2nd Battery Install
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5236
Printed Date: 05 May 2024 at 4:31pm
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Topic: 2nd Battery Install
Posted By: gpod
Subject: 2nd Battery Install
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2014 at 7:51pm
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I want to add a second battery for going off the grid for longer periods. Just to confirm, I would connect these in parallel, right? Also, once connected, will a trickle charger charge both when only connected to one? What about charging it from the car or regular power line... any implications with this? Thanks! ------------- Matt |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2014 at 8:44pm
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You'll want to make sure your original battery is still fairly new if you'll parallel a 2nd battery with it. You should start with two batteries that were made at the same time, same brand, etc. The best thing you can do is to get two 6 volt batteries and wire them in series, which gets around a few issues you can run into with paralleled batteries. If you do go with two 12 volt batteries, always charge them and use them together for best results. No problems with the converter or other charging methods - but make sure you hook them up to the pod with the negative cable on one battery and the positive on the other. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2014 at 9:50pm
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Batteries in parallel will double the amperage. Batteries in series will double the voltage. So, if you have two 12v batteries, run them in parallel. Also, connect your trailer to the (+) on one battery and (-) on the other. As Doug said, its important to have two batteries of approximately the same age - preferably same manufacturer/model/batch. And, once you have them set up, always use them as a unit. Charge them together, use them together. Your WFCO charger will recharge them just fine, as will the vehicle charge line - no worries. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2014 at 1:56am
They're spot on with the batteries. Two identical deep-cycle batteries will make dry camping much, much easier for you. The very best are Trojan T105 golf cart batteries, which are 6 volt. They're a bit pricey at around $140 each, but their longevity is the best out there. On the charging, however, I want to warn you about trickle chargers. Never ever use a straight up 'trickle charger' on any battery. Here's why. A trickle charger dumps a small, constant current into your batteries no matter what. This creates multiple problems. First, a trickle charger will take a very, very long time to recharge a mostly discharged battery, and it will never be able to bring a completely discharged battery back up (due to its inability to 'burn off' the sulfation buildup on the lead plates inside). Second, if the trickle charger is indeed giving your batteries enough amperage to keep them fully charged (which it might not), it's probably giving them too much. Too much charge results in boiling off needed water from your batteries, and unless you check and replace the water levels very regularly, this will shorten the life of your batteries. Too little charge will ultimately result in complete sulfation of the batteries (meaning that they will be dead forever). Now the problems with slightly over/under charging your batteries might not be noticeable for some time. Generally, the batteries will just slowly give out, albeit much faster than they should. Eighty percent of deep cycle batteries are dead forever within three years of purchase. Properly maintained, they can go for 8-10 years. That's why you need a smart charger that will sense what state the batteries are in and adjust the amperage flowing into them up or down appropriately. Schumacher smart chargers available at Walmart and the web do a good job of this. Put your batteries on such a charger and leave them connected to it (multiples are fine if connected in parallel) 24/7. A better option for maintaining your charged batteries, though, is a battery maintainer. I've used the BatteryMINDer #1500 very successfully for maintaining my batteries. One of its best features is that it adjusts the voltage depending on the ambient temperature, which makes a definite difference. No 'dumb' trickle charger will do that. It's a slight investment at about $49, but if it doubles (or triples) the lifespan of even one battery, it's well worth it. If you're at home, you should leave the batteries connected to a smart charger all the time. If you're out camping, just connect the Pod to shore power and the built-in smart charger will take over. You can also charge your batteries with a smart charger (not a maintainer in this instance) connected to an inverter connected to your running vehicle (sounds more complicated than it really is) to get them up to around 80-85% charge (sufficient while on a trip) in a few hours at most. Or you can use solar panels (others and myself have posted about this in this forum), but they're slower and dependent on sunshine. Sorry for the long post! I just want you to have the best info out there. Take care. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
Posted By: gpod
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2014 at 10:34am
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Thank you everyone for your posts. All were very helpful and now I have some fun tinkering and toy buying ahead of me. Last question: When I connect the "smart charger", can I connect it to just one battery and it will charge both, or would I connect the + terminal to one and the (-) terminal to the other? ------------- Matt |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2014 at 3:46pm
That is correct assuming you have two 12V batteries in parallel. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2014 at 8:10pm
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Also true for two 6 volt batteries in series. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2014 at 7:57am
Doug, How funny. I had written the same thing in my original post, but then realized there is a way to hook plus to one batt and neg to the other and really be in trouble, so I deleted it. I'm basically a cautious chicken  ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2014 at 11:38am
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You are correct, I hadn't thought of that! If you hook up to the +/- on the inside of the series then you'll apply a dead short from the charger across the jumper between the two batteries. Wouldn't be a big deal since older chargers have a thermal breaker and newer electronic ones will just refuse to start the charge cycle. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Pat & Bill whitaker
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2014 at 7:35pm
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will, does the battery minder work for ytwo 6 volt batteries in series. we are about to change over. ------------- Pat and William whitaker 2013 Rpod 177 |
Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2014 at 7:52pm
