6 volt trojans in a 2008 BFT
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6 volt trojans in a 2008 BFT
Anybody done this? I see on other post it has been done in older Born Frees, but unless I'm missing something, my calculations are telling me that I don't have enough clearance between the bottom of my battery tray and the upper opening of the 2008 battery comparment. My measurement is telling me I have a maximum clearance of 9.5 inches and all the the 6 volt Trojans are at least 10 or more inches tall.
- Mel Wilbur
- Posts: 617
- Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:39 pm
Check out my Feb 11, 2008, 5:58 p.m., post and pictures on this thread. I have the "new" battery tray in my 2004 BFT and two Trojan T-105 Pluses fit perfect. In fact, I think T-125's would also fit perfect.
http://www.bornfreervclub.org/bulletin_ ... ght=trojan
http://www.bornfreervclub.org/bulletin_ ... ght=trojan
Barb & Bill
2004 Born Free 22' Built for Two (Sold)
no longer towing a 2008 Smart ForTwo
Escondido, CA
2004 Born Free 22' Built for Two (Sold)
no longer towing a 2008 Smart ForTwo
Escondido, CA
I'm thinking whether you have the old tray or new tray, the battery compartment opening on the 2008 BFT just isn't as tall as the ealier models. On my 2008, I have 9 & 7/8 inches from the floor of the tray to the top of the battery compartment opening. According to Trojan's specs. for the T-105 Plus, I need 10 & 11/16 inches. Damn, looks like the best I can do is two Trojan Group size 31, 12 Volt Dual Purpose AGM Batteries. The jury is still out on whether the original interstates need replacing but I'm thinking that will be the bottom line.
Wow, that is a short opening. Only 3/8 of an inch to spare with the stock 12V Interstate Group 27 battery?dsfriday wrote:On my 2008, I have 9 & 7/8 inches from the floor of the tray to the top of the battery compartment opening.
Perhaps a call to the factory - seems some of their new customers should have requested that their new coaches be outfitted with 6V deep cycle batteries. Wonder what they do to accommodate that?
Bill
Barb & Bill
2004 Born Free 22' Built for Two (Sold)
no longer towing a 2008 Smart ForTwo
Escondido, CA
2004 Born Free 22' Built for Two (Sold)
no longer towing a 2008 Smart ForTwo
Escondido, CA
If they go flat on me again there yours. Don't know how I would get them to you though? Plan to give them one more chance. They have gone flat twice, the first time was my fault but when I went to recharge the specific gtavity per cell wasn't consistent between cells, used them anyway for two months in Florida and but for most part we were always plugged in and I noticed every time I hit the monitor they were never fully charged, even after a day of traveling. Then last Wednesday got home and this Tuesday went to fire up the generator for excerise and the coach batteries were dead again. Again, I forgot to turn off the battery switch, but nothing was powered up except the CO2 alarm. In my opinion that shouldn't have been enough to drain the batteries in 6 days. Maybe so, anyway recharged them, same result, load test says the are good, volt meter reads 12.69 but specific gravity not consistent between cells, maybe its my battery hydrometer that is out of whack. In any event plan to give them one more chance.
- Mel Wilbur
- Posts: 617
- Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:39 pm
Dennis,
My guess is that your batteries are already toast. Before putting in new batteries you may want to consider modifying your converter/charger to a multistage system. I did this about 2 years ago and although our coach is plugged in constantly and although I never turn off the battery switch I have not had to add any water for the 2+ years. The link to the system I used is http://www.bestconverter.com/55-Amp-Con ... _p_47.html# and it was an easy do-it-yourself project.
My guess is that your batteries are already toast. Before putting in new batteries you may want to consider modifying your converter/charger to a multistage system. I did this about 2 years ago and although our coach is plugged in constantly and although I never turn off the battery switch I have not had to add any water for the 2+ years. The link to the system I used is http://www.bestconverter.com/55-Amp-Con ... _p_47.html# and it was an easy do-it-yourself project.
Last edited by Mel Wilbur on Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mel & Connie
Here is the new Progressive Dynamics "slide in" replacement/upgrade converter/smart charger unit for the Parallax/Magnetek converter/charger if you want an alternative to Mel's suggestion. Either the WFCO unit Mel linked to or this unit will prevent your batteries from getting fried.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/pr ... izard/7450
Bill
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/pr ... izard/7450
Bill
Barb & Bill
2004 Born Free 22' Built for Two (Sold)
no longer towing a 2008 Smart ForTwo
Escondido, CA
2004 Born Free 22' Built for Two (Sold)
no longer towing a 2008 Smart ForTwo
Escondido, CA
Battery charger replacement
I would like to reinforce what Mel and Bill have said about smart chargers. Two years ago, after running a set of batteries dry, I installed a smart 3 stage charger following Bill Hemme's tutorial. My batteries have not needed any additional water in two years. The installation is straight forward, and the only problems I had was getting back up off the floor when done. A warning: get the larger size that Bill Hemme used instead of the smaller size that I used because it was too tight s fit for the cabinet. I elected to use the smaller size (40 amps, I think) because we do not do much dry camping. I got it in the space, but it was a tight squeeze.
They don't learn very fast at the factory, but maybe they have started to put in better converter/chargers by now At least I have heard that they are now putting the trailer plug on the correct side of the BFT bumper now.
They don't learn very fast at the factory, but maybe they have started to put in better converter/chargers by now At least I have heard that they are now putting the trailer plug on the correct side of the BFT bumper now.
I also installed the Intellipower 9260C based on Bill Hemme's article. This is where I purchased mine: http://www.bestconverter.com/60-Amp-RV- ... p_171.html
$193.50
60Amp model with Charge Wizard
The price is about $70.00 cheaper than Campingworld.
I like the Intellipower as it is much quieter than the old unit and I never have to worry about boiling the water out of the batteries. I installed ours about 8 months ago.
Steve
$193.50
60Amp model with Charge Wizard
The price is about $70.00 cheaper than Campingworld.
I like the Intellipower as it is much quieter than the old unit and I never have to worry about boiling the water out of the batteries. I installed ours about 8 months ago.
Steve