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Old 04-01-2012, 09:40 AM   #1
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Replace Grp 24 Batt with Grp 27 2007?

I have a 2007 25'FB Safari with the standard front frame mounted battery box with 2-Group 24 deep cycle batteries. I'll be replacing the batteries this season and want to know if anyone has replaced the 2-Group 24's with 2-Group 27 batteries without any modification to the battery box? I would go out and measure the box but my trailer is 50 miles away in a storage yard. Thanks
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Old 04-01-2012, 09:50 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2dabeach View Post
I have a 2007 25'FB Safari with the standard front frame mounted battery box with 2-Group 24 deep cycle batteries. I'll be replacing the batteries this season and want to know if anyone has replaced the 2-Group 24's with 2-Group 27 batteries without any modification to the battery box? I would go out and measure the box but my trailer is 50 miles away in a storage yard. Thanks

Fairly sure they wont fit. I checked into this with my 2008 23D, and unless you have a slightly larger box it wont work. Might be easier to go with 6 volts as you just have to raise the height of the box. Width can be limited by the frame width.
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Old 04-04-2012, 09:55 PM   #3
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I just checked and I agree that I don't think that this will work out as you have suggested.
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Old 07-11-2012, 12:30 PM   #4
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According to comments from Lewster you can replace 24's with 27's if you remove the plastic tray in the bottom of the battery box. Tight fit but will work and from measuring my battery box and looking at the 27's dimensions I believe it will work but have not tried it yet.
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Old 07-11-2012, 12:34 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al - K4GLU View Post
...the plastic tray in the bottom of the battery box...
There's supposed to be a plastic tray in the bottom of the battery boxes?

I can see the potential for making the batteries easier to get out.
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Old 07-11-2012, 04:06 PM   #6
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The plastic tray has to go.

The battery you select may or may not fit without slight trimming.

Many batteries have handles, mounting tabs, etc. that extend beyond the basic battery dimensions.

I saw a post where CrawfordGene put group 27 life-lines into the factory battery box of his 25FB. I can't locate the post but I am pretty sure he had to do a little trimming with an angle grinder on the top flange of the battery box as well as trimming a little of the plastic from the batteries where the carrying handle was attached to make it fit.

I was going to put Interstate Group 27's in but I couldn't figure out a way to make them fit without significant modifications so I abandoned the idea and went with Group 24's. I probably didn't spend enough time looking for a solution that day though. I was in a hurry and rain was heading my way....
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Old 07-11-2012, 04:22 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Nightwatch View Post
Fairly sure they wont fit. I checked into this with my 2008 23D, and unless you have a slightly larger box it wont work. Might be easier to go with 6 volts as you just have to raise the height of the box. Width can be limited by the frame width.
NIGHTWATCH has the right idea. You gain amp hours with 6 Volts which is what you want and the "fix" is simple by increasing the height of the box with four pieces of pt wood and reattaching the lid. I ripped some 2" x 2" pcs and screwd them to the top of the box.

Look at this link for dimensions: BCI Battery Group Size Chart

It will give yu battery dimensions for various "Groups" assuming you remember how well you Group 24's fit the box.
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Old 09-29-2014, 02:37 PM   #8
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I have the same problem. I returned from a month of hunting in Colorado off the grid and my group 24s don't cut it. With the furnace on lowest setting, the batteries would be in the red in the morning if temps were in the 20's. In fact, I wore my batteries out of running them into the red too many times.
Has anyone tried 3 group 24's? I have room for the 3 battery inside the trailer where the back of the couch used to be. I enclosed area when I replaced the couch with a dinette and enclosed the space. I realize I would have to use agms as 1 battery would be inside the trailer.
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Old 09-29-2014, 04:19 PM   #9
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Before you give up on the group 27's, go to the store where you will buy them and measure them. I have found that the sizes listed differs between the different battery manufactures. Some are bigger and some are smaller, you need to measure the exact battery you want to use.
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Old 10-09-2014, 06:06 PM   #10
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I put 2 six volt 24s in our 2007 25FB. I bought 2inch aluminum tubing, drilled the rivets holding the lid to the box, riveted the tubing to raise the box two inches, reattached the lid, and then cut the back of the propane tank cover to allow for the higher battery box.
It was not a bad project. I also had to cut the box lid a little to make it shorter as to not hit the trailer skin when opening.
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Old 10-09-2014, 08:45 PM   #11
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OK Gang,

