:


It shows zero weight for the steer axel because there is a gate at the front of the scale and we wanted to be able to reweigh the vehicle with the left side off the scale to get the left right split as well.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by LB_3

CAT Scales are everywhere. Once you set up the phone app, weighing your vehicle is pretty easy.

Here was our T1N a couple weeks ago: <snip>

It shows zero weight for the steer axel because there is a gate at the front of the scale and we wanted to be able to reweigh the vehicle with the left side off the scale to get the left right split as well.

Wow that looks like a great app to have. Could you expand on how you got the weight for just one side at a CAT scale? I've done it at a moving company once in the past. But Id like to get a new weight since I've added the new batteries and inverter.

[73shark]

Appears that their spell check wasn't working. avaiable vs available.

[LB_3]

There is a gate at the front of the scale with a button for drivers to ring the attendant. But there is no need to do that if you already have an account and have downloaded their app.

In order to reweigh with two wheels off the scale we had to position ourselves before the gate. The scale is the size of a semi broken into 3 separate scales. One for the front wheels, another for the drive wheels, and the third for the trailer wheels.

The entire scale is surrounded by a large concrete pad. On the reweigh, we just parked with the left two wheels on the concrete pad.

It will make more sense when you see it.

CAT scales seem to be located at most truck stops located on Interstates. You can use their website to locate the nearest scale. Before you weigh, download their app and register your credit card. When you get on the scale, just enter the scale ID number and wait a few moments and it will show your weight. I think it was $10.50 for the first weigh and $2 for each reweigh over the next 24 hours.

[Boxster1971]

Thanks LB_3. I'm sure using the app would help. The one time I stopped at a CAT scale the call putt on was so high I couldn't reach it so I just drove through.

- - Mike
2013 Interstate Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter

[Flat6]

Sorry for late post, but how much did this conversion cost at Vinnie's? Did the 4 6v conversion increase time for boon docking?