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12-16-2014, 12:23 PM
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#1
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CCRVOC
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Where ever we are parked
Posts: 516
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Who installed 4 GC2 Batteries in their 36CKTS?
Upgrading, and these batteries wont fit in the "oem" location under the hyd pump. And it doesn't seem like the floor of the front basement would hold 300 lbs.....while the floor pan is welded to the sides and rear frame of the basement, it is barely secured to the front wall with screws.
What did you do?
__________________
2012 Dodge 3500, SLT Big Horn,CC,DRW,Cummins HO, EB, 4x4, 3:73, Retrax Pro, Q20, TST507, Garmin RV760, Sleek 4g
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS, 1000w Solar, TriStar MPPT 60, Magnum 2000w, PI EMS, WiFi Ranger Elite, Sleek 4g, Wingard DTV Traveler
Retired Army in 1995, and now retired in 2016
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12-16-2014, 01:10 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Clarksville Va.
Posts: 10,422
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If it is welded on 3 sides already, to be safe I would a some 1/4" steel to make the area stronger if you can. 300 lbs. bouncing down the road would not be an ideal situation without some reinforcement.
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Coachmen M/H
Concord
2018 / 300 DSC
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12-16-2014, 02:19 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 196
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I carry a freezer in the front compartment. I added some more screws to the floor where it joins the door frame. Personally, I would put two in the regular battery compartment and two in the front compartment.
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12-16-2014, 04:20 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 190
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If the batteries are put somewhere else, ventilation needs to be considered. The OEM location has a vent on the door, right?
This seems surprising because the footprint of a GC2 is about the same as a Group 24 Deep Cycle, just taller. Units with a residential refrigerator are supposed to have 4 batteries, so there should be room for 4.
Will you describe what dimension is not fitting? Battery length or width?
How did you try to fit them? Side by side with the long sides next to each other?
__________________
Chris and Pat
2023 Ram 3500 Cummins Aisin Dually, Auto Flex Air Ride Rear Suspension, B&W RVK3600 hitch
2022 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS
2024 Winnebago Minnie 2327TB B&W Continuum Hitch
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12-16-2014, 09:58 PM
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#5
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CCRVOC
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Where ever we are parked
Posts: 516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by racer4
If the batteries are put somewhere else, ventilation needs to be considered. The OEM location has a vent on the door, right?
This seems surprising because the footprint of a GC2 is about the same as a Group 24 Deep Cycle, just taller. Units with a residential refrigerator are supposed to have 4 batteries, so there should be room for 4.
Will you describe what dimension is not fitting? Battery length or width?
How did you try to fit them? Side by side with the long sides next to each other?
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Yes, currently have the one battery box which is vented through the side wall. I can install new vents. So there are three issues with fitment in the oem location.
1.Because my 5er did not come stock with a residential refer and the four Group 24 batteries, there is no "built in" battery box. I think the box is made of thin aluminum, but still not there. The Group 24s are slightly narrower then a GC2, thus a 24 fits nice and tight. I think FR builds that battery compartment slightly different if no res refer is installed.
2. I have 28 1/4 inches from the ds hyd jack to the rear wall inside the battery compartment to position 4 GC2 batteries side by side. I measured the batteries at the place I'm going to buy them, Fullriver AGM 224-6, or the Trojan T145 are 7 1/8 wide.
3. Also the lower hyd jack (front ds) hose is plumbed oriented towards the battery compartment, which limits the battery height to 9 inches before the top of battery would hit the hyd hose. The position of the hose takes up about 2 inches of battery width.
All in all it is a tight space. Some options I see is to have an aluminum battery box built, re-plumb the hyd hose, and cut some material from the top edge of the jack. OR reinforce the woefully weak front floor pan in the front basement and install the batteries there....... still debating....
__________________
2012 Dodge 3500, SLT Big Horn,CC,DRW,Cummins HO, EB, 4x4, 3:73, Retrax Pro, Q20, TST507, Garmin RV760, Sleek 4g
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS, 1000w Solar, TriStar MPPT 60, Magnum 2000w, PI EMS, WiFi Ranger Elite, Sleek 4g, Wingard DTV Traveler
Retired Army in 1995, and now retired in 2016
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12-17-2014, 12:48 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Carstairs Alberta Canada
Posts: 314
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Cedar Creek uses a different battery box if 4 batteries are optioned out and should come standard with the residential fridge.
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Tim and Bev
2013 Cedar Creek 34RLSA gone trying to find my way back, Magnum 2800w inverter, 560w of solar.
2020 F-350
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12-17-2014, 03:20 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Mt Pleasant SC
Posts: 209
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batteries
I added 4 6v trojan batteries to the front basement of my Silverback using a Walmart truck tool box for a battery box. This was an almost perfect fit for the 4 batteries except I had to heat an indentation in the ends of the box to gain about 1/2" Used a hot air gun I bought from Harbor Freight for $15. The box is sealed and hinged and only cost about $25. The weight is an issue so I added 2 cross braces using 1-1/2 x 1/8 angle located under the sides of the battery box. A year and a half of rough roads and no issues. I cut a hole in the top of the box and connected to the existing vent hose that goes out the side of the 5r. I also add a 1-1/2 pvc vent/drain to the bottom of the box to allow for air flow and deal with possible leaks.
