Battery installation in Houston area

[TayaraTravel]

We want to add two more lifeline batteries to the AI. (I.E., add an additional battery rack under the van, wire the batteries together with the two standard batteries.) From what I understand, this could be done without any other changes to the electrical system components, but would give us considerably more reserves when off grid. (We will consider additional solar and other upgrades in the future.)

I think this is a fairly straightforward job, something a competent RV or marine shop should be able to do. Is there a shop in the Houston area you have any experience with and can recommend?

If you want to reply via email it's leigh@tayara.com

[InterBlog]

Email sent - but also - who was it on this forum that did this job? Was it Boxster? I don't know whether those battery slings were off-the-shelf or had to be custom-welded. That would be a good first parameter to ascertain.

[JayP]

Boxster, others and I have added four 6V batteries in a series parallel configuration and removed the originals. This required us to design and fabricate new battery trays to hold them as the size is different than the 24T battery trays that come on newer models. To add 2 additional batteries to double capacity should be easy. I recently sold my battery boxes I removed to someone who was planning on doing just that.

[TayaraTravel]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

.. I don't know whether those battery slings were off-the-shelf or had to be custom-welded. ..

I've reviewed all the battery upgrade threads I found, and it seems everyone has done at least some custom work. I'm looking for the least-effort turnkey job I can find, for now.

[InterBlog]

I *do* know a very reasonable local welder / metalworker, if it turns out that you need that kind of work done, to prepare a battery receptacle.

[gmillerok1]

Originally Posted by TayaraTravel

I've reviewed all the battery upgrade threads I found, and it seems everyone has done at least some custom work. I'm looking for the least-effort turnkey job I can find, for now.

Couldn't get any easier than this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Under-vehicl...-/131686606905

[InterBlog]

Nice instructions. It does appear to have drainage holes in the corners, which would be really important around here.

[73shark]

So one has to load the batteries in the tray, connect, and then somehow lift the whole thing up to bolt in. A floor jack or transmission jack would come in handy. I like someone here's design that was hinged to drop down to allow for battery installation.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by TayaraTravel

We want to add two more lifeline batteries to the AI. (I.E., add an additional battery rack under the van, wire the batteries together with the two standard batteries.) From what I understand, this could be done without any other changes to the electrical system components, but would give us considerably more reserves when off grid. (We will consider additional solar and other upgrades in the future.)

I think this is a fairly straightforward job, something a competent RV or marine shop should be able to do. Is there a shop in the Houston area you have any experience with and can recommend?

If you want to reply via email it's leigh@tayara.com

Fellow Houston member Mcrider did the battery upgrade you want to do. Here is link to thread from last year that discusses this mod. His post #66 provides a great PDF document detailing the project. This mod uses airstream parts and looks fairly straightforward.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...-136062-5.html

Finding a shop to do the work will need some input from our Houston members.

[TayaraTravel]

Originally Posted by gmillerok1

Couldn't get any easier than this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Under-vehicl...-/131686606905

Thanks. Call me a wimp, but this is what I am looking for:

"The job will cost $xxx and we guarantee the results. You can pick up the van on Thursday. Sign here ____."

Personally, I lack:
a) skills and knowledge
b) tools
c) place to do any significant DIY jobs
d) desire ""

[TayaraTravel]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

Fellow Houston member Mcrider did the battery upgrade you want to do. ...
Finding a shop to do the work will need some input from our Houston members.

Thanks. He & I have talked and I've studied it closely. The shop part is what I'm trying to locate now.

[Kent M]

Originally Posted by TayaraTravel

We want to add two more lifeline batteries to the AI. (I.E., add an additional battery rack under the van, wire the batteries together with the two standard batteries.) From what I understand, this could be done without any other changes to the electrical system components, but would give us considerably more reserves when off grid. (We will consider additional solar and other upgrades in the future.)

I think this is a fairly straightforward job, something a competent RV or marine shop should be able to do. Is there a shop in the Houston area you have any experience with and can recommend?

If you want to reply via email it's leigh@tayara.com

I'd highly recommend Bob Jones RV repair, down I45 to South Houston. They've been in business for over 30 years, and do excellent work.

Kent
Houston

[LB_3]

Bob Jones RV has a great reputation but their wait times for scheduled appointments can be several months.

[InterBlog]

Yes, we've never used Bob Jones for that reason. I tried - not only are they competent RV servicers, they specialize in issues pertaining to the MB Sprinter, so they would be a great fit. They were very honest about their wait times when I talked with them.

[Mcrid]

No promises or experience, but I recall someone saying really good things about RV Masters.

http://www.rvmastersinc.com/

[73shark]

Originally Posted by Mcrider

No promises or experience, but I recall someone saying really good things about RV Masters.

http://www.rvmastersinc.com/

Noticed under Class Bs that Airstream was conspicuously absent.

[Mcrid]

Here is an option for you.

http://precisionrv.com/

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Mcrider

Here is an option for you.

http://precisionrv.com/

Nice business presentation. Telephone area code in the Seattle area.

If I were Tayara, I'd get the extra batteries and solar done in one fell swoop. It's so much of a hassle to arrange for work on these rigs that I'm not partial to having the pain spread out over successive project intervals if we can avoid it. Time-consuming pain, not to mention loss of use.

[TayaraTravel]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

...
If I were Tayara, I'd get the extra batteries and solar done in one fell swoop. ...

We are considering all options. If I can find a Houston area service to do the solar + batteries, I'll go that way. Otherwise it may be more convenient to split the jobs. I don't know if a West Coast trip is in the cards right away.

I've discovered (googling) Precision RV and a couple of others that look professional. Interesting thing about Precision, the guy is peripatetic and comes to the customer (if on his route). He also winters in Arizona, not a bad trip for us. But I don't want to wait for winter.

After this holiday I'm getting in touch with various leads to see what we can do.

[TayaraTravel]

FYI the reason we are so hot to get extra batteries in the near term: on our recent (first) long trip, with some overnight boondocking, we ran the batteries down to 50% just using the refrigerator overnight. (The Magnum reported 12.0v before recharging the next morning).

This was starting the evening with an almost full charge, in cold weather, not needing a fan, and obviously low demand on the refrigerator. Anything else would have pushed below 50%.

I think simply doubling the batteries will give us a comfortable safety margin, for one night at a time, with recharging during the day (either driving or generator). Solar would be very desirable if I can get it at the same time.