So I've got my AGM battery, isolator, 80 amp fuses, 4 guage cable and I'm ready to hook this up to the alternator. So I was looking for a battery box and was thinking where am I going to put this thing?
We're moving 2000 miles in a couple of weeks so space is at a premium and you can't really stack stuff on a battery box. So what about getting it out of the van and under it? I searched and found other people that had the same thoughts, but no off the rack solution. I don't have the skills, tools, or space to go custom so I need something that I can just bolt up.
The 110Ah battery weighs about 70lbs so it's going to have to be pretty tough as I plan to drive off the beaten path and it'll get bounced around.
How about under the driver's side instead of the passenger? All that exhaust tubing and heat on the passenger side. Relatively clear on the driver's side.
Might preload the L side of the van a bit with the extra 100+ lbs. Maybe you could make up for that with your loading method. Heavier cargo on the R side etc.
In my Gen I, you could actually get an underbody battery pretty close to midline, just shifted toward the driver side a small amount. Might not work as well with some vans as mine has a little more drive shaft clearance than stock.
A fair point. I'm trying to shift some weight over to the pass. side. I'll be adding cabinets and water/sink. behind the driver seat (eventually), and possibly a long narrow cabinet over the wheel hump.
That seems to be a common hitch in the plan. Nearly all the heavy stuff we want to mount has to go on the driver's side because of the slider door. Reroute the exhaust and/or get a really fat girlfriend would work, but may not be too practical.
This is a very good description of how to install a house battery and I plan to do something very similar. http://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/t-max-d ... ll.607791/
I'll store the house battery just behind the driver's seat at the base of a shelving unit I'm designing. I know that's loading the passenger side of the van, given the location of the gas tank, but it doesn't fit as well anywhere else unless I cut a hole in the floor and build a battery bracket. Also, closer to the alternator, less expensive copper to run.
Keep us posted on your progress.
In seeking to best plan a camperized project, I also have wondered about mounting 2nd batt under the floor boards. This subject seems to be old & fizzled out. Or was there more? Or more recent experiences to successfully deal w/this aspect? space IS @ a minimum to organize all the things we might wish to include, for sure! :roll:
Cool, thanks. I'll have to see if I can track that down & take a study. :wave:
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Chevy Astro and GMC Safari Forum
438.3K posts
23.1K members
Since 2008
A forum community dedicated to Chevy Astro and GMC Safari owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!