Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 22:48:01 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: battery in engine compartment
In-Reply-To: <000001c70478$1a77e480$6400a8c0@MASTERPC>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
I meant to type "scary as propane tanks on the back of hot dog trucks", not
fire trucks. Must be that subliminal thing.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Dennis Haynes
Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 10:27 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: battery in engine compartment
Weight definitely needs to be considered. Just because it has 7 seats
doesn't mean it can carry 7 adults and 175 pounds is not the standard. A
combination of adults and children is the plan. Also, while a Vanagon may be
rated 3/4 ton, everything is really engineered at the limits. Look at a real
3/4 ton American truck. Nothing on the Vanagon comes close as far as tires,
suspension, brakes, power etc. I'm not saying that the placement of a 60
pound battery is a major issue, but a bunch of issues adds up quickly.
Personally, I think that some of the additions folks want on or in there
vans are signs that they have outgrown them. A second battery, yep, makes
sense. 130+ pounds of golf cart batteries needs some consideration. That's a
chunk of the ~1,500 pound capacity. If you buy an American Class C motor
home, a single group 27 house battery is what you most likely will get.
Inverters! My last motorhome had a 400 watter. That ran the 2 TV's for an
evening on one pair of GC2's. And the furnace for a night. More required
generator charging.
I agree about the extra gas cans. Especially on rear racks or the can in the
spare tire well. As scary as propane tanks on the back of fire trucks.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Daniel Stevens
Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 8:58 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: battery in engine compartment
How to start..
well all of the Diesel vans put the battery on a shelf in the engine
compartment for a shorter battery supply cable.
so it's been done factory, just not for a air/wasserboxer..
in our sunroof van we put the starting batter in the passanger side
taillight compartment..
so YES they do fit in there. have to slide it out for service.
as for yadda yadda yadda weight distribution..
1 why would you assume that you would remove the batt from the front
location.
save the westy weight?? man I hear that all the time one would think
that weight worry died with kids ripping the AC and power steering from
their Neons..
it's a freakin 3/4 ton rated VAN.. camper at that.. rated to carry up
to 9 adults.. well maybe 1 child but .. say 9x175lbs thats 1575lbs..
Oh wait add some gear/stuff/groceries OVER THE BACK DECK.. cause
thats where thats designed to carry stuff..
your wstfalia cabinets maybe account for the weight of 2~3 adults..
nah.. not even that heavy.. try the Riviera cabinets.. 3/4" particle
board
and loaded down with building supplies (12 bags of 60# concrete,
several 4x4x10 posts et al). along with 2 adults and tank of fuel.
in hvy snow like we get here all winter, my van likes to have 2 bags
or 'tube/traction sand' over the back deck..
so either 40-80 lbs of sand with little additional use or1-2 extra
batteries that allow me to not live by candle light if it's raining and
i'm just kicking back reading/listening to music with the furnace on.
sooo yeah add some freakin batteries.. fire up the illumination and
dvd.. make it comfortable..
I do laugh when I see campers @ westy events who ran their 1 battery
down overnight.. *shrugs, I just pull out the jump pack..
I guess thats heavy too. *shrugs..
Oh and TAKE THAT DANG GAS CAN OFF THE OVERHEAD LUGGAGE RACK.. (thats
my biggest PEEVE)
if 2 gals of gas is gunna save yer butt. buy more gas at the last
station you passed.
1980 ASI Riviera w/ Turbo Diesel conversion.
and 4 batteries. 1 each front seat, 2 under the back seat.
From: Mike Bucchino <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Type 2s battery in engine compartment
Same deal, only even worse in this spot on the Vanagon.
I looked into mine by removing the right taillight today. I don't
believe
it's got enough headroom in that location (even considering that a
european
battery is a bit shorter than others).
There would be plenty of cool air from the side vent grill above, but
the
air cleaner horn protrudes several inches into it for a cool air source
for
the engine. I'm sure there's a way to reroute this horn, if you
really
wanted to.
This would take away ballast from the front (where it's needed) and
move
it to the rear (where it's definitely not needed).
Battery access would be very difficult for jumpstarting, checking,
cleaning,
and replacing.
Overall, your percieved benefit of shorter main wire length is greatly
outweighed by all the negative factors.
Request disapproved; resubmit in 30 days for further
disapproval........
Mike B.
