Second battery

[LG123]

I understand the Springdale trailers can only accommodate one battery in the tray behind the propane tanks.

For anyone who has added a second battery, what did you do to modify the tray so it could hold it?

Is it possible to do this without any welding?

I’m taking delivery in April and am wondering if I’ll need to pay the dealership to do this upgrade or if I can handle it myself.

[rescue7]

My 2022 1740RK has a spot for 2 welded on the frame. Just add the battery box.

[NH_Bulldog]

My tray is wide enough to accommodate 2 batteries

[winfan]

We are on our Third Springdale and we have always had two batteries.

[LG123]

Thanks for the info, all. The dealer says Group 24 batteries will both bit but the larger Group 27 batteries they install won't. I'll update this thread if I discover something different.

I'll probably go with two 6v batteries to start since the single 12v battery would not meet our needs if we do a couple days of boondocking in cloudy weather.

[NH_Bulldog]

We use two Group 27 batteries. Two separate boxes is a tight squeeze but I modified our boxes to fit. Since they are behind the tanks, it looks good. We boondock 3 -4 days with no solar and no generator. We can extend that almost indefinitely when we bring along the Generac GP3000i

[LG123]

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

We use two Group 27 batteries. Two separate boxes is a tight squeeze but I modified our boxes to fit. Since they are behind the tanks, it looks good. We boondock 3 -4 days with no solar and no generator. We can extend that almost indefinitely when we bring along the Generac GP3000i

4 days is very impressive. Are they two 6v batteries around 220 amps? Do you have a 12v fridge or is it just the lights and water pump using the battery?

[NH_Bulldog]

We have 2-12v 100AH batteries. All LED lighting, and gas/electric refrigerator. We level the camper, and extend the slide out and awning out while still plugged into the truck. Batteries are coming into their 4th year and are pulled every fall, kept indoors and on a conditioner for the winter.

I am no fan of the 12v refrigerators for boondocking use unless there is 200-400 watts of solar and/or a generator.

[LG123]

The new Keystone trailers come with at least 200W of solar and I have a portable 100W panel, so I'm hopeful for these fridges to be a true upgrade. They're certainly larger, which is great.

[hxckidd]

i bought a trailer box from harbor freight and installed 2 batteries inside of it. Fits them nice

[Domino3665]

Originally Posted by LG123

I understand the Springdale trailers can only accommodate one battery in the tray behind the propane tanks.

For anyone who has added a second battery, what did you do to modify the tray so it could hold it?

Is it possible to do this without any welding?

I’m taking delivery in April and am wondering if I’ll need to pay the dealership to do this upgrade or if I can handle it myself.

I’m 70 years old but you guys are stuck in the past. New rigs are all LED lighting that draw a FRACTION of the wattage of older rigs. There simply isn’t the demand for power like “back in the day we always had two batteries.”
Why not start with a single, larger Group 27 battery and see how that works out?
If you need more later, you already have one of the bigger batteries.
But if you feel you need the power to run your 65” flat screen all day, think about hotel camping.
Start slow and just EASE into your new rig.

[Marblejunkie]

I got these two 105 amp hr batteries from a friend who works at a power plant, they sit on standby for 5 years and are then replaced. Being 20.5 inches long, it was difficult to find a box that would still fit inside the tongue behind the propane tanks. These are on a 2007 Cougar RKS24.
The box is only 23” long. Got it from RVLOCKBOX. Pricey, but functional. I like the slide-off lid. The box sits on the original support brackets. The website shows an installation video. I am very happy with the results, but wish I could have found a less expensive solution.