Has anyone mounted 2 12v battery boxes on Cherokee 274DBH?

[CP3]

I just purchased a 2016 Cherokee 274DBH and want to mount 2 batteries in place of the one. I measured it this morning and the boxes themselves will have an inch of clearance. It's the lids that appear won't fit. Has anyone been able to mount 2 boxes and batteries? If so, did you do anything special or did they just mount up? If not, how did you make it work?

[5picker]

A couple of the ones I did in the past required the adjoining lids to be trimmed slightly.
Easily done with snips or a saw.

[Too Tall]

Yes, Not the same RV but my tongue requires trimming the lids. I ended up going with two 6 volts and a Century plastics box. I think FF engineers did a poor job in the battery area.

[KMP44]

I also trimmed a little of one of the plastic lids to get 2 boxes to fit.


Last year I bought an aluminum box to hold both batteries. It was just big enough to hold 2 gr24's and still fit on the tongue. I went for the black powder coat - looks great. A little pricey, but with extra wires for my solar charge controller and inverter, it cleaned up the wiring to have just one battery box. Only downside to this box I that it isn't quite tall enough for 2 6 volt batteries, but perfect for 2 12 volt batteries. The 27" wide version is taller, but was too wide to fit on the tongue without moving stuff around.



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[aceinspp]

I mounte the 2nd one to my tt no mods needed other than to make a longer holding plate. to hold two batteries. Later RJD

[Mountndream]

Originally Posted by Too Tall

Yes, Not the same RV but my tongue requires trimming the lids. I ended up going with two 6 volts and a Century plastics box. .

I have this exact set up. If you need the extra amp hours of 2 batteries, you might as well go 6 volt.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Mountndream

I have this exact set up. If you need the extra amp hours of 2 batteries, you might as well go 6 volt.

Only problem with (2) 6volts is if you loose one, you are SOL for 12v. Not so with (2) 12volts.

[boondocking]

Same problem with (2) 12v. If one 12v shorts out it will kill the other one and you will be in the same situation, no 12v.

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by CP3

...how did you make it work?

Back to the original question.
Instead of trimming, I turned the batteries (as in front to back) opposite so the tops wouldn't have the wire openings adjacent.

[Mountndream]

i think you are both right. its a gamble either way, however, this user wants more battery power and the best way to do this is using 6 volt.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by boondocking

Same problem with (2) 12v. If one 12v shorts out it will kill the other one and you will be in the same situation, no 12v.

Not talking about shorting out, talking about one getting a dead cell. Plus you can always unhook the one bad 12v and recharge the other and have 12v, not so with (2) 6 volts.

[grayfox]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Only problem with (2) 6volts is if you loose one, you are SOL for 12v. Not so with (2) 12volts.

X-2 I agree with Coot.

[TimVWulp]

HI here is a century battery box that may work.

Century Plastics: White Heavy Duty Battery Box - (part#: GCE-G)

This is 6 volt battery box but they have battery boxes for 12 volt battery also.

Hope this helps Tim

[Chuck.C]

I needed to replace my two group 24 marine/RV batteries and didn't have room for the height of 6v ones. Wanted true deep cycle, and finally settled on one Trojan T1275+, that easily fit in the space, and has 150AH at 20 hour rate. This may be a good compromise for limited space. 12.88L x 7Wx 10.88 H (top of terminals).

[pgandw]

Originally Posted by grayfox

X-2 I agree with Coot.

Been there, done that with 2 12V batteries. One died, which resulted in the other dying before I realized what had happened. You have to know that one has died to separate them to recharge the good one - you cannot recharge a good one when still connected in parallel with the bad battery. Don't ask me how I know this.

Two 6V GC2 batteries fit in the same space (slightly taller) as 2 Type 24 12V, cost less, and have more AH.

just my experiences
Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame

[AJAbbott]

Not trying to hijack this thread but I am not understanding the whole 12 volt verse 6 volt. Which is better for long term use? Why?
My thought is 12 volt deep cycle is better, two 12 volt deep cycle would even be better than one 12 volt deep cycle.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by AJAbbott

Not trying to hijack this thread but I am not understanding the whole 12 volt verse 6 volt. Which is better for long term use? Why?
My thought is 12 volt deep cycle is better, two 12 volt deep cycle would even be better than one 12 volt deep cycle.

A TRUE 12v deep cycle battery is hard to find and not cheap.
Most 12v batteries on RVS are marine dual purpose and NOT true deep cycle.

6v golf cart batteries are better for serious camping and boondocking.

[CP3]

Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and went with 2 6v batteries as the dealer confirmed the 2-29 series 12v I wanted wouldn't fit unless I used a tray instead of boxes. The 6v cost the same as the 12v would have and the 6v give me more Ah so there we are. Boxes SHOULD fit as well. We'll see on Monday when I try to install.

[gunpro]

I am assuming you are talking TTers here and I have a 5er but they both use 12volts, so this might just pertain. I am somewhat of a fusion technician so with that in mind I shall proceed. My 5er came wit two 12's and we barely got through a weekend. I decided to pull the 12's. Boxes and all. I replaced the boxes with an aluminium frame, that held 4 six volt batteries. I then fashioned an angle iron shelf above all the batteries and fit a plywood cover. The cover is just above the batteries allowing lots of air circulation and provides a solid shelf for extra storage. No problem with dead cells or shortage of power since.

[flymhi]

My last TT I installed two DC 12V along with a (batt 1,batt 2, or both) marine switch. I could measure each battery with a flip of a switch and charge together or independently. I was limited on battery tray space and did what was suggested earlier (flipping covers) so they would fit closely together. I ended up with a dead cell in one and was able to tell easily. My new TT has enough tray space for two with the top covers facing the same direction.