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Woodpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 18 Apr 2013
Location: Issaquah, WA
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Posts: 4 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Platform for dual batteries?
    Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 1:40pm
We want to have dual batteries on the front of our RP177.  What have you done that works?  Love this forum!
Rich and Sue
"Woodpod"
2014 R-Pod 177
2004 Chevy Avalance
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furpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 3:08pm
Just slid the first battery over and added the second. There was some unscrewing and rescrewing involved.




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hogone View Drop Down
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Joined: 09 Apr 2013
Location: St. Louis
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Posts: 1049 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 3:27pm
Did same, bought two battery cables and hooked them up in parallel. I'm sure you will have to drill new holes in battery holder platform to screw the box down, but pretty simple upgrade.  You can dry camp for quite awhile on the double battery hook-up if your conservative. 
Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
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Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 3:39pm
My setup is much like furpod's.

Two group-24s (or golf cart batteries) and their battery boxes will easily fit in the battery tray.  If you want to go with group 27s or 31s, you'll have to build something on top of the tongue.  Use a couple of 4 gauge starter cables to connect the batteries in parallel (serial if you have 6v golf cart batteries).

Don't forget, as you'll need two batteries the same age, you'll likely have to buy two batteries (instead of just adding one).  Otherwise, the older, weaker battery will constantly drain the newer battery.  I also suggest adding in a cut-off switch while you're at it.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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furpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 4:42pm
Yes, a cut off switch can be handy.. though it turns out we stay plugged in at home..
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 9:34pm
If you do use two 12 volt batteries, make sure you hook up the pod's cables to separate batteries.  Put the + on one battery and the - on the other.  This helps to keep the charging and discharging rates equal.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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hogone View Drop Down
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Posts: 1049 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2013 at 8:37am
I need to check mine.  I don't believe that is how I hooked mine up.  Thanks for the advice.  jpp
Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
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TerryM View Drop Down
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Joined: 16 Nov 2009
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Posts: 1950 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2013 at 8:39am
Does the Pod system charge both batteries okay?

Terry
RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565
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hogone View Drop Down
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Posts: 1049 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2013 at 8:44am
I can only assume.  I recently went on a 3 day dry camp and after 3 days my battery indicator inside the pod still said full.  I was pretty conservative with everything(lights, pump, etc).  Would like to hear more thoughts on why the pos and neg cables from the pod should be on separate batteries if they are hooked in parallel.
Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
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Seanl View Drop Down
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Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Location: Fredericton NB
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Posts: 633 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2013 at 9:09am
This is a quick schematic on setting up parallel connections one of the pods leads goes on one battery and the other goes on the other battery.  The schematic is not quite accurate The program I used to create it would not co-operate but I think you can get the Idea.  
Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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