Here's the skinny on replacing your group 24 batteries with group 27s:

•*remove battery cables (negative first)
•*pull the batteries and remove the threaded rod (should be a nut welded to the bottom of the battery box.
• the plastic tray is unnecessary and you can trash it.
• drill out the 3 rivets holding the tray to the forward edge of the box and remove the cover.
• remove about 3/8-1/2" from half of the forward tray lip with an angle grinder (you may find it easier if you remove your LP tanks)
• file, prime and paint the cut edge
• place one new Group 27 in thru the new slot and slide it to the opposite side of the box
• replace the threaded rod
• place the second Group 27 into the box and secure the batteries with the wing nut
•*re-attach cables (positive first)
• re-rivet the lid and replace LP tanks and cover
•*YOU"RE DONE!!!

With respect to adding a third or fourth battery inside the trailer, it is more desirable to place ALL batteries in the same environment. This will keep all of the batteries at the same ambient temperature, which is necessary for even charging, even if your charging device does not have temperature compensation on the charge voltage.

And yes, only place AGM batteries (and I only use Lifeline AGM batteries for this purpose) inside the trailer unless you use an air tight, vented enclosure.
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Old 10-09-2014, 10:24 PM   #12
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If you have any pictures of the project, could you upload them here?
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Old 10-10-2014, 11:54 PM   #13
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A follow up question. Would one have to remove the hinged lid every time the batteries have to be removed/replaced?
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Old 10-11-2014, 07:40 AM   #14
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A follow up question. Would one have to remove the hinged lid every time the batteries have to be removed/replaced?
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Subfaf1, no the lid does not have to be removed. I cut maybe a half inch off the edge that the rivets go thru for mounting. Doing so allow it to hinge just fine. However the latch does not work without modifications. But this has not been an issue.
I will see if I can get a few photos this week and post them.
Take care,
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Old 10-11-2014, 07:46 AM   #15
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I just did exactly what Lester described on our FB 27. Only difference is I cut the little lip off with a $35 dremel instead of an angle grinder. Our trailer is in the US and my workshop is 600 miles south of Florida, and I just didn't want to own another grinder that stored in the trailer. Dremels are small, versatile, and inexpensive. Only took me a few minutes with the reinforced cut-off wheels, and is a much more precise cut. I also Bought a pop rivet tool to re attach the battery box lid, but next time I have to remove those batteries I will replace the aluminum rivets with something threaded.
Considered cutting the hinge with the lip, but decided the hinge would work better if IKept it intact. It could be replaced with a couple of individual hinges, too.
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Old 10-11-2014, 04:22 PM   #16
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Dremels are a very useful tool. I prefer the 12v Milwaukee version as I have many of their other tools.

And BTW, that's LEWSTER! :-))


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Old 10-12-2014, 07:57 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DonDiego View Post
Subfaf1, no the lid does not have to be removed. I cut maybe a half inch off the edge that the rivets go thru for mounting. Doing so allow it to hinge just fine. However the latch does not work without modifications. But this has not been an issue.
I will see if I can get a few photos this week and post them.
Take care,
Here are some photos..... one at a time...
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Old 10-12-2014, 07:58 PM   #18
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Photo #2
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Old 10-12-2014, 07:59 PM   #19
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Photo #3
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Old 10-12-2014, 08:05 PM   #20
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Photo #5

I could not get enough room by removing the plastic tray at the bottom of the box. So either the Trojans are bigger that the Lifeline or their box was bigger.
Adding the 2" rectangler tubing just gave me enough room/height.
With all the pieces needing cut/trimmed, I just used a circular saw.
Hope this helps.
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