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12-18-2014, 12:18 PM
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#8
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CCRVOC
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Where ever we are parked
Posts: 516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by palmetto rogue
I added 4 6v trojan batteries to the front basement of my Silverback using a Walmart truck tool box for a battery box. This was an almost perfect fit for the 4 batteries except I had to heat an indentation in the ends of the box to gain about 1/2" Used a hot air gun I bought from Harbor Freight for $15. The box is sealed and hinged and only cost about $25. The weight is an issue so I added 2 cross braces using 1-1/2 x 1/8 angle located under the sides of the battery box. A year and a half of rough roads and no issues. I cut a hole in the top of the box and connected to the existing vent hose that goes out the side of the 5r. I also add a 1-1/2 pvc vent/drain to the bottom of the box to allow for air flow and deal with possible leaks.
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Good idea about the truck box. Thanks.
__________________
2012 Dodge 3500, SLT Big Horn,CC,DRW,Cummins HO, EB, 4x4, 3:73, Retrax Pro, Q20, TST507, Garmin RV760, Sleek 4g
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS, 1000w Solar, TriStar MPPT 60, Magnum 2000w, PI EMS, WiFi Ranger Elite, Sleek 4g, Wingard DTV Traveler
Retired Army in 1995, and now retired in 2016
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12-18-2014, 01:13 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 89
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Quote:
I added 4 6v trojan batteries to the front basement of my Silverback using a Walmart truck tool box for a battery box. This was an almost perfect fit for the 4 batteries except I had to heat an indentation in the ends of the box to gain about 1/2" Used a hot air gun I bought from Harbor Freight for $15. The box is sealed and hinged and only cost about $25. The weight is an issue so I added 2 cross braces using 1-1/2 x 1/8 angle located under the sides of the battery box. A year and a half of rough roads and no issues. I cut a hole in the top of the box and connected to the existing vent hose that goes out the side of the 5r. I also add a 1-1/2 pvc vent/drain to the bottom of the box to allow for air flow and deal with possible leaks.
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Palmetto,
Great mod! I especially like the vent/drain in the bottom of the box. That is something I probably would not thought of - until I had a battery go bad and leak acid into the bottom of the box. Then I would have had a mess and no easy way to clean it out. All you would have to do is remove the batteries and take a hose to the inside of the box. Good job!
__________________
Skip & Susan Orrell
Hurst, Texas
2013 34 RLSA w/ most of the options
2013 Chevy 3500HD, D/A, DRW, 4X4
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12-18-2014, 01:18 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,179
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When I first upgraded batteries, I added a piece of 5/8 exterior plywood. I now have 4 golf cart batteries, leveling blocks, jack, power cords and some other stuff with no problems.
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01-03-2015, 09:53 PM
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#11
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Old Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Spring, TX
Posts: 405
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We installed 4 GC batteries in our 13 36CKTS. Have had no issues, but I do the PM semi annually & check batt fluid level quarterly, and add distilled water only when indicated. Did add battery tender charger/maintainer which gets plugged in when the Creek is considered in storage, about 3-4 months each year!
Travel safe, enjoy the journeys & hope to meet at the FROG Int'l Ralley in August 2015 (Elkhart County Fairgrounds, Goshen, IN)
from iPad
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Drivin, Miss Daisey & the boss, Toppi
2018 Berkshire XL40B-380, SFE=244
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01-04-2015, 09:58 AM
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#12
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CCRVOC
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Where ever we are parked
Posts: 516
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I just finished the installation of four batteries in the front basement. I welded 2 inch angle iron to the frame, and bolted down three-quarter inch plywood. welded the battery hold-down brackets to strap steel and bolted it to the plywood. added a drain that goes through the floor . used a container box from Lowe's with a vent mounted to the top. pictures will follow in a few days. Sorry for the format....
Yes. Looking forward to Goshen !
__________________
2012 Dodge 3500, SLT Big Horn,CC,DRW,Cummins HO, EB, 4x4, 3:73, Retrax Pro, Q20, TST507, Garmin RV760, Sleek 4g
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS, 1000w Solar, TriStar MPPT 60, Magnum 2000w, PI EMS, WiFi Ranger Elite, Sleek 4g, Wingard DTV Traveler
Retired Army in 1995, and now retired in 2016
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01-04-2015, 10:01 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Mt Pleasant SC
Posts: 209
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Battery
Here is pic of my setup. I also wired the batteries using 4/0 cable for an inverter
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01-04-2015, 09:05 PM
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#14
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CCRVOC
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Where ever we are parked
Posts: 516
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Here are some pix. Battery wires, shunt and wiring will change/move when I install the inverter.
__________________
2012 Dodge 3500, SLT Big Horn,CC,DRW,Cummins HO, EB, 4x4, 3:73, Retrax Pro, Q20, TST507, Garmin RV760, Sleek 4g
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS, 1000w Solar, TriStar MPPT 60, Magnum 2000w, PI EMS, WiFi Ranger Elite, Sleek 4g, Wingard DTV Traveler
Retired Army in 1995, and now retired in 2016
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