Thread: 2nd Batt & Rear bin internal height

I run a 130ah Battery in my RH rear bin and it fits well in height. I don't have accesss to mine either but I still have room in mine as I grinded out the bottom of the plastic box and mounted to floor.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Hi all, does anybody by any chance have an internal rear bin height measurement?

My apologies as I don't have access to my D2 right now.


I've currently got a Lifeline GPL-27T battery (100ah, 333lx168wx235h) in the rear bin of the D2. It has served for a loooong time but it has called it a day
Trying to gain increased fridge etc time from the 2nd battery, I've been looking at higher capacity 2nd batteries and have come across this Lifeline GPL-30HT which looks like it would be an excellent option. (150ah, 342lx172wx304h).
The big difference between the batteries in reality, apart from cost, is the 150ah one is taller (150ah is 304mm high, 100ah is 235mm tall)

From what I recall, I think I have enough clearance in the rear bin to run the 150ah battery, but I was hoping to check this before dropping a lot of $ on a 2nd battery to take back home.

I measured the bin depth at 400mm deep from the bottom of the bin to the opening, or the top lip, or top edge, however you express it..... PS: the lid is dome shaped so it will allow for about another 20 > 25mm of stuffing (that's an estimation cos i didn't actually measure that bit)

Originally Posted by onebob

I measured the bin depth at 400mm deep from the bottom of the bin to the opening, or the top lip, or top edge, however you express it..... PS: the lid is dome shaped so it will allow for about another 20 > 25mm of stuffing (that's an estimation cos i didn't actually measure that bit)

Onebob, you are a legend! Thank you very much for this info and taking the time to make a measurement, I really appreciate it. Sounds like the 150ah battery will fit fine.

This is a 120AH Full River Simon .......... As Onebob says there is heaps of room.

Slightly left of field here...
Is there any merit in the idea of creating a battery "box" (think, open top box with a 25mm flange around the top edge) and dropping it into the floor space on the RHS (where the cubby box would go, but recessed into the floor)

I dont have the boxes as orginally 7 seat, and didnt realy want to loose that space as its handy for recovery gear, tools, thongs, and just stuffing junk in there, but if I could drop half the heaigh of the battery through the floor... well, say no more.


EDIT:
Whats the damage on those batts Slunnie? better option than an optima???

A caravan manufacturer in Victoria has started fitting Lead Crystal batteries, my home work indicates they are very good.

I will be putting two in the van when I get the reddies, they are about the same price as a normal deep cycle battery but seem to work even better being able to be fully discharged.

Cheers

Mike

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=a...al%20Batteries

Originally Posted by CU55TM Disco

Slightly left of field here...
Is there any merit in the idea of creating a battery "box" (think, open top box with a 25mm flange around the top edge) and dropping it into the floor space on the RHS (where the cubby box would go, but recessed into the floor)

I dont have the boxes as orginally 7 seat, and didnt realy want to loose that space as its handy for recovery gear, tools, thongs, and just stuffing junk in there, but if I could drop half the heaigh of the battery through the floor... well, say no more.


EDIT:
Whats the damage on those batts Slunnie? better option than an optima???

Thanks so much for the pic iPom, thats fantastic, there is heaps of height. BTW, nicely done arrangement you have in there. I'll probably have to scrape mud out of mine.

CU55TM Disco, the batteries vary a lot in price depending on where you shop. The 100ah version I think is RRP $900approx, but easily found for about $630 online but I have found it for $595 in Sydney (Balmain Batteries). The 150ah version is RRP $1245, can easily be found for about $865 but Balmain have them for $795.

They are a better option than the Optima as a deep cycle 2nd battery. I am a huge fan of the Optima, I have run them for years and years, the BlueTop D31M which is the largest Optima as the starter/winch battery. They are expensive (just recently paid $430 at Battery Business Warriewood, but their long life easily more than justifies the cost. The problem with the Optima, is that the spiral technology that made them what they are is space inefficient and at 75ah they just don't have the capacity that the Lifeline does. The Lifeline on the other hand uses the same technology as Optima, but uses flat plates instead, so for the same size battery the Lifeline GPL-27T has a 100ah capacity. The higher capacity also extends the battery life due to less depth of discharge when in use. The Lifeline GPL-30HT has twice the capacity of the biggest Optima with 150ah on the same footprint but only 70mm higher - this battery however has bolt terminals, not regular battery terminals.

Originally Posted by iPom

This is a 120AH Full River Simon .......... As Onebob says there is heaps of room.

Hey iPom!
do you do weekend work on caravans?

and my fullriver is blue?