'05 Safari: More amp-hours in stock battery box

[tpi]

Has anyone successfully squeezed larger batteries into the late model battery box? It curently houses two group 24s.

Lifeline Marine Batteries - AGM Marine Battery & AGM RV Battery
The GPL-4CT is approx 1/4 inch wider and 1/2 inch taller than their group 24-but with nearly 60 more amp-hours for a pair. Wondering if anyone's tried this?

[SafariSS]

TPI,

I have a 05 Safari 30, and have measured the box. I think they will fit. Unless there is some hitch in getting them in there initially they would. The box seems to have a little extra height as well.

I have been planning on adding two addtional batteries to add to the current two for more amp hours anyway. Do you have the Front bedroom 25? Maybe you could do the same under the bed. (Dry cell of course, not requiring venting).

[TIMEMACHINE]

Has anybody upgraded to a group 27 battery in the Safari 25' standard battery box? Lifelines 12v model GPL-27T is 12.01 X 6.60 X 9.25 inches. Or has anybody upgrade to the Optima AGM group 27? Will they fit? Any specifics would be great. Thanks in advance.

John

[CanoeStream]

Excellent question -- I'm with ya John! I figure my OEM Group 24 batteries are going to be 2 years old soon and any service beyond this is gravy. It is necessary to anticipate the transition and, observing other threads, this thought has been in the back of my head.

TIMEMACHINE has the question-du-jour for newer Airstream owners! Ideas?

[Pacerized]

I don't know how the battery box may differ from my 81, but I've just went through this myself. I had a group 27 which just fit, and I think the unit may have came with a group 24. I looked at a lot of different batteries, but ended up going with the group 29 battery from Walmart. It's the exact same size length as their group 27 battery, but it doesn't have the 3/8" lip around the top of the battery that the 27 has. It is a little taller, and a very tight fit, but the box is made of plastic, so there's no chance of it grounding out. The 29 series has 125 ah, and the price is right. I'm adding 2 more inside using a vented battery box with a total cost of less then $300. There is a great thread going on this page on upgrading to 2- 6 volt batteries, which may be a better choice.
Charlie

[TIMEMACHINE]

Originally Posted by Pacerized

I don't know how the battery box may differ from my 81, but I've just went through this myself. I had a group 27 which just fit, and I think the unit may have came with a group 24. I looked at a lot of different batteries, but ended up going with the group 29 battery from Walmart. It's the exact same size length as their group 27 battery, but it doesn't have the 3/8" lip around the top of the battery that the 27 has. It is a little taller, and a very tight fit, but the box is made of plastic, so there's no chance of it grounding out. The 29 series has 125 ah, and the price is right. I'm adding 2 more inside using a vented battery box with a total cost of less then $300. There is a great thread going on this page on upgrading to 2- 6 volt batteries, which may be a better choice.
Charlie

Thanks for the input Charlie. But.......

I think the boxes are different, the newer battery boxes on the Safari are metal.

Anybody with a late model with experience chime in any time.

John

[5cats]

I had measured the opening in my trailer when it first arrived: 14.75" x 13".
I don't have a good measurement for the interior vertical space. I've been looking at my batteries lately, and the 24s sit with the terminals about 1" below the lid. But that's just a guesstimate.

Not exactly what you asked for, but maybe someone can fill in the blanks here.

Cheers,
-jd.

[Jim Clark]

Originally Posted by tpi

Has anyone successfully squeezed larger batteries into the late model battery box? It curently houses two group 24s.

Lifeline Marine Batteries - AGM Marine Battery & AGM RV Battery
The GPL-4CT is approx 1/4 inch wider and 1/2 inch taller than their group 24-but with nearly 60 more amp-hours for a pair. Wondering if anyone's tried this?

I would make a mockup before purchase may save you some trouble.

[wasafari]

yes.....

[TIMEMACHINE]

Originally Posted by wasafari

yes.....

It looks as though you added a section to the top of your original box. Is the addition required to handle the height of a larger group 27 battery? What batteries did you install? AGM?

Thanks,
John

[wasafari]

yes, I put in East Penn/Dekka AGM 6 volts. Got a lot more in the reserve capacity department, also got a LOT more in the tongue weight department. I was able to use the stock top on the mod. The weight thing still puzzles me, AS (on the weight sticker inside) claims a tongue wt of 680 lbs with an empty wt of 4980 which nets a tongue wt percentage of almost 14% from the factory. With the new batteries and both propane tanks removed I scaled (on a CAT) 880 lbs with an all up wt of 5420 (16%). And I don't have much of anything forward of the axles. I was going to replace the couch with a recliner but.....Also, to get the batteries in the box I use two straps to lower them, and use a bungee cord hooked into the terminals to lift them out. Seeing as how I only deadlift them once a year (winter removal) I figure I'm not hurting them.
Back to the tongue weight issue (and not to hijack this thread), what happens when you end up with the fresh water empty, the grey full and the black half full? I shudder to think, and if we aren't supposed to go over 15% and the factory delivers it to you at 14% and you move 300 lbs of water from right over the axles to a station forward of the axles (black and grey tanks) what the heck is that doing to your tongue weight?????

Jack

[JDL]

I have a 19 ccd. Your Battery box looks to be the same size as mine. I could not get 2 group 27's to fit. The batterys I got were from COSTCO.

jd

[TIMEMACHINE]

Originally Posted by TIMEMACHINE

Has anybody upgraded to a group 27 battery in the Safari 25' standard battery box? Lifelines 12v model GPL-27T is 12.01 X 6.60 X 9.25 inches. Or has anybody upgrade to the Optima AGM group 27? Will they fit? Any specifics would be great. Thanks in advance.

John

I am still hoping to get an answer on this question. I have gotten some good info, especially from Uwe, but I am still looking for some input from anybody with a similar model AS who has installed GPL-27T Lifelines. Will they fit without modifications?

Thanks,
John

[neil.ervin]

I have, on a 2005 25' Safari.

I installed two 6v batteries (combined = 12 volts) which are three inches taller. I simply had the bottom of the battery box lowered three inches. There's plenty of room....

[neil.ervin]

Oh, the two 6v batteries give 220 amps total storage.......

[TIMEMACHINE]

Originally Posted by neil.ervin

I have, on a 2005 25' Safari.

I installed two 6v batteries (combined = 12 volts) which are three inches taller. I simply had the bottom of the battery box lowered three inches. There's plenty of room....

Thanks Neil, but I am planning on sticking with 12volt batteries. Anybody else out there stick 2 group 27 Lifeline AGM batteries in a standard late model 25' Safari battery box?

John