Adding 2 - 6 volt Batteries

[John Blair]

Hi,

Has anyone replaced their stock 12 volt battery (in a Scamp) with 2 - 6 volt golf cart batteries? I am planning to order a 16' Scamp side dinette shortly and I according to my estimates, I will need more battery storage while boondocking. I am looking to add 2 of the T-145 golf cart batteries to replace the 12 volt and need to decide if I want the factory to just leave the 12 volt off. If you added the 6 volt batteries did you just buy a bigger battery box and weld a plate behind the propane tanks to hold two batteries end to end?

Thanks,

John

[Pete Dumbleton]

From my readings on other RV groups, the 6VDC batteries are taller than their 12VDC cousins and likely won't fit into a standard battery box -- Also, they are very heavy, which will affect tongue weight, esp if you have twin LP tanks.

Consider instead using one deep cycle battery plus solar and cutting back on your expected wattage usage.

[AZCharlie]

I liked the 2 T-105 Trojan golf cart batteries I put on my previous trailer (not a fiberglass). I never ran out of power, but then, I don't use that much. But man, they are HEAVY. Each was 65 pounds. The power is awaesome, but I made the wrong contacts once and almost blew up the battery and myself. They are very powerful.

I wouldn't do it again, despite that part of me that says, with Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor, "All this baby needs is a little more power." Sometimes, there's enough, and I'm learning to conserve what I have.

[Chester Taje]

Hi,

Has anyone replaced their stock 12 volt battery (in a Scamp) with 2 - 6 volt golf cart batteries? I am planning to order a 16' Scamp side dinette shortly and I according to my estimates, I will need more battery storage while boondocking. I am looking to add 2 of the T-145 golf cart batteries to replace the 12 volt and need to decide if I want the factory to just leave the 12 volt off. If you added the 6 volt batteries did you just buy a bigger battery box and weld a plate behind the propane tanks to hold two batteries end to end?

Thanks,

John

I did and i really like the extra power.I did this on my 17ft Boler.I did just as you described.

[John Blair]

Thank you all for the feedback. I am used to working with the big heavy batteries. I used to have a small electric car that ran on eight of them (plus a 12 volt for accessories). I just bought a used 2003 Scamp 16' Side Dinette instead of ordering a new one (I lucked out to find one near by), so part of my question was answered. It already has a 12 volt for now. I will modify the trailer to add in two 6 volt batteries to replace it. I will have to deal with the increase in tongue weight and will consider how I do other modifications to keep it in balance. They do make double battery boxes, either side-by-side or end-to-end. Once I have the trailer here to work on, I will figure out the best way to arrange the tongue to fit it all in.

John