Never done it, but it would seem fairly straight forward. If you got one of those battery boxes that the newer Airstreams come with, you could have it welded to the A-frame in the same location, then all you'd have to do is pull the wire(s) from the current location to the new battery box. At least that's how I think I'd start to approach it. One neat thing to this is that if you have only one battery currently, you could very easily with the box mentitioned above, go to the standard 2 batteries most coaches now have.
There are various threads talking about wiring (not my expertise). Is your current battery under a front gaucho? Moderator johnhd is a good one on this issue -- but you've got to be cautious about lengthening the run between battery and Univolt. Proper gauge wire is also important. Proceed with ... full knowledge! Try any number of search strings. Most of all get some good info from our more electrically inclined members.
All it will take is looking closely at the double battery setup of new units to get you hooked! Good luck.
IMHO, AGM's are the way to go. I have changed out my stock new Interstate group 24's with Lifeline AGM's. They are a far superior battery, much safer, and no maintenance. Just be sure that they get the proper charging voltage.
It would probably save you in the long run to change both batteries and leave them where they are: no new battery box to be fabricated, no new cabeling and a much longer life span.
Although I haven't done it to my Airstream, it's predecessor, a Scamp 5th Wheel had the battery on the front frame, near the propane tanks. It was in a plastic boat-battery box. Similar thinking could be used on an Airstream.
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2002 Toyota Tundra GM, Ford and Chrysler execs can save money like the rest of us by driving fuel efficient quality cars. Honda and Toyota would be a good place to start looking!
You all had good ideas and I have gone ahead and implemented the task. Pretty much the way Bob Thompson suggested. I pulled the old battery boxes out. They were under the old goucho which I have removed and would have been the way of the new layout I am making inside. I am putting a plate over the hols left by the boxes and using the same cables to hook to the new batteries (in new boxes) and placing on the hitch frame behind the propane.
Looks good, easy hook up, more room inside and easier access to them.
When completed I'll post a pix.
Thanks again
David
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IMHO, AGM's are the way to go. I have changed out my stock new Interstate group 24's with Lifeline AGM's. They are a far superior battery, much safer, and no maintenance. Just be sure that they get the proper charging voltage.
Lew, I thought I had read somewhere that the power converters in the Airstreams cook batteries over time. I had thought about AGMs, but felt the converter in our 2004 would in fact burn them up in the end.
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