[khgeisler]

Thanks for the feedback folks.  Not sure if I have a direction yet.  I guess until we start using it we will not know.  I guess we will be Pole to Pole users, and running the Gen while traveling.

Hey Karl.  I'm in a similar predicament as you are.  Did you solve any of your battery problems yet??

I think from what i've read
1.  Get a trickle charger for the chassis batteries
2.  Keep it un merged
3.  I was going to get 3, either regular starting 8D's or AGM 8D's.  I'm also a pole to pole user.  For the twice a year or so I might stay at a rest stop I just need to make it from when I shut the generator off to go to sleep to when I wake up in the morning to make coffee...

Hello, never really made a decision.  The batteries are still good and we recently moved so we are using the coach very little.  The coach is plugged in all the time in covered storage, so always charged.  I always keep the engine start batteries off and unmerged.  They stay fully charged for months.  When I want to turn the engine, I turn them on, merge the batteries for 10 to 20 minutes just to bring them to life, and the DD 60 fires off like it ran yesterday.  One thing to note, the generator does use the house batteries to start, so maybe having a "starting battery" for the house side is ok.  I am not sure if that was clear  on my original message.  If I had to make a decision today, I would buy 3 or 4 AGM batteries like I have, save the money on the 2 or 3 I do not need.  It is ok for the way we travel with the coach.  It will run the fridge overnight at a Cracker Barrell or wherever till we get to our destination.  On the older coaches, I think simplicity is key.  Change all lights to led, keep the electrical draw down, buy a new fridge and a good inverter.

Thanks for the info.  I'm going to be out at the coach tomorrow.  I'm going to un merge them, and shut off the starting batteries with the switch until i'm ready to go somewhere.  I'm leaning towards the 3 AGM's.  Does that run the fridge all night at the cracker barrel??  That's all i'm looking to do boon dock wise.  Also did you get a chassis battery tender??  If so what did you get??

I never bought a chassis battery tender.  I think I just went 3 months without one and no issues.  Depending on the size of your AGM's you buy, there should be no problem running the fridge overnight as long as you have a modern day house fridge.

[whited44]

Update on this.. 

Removed the 6 8D house batteries.  Installed 3 new Napa deep cycle 8D’s

Napa seems to be the only one that I could find that had deep cycle lead acid 8D’s. They were around $300 a piece

Also installed a new “merge switch”

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Update on this.. 

Removed the 6 8D house batteries.  Installed 3 new Napa deep cycle 8D’s

Napa seems to be the only one that I could find that had deep cycle lead acid 8D’s. They were around $300 a piece

Also installed a new “merge switch”

Dennis, you may want to do this mod to your merge switch to improve the longevity (see video link below). It automatically disconnects the merge switch any time you are starting the bus. I have done this to mine and I have not had any more issues with the merge switch. My theory is that high currents from starting are running through the merge solenoid causing it to burn out prematurely. 

https://youtu.be/f07-DtmOW14?si=D-3fFWw7uG9PrnNL

[Jack Houpe]

I like that you cleaned the terminals and used a dielectric compound on them, this is one of the major problems with RVs in general and battery issues. thumbs up