Battery location & recommendation on Replacements?

[mberry]

How was the shakedown? All went well I hope. As an option, you can have a class 3 hitch installed to the frame. The would give you around 500lbs capacity on the back and not interfere with the bumper. I hear you on the truck. That sucks. Hope you can upgrade to something better for your needs in the near future. If I didn't have a 5th wheel I would consider a mega cab for my next truck. I am waiting for the 2010's to come out with the full size crew cab long bed version. Good luck Mr. Beck.

 

[BBeck]

How was the shakedown? All went well I hope. As an option, you can have a class 3 hitch installed to the frame. The would give you around 500lbs capacity on the back and not interfere with the bumper. I hear you on the truck. That sucks. Hope you can upgrade to something better for your needs in the near future. If I didn't have a 5th wheel I would consider a mega cab for my next truck. I am waiting for the 2010's to come out with the full size crew cab long bed version. Good luck Mr. Beck.

Thanks Mberry



Shakedown went quite well. My wife and I had a great time. I worried about the battery running out and then having to manually crank the slide back in. However, the battery held up perfectly and we were even able to take quick showers. I like the suggestion of the Class 3 hitch and will look into that soon. I really like the megacab because the quad is just too small. My truck is in my signature, so it will be awhile before I upgrade.



I have 41k miles on it and two weeks ago had to have it towed into the dealer (btw: Chrysler's roadside service is OUTSTANDING!). The tow was completely covered by them, and so was the $2,300 DPF, cleaning the turbo and EGR (total warranty bill was over $2,600). Truck drives like new again.



My two boys are back from my parents in Chicago and the four of us, with mother in law, brother in law and another friend are going camping this weekend for three days at the coast of Washington.



So it will get a really good shakedown after that.

 

[HBarlow]

Adding a heavy generator to the rear frame of a travel trailer is not as simple as some might assume. The generator at the end of the frame will add considerable weight amplified by leverage which will definitely upset the factory balance and will put extreme stress on the frame as the trailer bounds over expansion strips in a typical concrete interstate highway.

A lightweight portable Honda or Yamaha 2000 series dc/ac generator may be a better solution. One can be stored in the pickup bed or trailer storage compartment during travel and lifted out when needed. Prices have come down now and one can be bought for about $700 now.

The desire for a generator was one of several reasons I moved up to a fifth wheel trailer.

 

[THoltz]

The Sears Diehard Platinum has a rating of 100 amp-hours, which I think is low, especially for the money. If you can handle the extra weight, two 6VDC golf cart batteries would at least double your amp-hour rating, and for less money.

 

[icman95]

As mentioned a couple of times already, I do the 2-6vdc deep cycle (golf cart) batteries in my 5er. They work GREAT! I can dry camp for 3 days at a time with no problem on just those two batteries. I have the Interstate UD2200 ( I think that's the right model number) batteries in my trailer and couldn't be happier with them. You hook them up in series rather that parellel like two 12 volts and you'll have more reserve power than you need.

 

[BBeck]

Adding a heavy generator to the rear frame of a travel trailer is not as simple as some might assume. The generator at the end of the frame will add considerable weight amplified by leverage which will definitely upset the factory balance and will put extreme stress on the frame as the trailer bounds over expansion strips in a typical concrete interstate highway.



A lightweight portable Honda or Yamaha 2000 series dc/ac generator may be a better solution. One can be stored in the pickup bed or trailer storage compartment during travel and lifted out when needed. Prices have come down now and one can be bought for about $700 now.



The desire for a generator was one of several reasons I moved up to a fifth wheel trailer.

I have been thinking about trading my Honda 3000is for two 2000is for the reason you mention above. It would also be easier to maneuver and I would get 4000 instead of 3000.