Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > HEY KEYSTONE! > What I'd like to say if...
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-04-2020, 09:44 AM   #1
Lakelife
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Bel Aire
Posts: 71
M.O.C. #25287
Front under cap storage weight limits

I'd like to install 4 6 volt L16 group batteries weighing 120lbs a piece in the front storage compartment where the stock batteries are now. Is this area sturdy enough to tolerate 480lbs of batteries?
 
Lakelife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2020, 10:18 AM   #2
Carl n Susan
Site Team
 
Carl n Susan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,323
M.O.C. #4831
Yes it is, I have six 6Vs there.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB

Carl n Susan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2020, 10:23 AM   #3
lightsout
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: lake stevens
Posts: 504
M.O.C. #24938
The question is can your truck tolerate the added payload, if you have a SRW that is the bigger issue, DRW you are likely fine. The front compartment should handle the weight displacement just fine you may want to add plywood under the battery boxes for better displacement. The Onan 5500 Gen that normally goes in there is 300lbs.
lightsout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2020, 10:24 AM   #4
lightsout
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: lake stevens
Posts: 504
M.O.C. #24938
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl n Susan View Post
Yes it is, I have six 6Vs there.
The L16 6v's the OP is referring to are nearly twice the size twice the weight of standard 6v.
lightsout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2020, 10:25 AM   #5
prndl
Montana Master
 
prndl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 1000 oaks
Posts: 949
M.O.C. #19630
Quote:
Originally Posted by lightsout View Post
The question is can your truck tolerate the added payload, if you have a SRW that is the bigger issue, DRW you are likely fine. The front compartment should handle the weight displacement just fine you may want to add plywood under the battery boxes for better displacement. The Onan 5500 Gen that normally goes in there is 300lbs.
Don't they actually cut out the floor along the perforations for the Onan to drop down into?
__________________
2011 2955RL Gen-Y Executive Kingpin
2022 GMC 2500HD Duramax/Alison
4X4 Crew Cab/Standard bed.
prndl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2020, 10:34 AM   #6
Lakelife
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Bel Aire
Posts: 71
M.O.C. #25287
Quote:
Originally Posted by lightsout View Post
The question is can your truck tolerate the added payload, if you have a SRW that is the bigger issue, DRW you are likely fine. The front compartment should handle the weight displacement just fine you may want to add plywood under the battery boxes for better displacement. The Onan 5500 Gen that normally goes in there is 300lbs.

We have a F350 Dually so towing capacity and hitch weight aren't an issue. Mainly I was concerned about the floor of the compartment. I like the idea of adding a piece of plywood to distribute the weight a bit. We may do that.
Lakelife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2020, 10:52 AM   #7
lightsout
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: lake stevens
Posts: 504
M.O.C. #24938
Quote:
Originally Posted by prndl View Post
Don't they actually cut out the floor along the perforations for the Onan to drop down into?
Yes it is cut out however the OP also has a gen so he will be using the small front compartment which will be tight with 4 big batteries, that has a solid floor.
lightsout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2020, 12:15 PM   #8
twindman
Montana Master
 
twindman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,925
M.O.C. #5651
These batteries (as mentioned in the other thread) have almost the same footprint as standard GC2's. Just 1 inch longer and 5 inches higher.
__________________

Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
twindman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2020, 12:18 PM   #9
lightsout
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: lake stevens
Posts: 504
M.O.C. #24938
Quote:
Originally Posted by twindman View Post
These batteries (as mentioned in the other thread) have almost the same footprint as standard GC2's. Just 1 inch longer and 5 inches higher.
That is still tight plus you should have closed battery boxes with external venting which will likely have to be custom built to properly fit
lightsout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2020, 01:02 PM   #10
rohrmann
Montana Master
 
rohrmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,676
M.O.C. #12947
Even if the truck is capable of handling the weight, you are adding quite a bit of extra weight the the frame of the trailer. We don't have a generator and only have two group 27 batteries, and still had a frame failure several years ago that had to be repaired/welded at the campground before we could travel any farther. This is a case that would make lithium batteries a good choice if the extra AH are needed.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
rohrmann is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 06:22 AM   #11
BiggarView
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: home base IL, OTR anywhere
Posts: 532
M.O.C. #19382
Send a message via AIM to BiggarView
Quote:
Originally Posted by rohrmann View Post
Even if the truck is capable of handling the weight, you are adding quite a bit of extra weight the the frame of the trailer. We don't have a generator and only have two group 27 batteries, and still had a frame failure several years ago that had to be repaired/welded at the campground before we could travel any farther. This is a case that would make lithium batteries a good choice if the extra AH are needed.
X2. I would add, it depends on how you load your RV. If loaded out to the max routinely... then consider the LFP recommendation from Bob. Same footprint, 1/4 the weight. Could make all the difference. Since we are talking about weight, I would remind you that your particular rig has two long slides on the left side with the fridge and the pantry in one of them. combined with 7,000 lb axles the added weight of AGMs could put you over on the driver side tire positions ratings. Think premature tire failure or wheel bearing failure. Cha ching.
__________________

2017 RAM 3500 Laramie CCLB Dually CTD Aisin, OEM auto level rear air-ride, B&W hitch
2020 3813MS Legacy Cobalt FBP, MORryde 8K IS & pinbox, PI EMS,DIY mods by in-house "craftsman", RV security system Mk1 Beagle Alerter
BiggarView is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 06:47 AM   #12
Slow Hand
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Livermore
Posts: 492
M.O.C. #17391
I am not sure why anyone would go to all the trouble of so many batteries. If you camp in the woods than I would just buy a generator and call it a day. I am not a fan of all that amperage under my bed.
Slow Hand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 07:45 AM   #13
BiggarView
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: home base IL, OTR anywhere
Posts: 532
M.O.C. #19382
Send a message via AIM to BiggarView
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Hand View Post
I am not sure why anyone would go to all the trouble of so many batteries. If you camp in the woods than I would just buy a generator and call it a day. I am not a fan of all that amperage under my bed.
I can think of three right off the top...

1. They don't want to be always listening to a large genny droning on.
2. They want to not spend all their money on fuel and maintenance for the genny
3. They enjoy being off the grid. (in conjunction with solar and a smaller genny as backup only when needed.. this works really well.)


Just sayin', what you would be okay with, they may not. A choice.
__________________

2017 RAM 3500 Laramie CCLB Dually CTD Aisin, OEM auto level rear air-ride, B&W hitch
2020 3813MS Legacy Cobalt FBP, MORryde 8K IS & pinbox, PI EMS,DIY mods by in-house "craftsman", RV security system Mk1 Beagle Alerter
BiggarView is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 07:57 AM   #14
Lakelife
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Bel Aire
Posts: 71
M.O.C. #25287
Quote:
Originally Posted by BiggarView View Post
X2. I would add, it depends on how you load your RV. If loaded out to the max routinely... then consider the LFP recommendation from Bob. Same footprint, 1/4 the weight. Could make all the difference. Since we are talking about weight, I would remind you that your particular rig has two long slides on the left side with the fridge and the pantry in one of them. combined with 7,000 lb axles the added weight of AGMs could put you over on the driver side tire positions ratings. Think premature tire failure or wheel bearing failure. Cha ching.
Well stated about tire ratings.The G rated tires that come on them are rated for 16,320 lbs between the 4 of them. As the rig is going to come with a pair of 85AH group 27 AGM's (that's the best battery the dealership has) I will probably use an amp meter and battery monitor to do some real world testing before we upgrade the batteries. If we have the money for Lithium we may go that route for the weight savings.
Lakelife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 08:20 AM   #15
BiggarView
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: home base IL, OTR anywhere
Posts: 532
M.O.C. #19382
Send a message via AIM to BiggarView
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lakelife View Post
Well stated about tire ratings.The G rated tires that come on them are rated for 16,320 lbs between the 4 of them. As the rig is going to come with a pair of 85AH group 27 AGM's (that's the best battery the dealership has) I will probably use an amp meter and battery monitor to do some real world testing before we upgrade the batteries. If we have the money for Lithium we may go that route for the weight savings.
Testing is good. 170AH of batteries will power your fridge and the inverter for about 12 hours if we use the 50% AGM DoD rule. (and assuming thats two 85AH 12v batteries) Enough to get you from one campground to another. You have mentioned boondocking, as a desire... you will surely need more batteries... guaranteed.

On the tires, yes the G rated tires can carry 4080 lbs each which exceeds the axles rating. But it is the axle ratings that will get you into trouble all things being equal. The axle ratings tell us they are the weakest link in your current suspension set up. Unless of course you jack your trailer into tight spots all the time which results in sideways stress on tires and wheels and axle bearings too. Again think premature failure of critical components.
__________________

2017 RAM 3500 Laramie CCLB Dually CTD Aisin, OEM auto level rear air-ride, B&W hitch
2020 3813MS Legacy Cobalt FBP, MORryde 8K IS & pinbox, PI EMS,DIY mods by in-house "craftsman", RV security system Mk1 Beagle Alerter
BiggarView is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2020, 04:31 PM   #16
StageCoachDriver
Montana Fan
 
StageCoachDriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Reno
Posts: 291
M.O.C. #22620
Wow! 120lbs each! My 6V Trojans weight 27lbs each. They must have some serious amp-hours.
StageCoachDriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2020, 04:56 PM   #17
lightsout
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: lake stevens
Posts: 504
M.O.C. #24938
Quote:
Originally Posted by StageCoachDriver View Post
Wow! 120lbs each! My 6V Trojans weight 27lbs each. They must have some serious amp-hours.
You might want to check your scale, that is what Lithiums weight, Wet cell nearly 3 times that. The OP batteries are also 370 AH twice the size of a standard 6V 210-250 AH battery like the Trojan 105
lightsout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2020, 08:35 PM   #18
McRod
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Austin
Posts: 226
M.O.C. #18363
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lakelife View Post
I'd like to install 4 6 volt L16 group batteries weighing 120lbs a piece in the front storage compartment where the stock batteries are now. Is this area sturdy enough to tolerate 480lbs of batteries?
Yes, I have 8x 6v T225s in there (67lbs ea). I did, however, add 1/4" bar stock underneath that runs from frame rail to frame rail. The metal pan that's in there from the factory is welded in, but I think it's 1/8".
McRod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2020, 06:07 PM   #19
jretz
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kettle Falls
Posts: 400
M.O.C. #6321
I have 4 6volt L16 agm batteries. They are 400amps each and weight around 130lbs each. This supplies me with 800amps of power (400 amps usable). Yes this is a lot of weight on the front storage floor so I added 3/4" plywood under them and anchored it to the angle iron framing. When I get home next month I will add metal reinforcing straps under the bottom of the floor. Prior to these batteries I had 5 12volt 100amp agms with no reinforcement under them (I had them in for about 5 years).
jretz is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:59 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.