Yes, it will charge two 6 volt batteries connected in series. When you have two 6 volt batteries linked this way, the end product is one 12 volt battery with really big cells, giving you significantly higher amperage (capacity) than one or even two 12 volt batteries linked in parallel. I can't say enough good things about the Battery Minder #1500. Its strong enough to maintain up to 4 batteries connected in parallel, so having two 6 volt batteries will be fine. Just remember that this is a maintainer and not a charger. You need to first charge the batteries close to 100% using either the Pod's built-in charger or an external battery charger. After that, disconnect the charger, connect the Battery Minder, and it does the rest. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
Posted By: Luv2Q
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2014 at 10:08pm
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WillThrill, you mentioned this earlier: "If you're at home, you should leave the batteries connected to a smart charger all the time." (Which is what I do with my boat battery) My question: If the batts are connected to the smart charger all the time, when would you use the battery minder? Sorry .. Guess I'm missing something.  ------------- John & Teri Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180 E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3 |
Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2014 at 1:23am
Great question! I apologize for not clarifying myself. First of all, most people don't take very good care of their batteries. Consequently, most deep cycle batteries are dead with no hope in less than three years according to industry experts. A true deep cycle battery (most marine batteries are 'dual purpose', meant for starting engines as well as moderate cycling) can be taken from 100% to 50% and recharged for 200-300 times, and from 100% to 70% for around 500 times. If you go from 100% down to 0% and back, you only have around 100 cycles before your batteries are dead forever. With good care, deep cycle batteries can last 10 years, maybe even more. But getting that kind of lifespan requires that you treat your batteries as good as your spouse (maybe better!). Standard 'smart' chargers, like the one built into the Pod, are great for bringing a battery from a discharged to a charged state (i.e. 50% to ~95-100%). But most of them have a significant flaw: they aren't temperature sensitive. When batteries are cold, they need a higher voltage for the float (maintain) charge than when the batteries are warm. So if your batteries are colder than the temperature and resulting needed voltage to perfectly maintain your batteries, they will experience some sulfation. If the batteries are warmer, they will lose water too fast and might even boil. Now these problems may not reveal themselves immediately, but after two or three years, you'll probably notice that your batteries aren't maintaining the same charge that they used to. And if you have the batteries tested, the technician will probably (rightly) tell you that the batteries need to be replaced. The best battery maintainer I've seen for the money is the Battery Tender #1500, which sells for around $50. It is temperature sensitive and has other great features. But while maintainers do a fantastic job of maintaining batteries, they are poor at charging batteries effectively. The time it would take to bring a 100 amp hour battery from 60% to 80% with a 15 amp charger would be about 1 hour and 40 minutes, but it would take the Battery Minder about 17 hours to do the same thing (this is taking the 20% charging inefficiency into account). When you're out camping, this is obviously sub-optimal. So after the Pod's charger (or any external charger) brings your batteries up to 100% or close, switching them over to a good battery maintainer will prolong their lifespan substantially. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2014 at 1:29pm
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If you go from 100% to zero SOC just a few times it will be dead. I also wouldn't worry about using the pod's converter 24/7. While temperature compensation is helpful, the actual voltage adjustment is fairly small and the life extension isn't much. A big deal for a $2000 battery bank in a home solar system, but not so much for an $80 battery. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2014 at 2:47pm
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[/QUOTE]
The best battery maintainer I've seen for the money is the Battery Tender #1500, which sells for around $50. It is temperature sensitive and has other great features. [/QUOTE] Will, great explanation, but I believe you meant the Battery Minder, not the battery Tender in the partial quote above. I, too, have been using a Battery Minder for many years for my marine batteries and seasonal lawn equipment. Several times I have brought my batteries and those of friends back to life after they had seemingly died due to sulfation. Its additional features make it a better investment than the typical battery maintainer. Still, I have 2 "regular" battery chargers that I use to charge my marine batteries after a night of shrimping or a day of using the trolling motor. The Battery Minder would not charge them in time for their next use. ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: jeeperic
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2014 at 5:42pm
Sorry to chime in, but does this look right, then? And somebody PLEASE, once and for all explain to me the difference between: -minders -tenders -smart chargers -trickle chargers ------------- That button at the top of the remote? That's the power button..press it. Turn it all off. Go outside! '14 RPod 171 '09 Jeep Wrangler JK (mine) '14 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 (hers) |
Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2014 at 7:46pm
Yes, the diagram is for a parallel connection with two 12 volt batteries. Okay, the Battery Minders and Battery Tenders are two brands of battery maintainers (say that five times fast). Both of these brands are great for maintaining batteries that are already charged or nearly so for long periods of time. A 'smart' charger (a.k.a. microprocessor or computer controlled with variable amperage rates listed such as 15/10/2), is using for recharging a discharged battery say from a 50% state-of-charge to 100% SOC. A trickle charger is a very small battery maintainer that you should NEVER buy. The reason why is posted above. The short answer is because they will almost certainly either give your battery a bit too much or too little charge, both of which are bad. You need an 'intelligent' maintainer that will adjust itself to the state of your battery. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2014 at 7:55pm
Thanks for clarifying that Sleepless. I had not noticed the discrepancy. I'm glad to hear that you have had success in reviving seemingly dead batteries with the Battery Minder. One of its features I didn't mention is that it periodically uses a pulsing charge, which helps to remove sulfate crystals that may have accumulated on the battery plates. And I'm not sure that I agree with Doug on the value of temperature adjustments over a long period of time. If you're storing your batteries in a climate controlled (i.e. 70 degrees) environment, then ambient temperature adjustments are probably a moot point. But most people are storing their batteries in garages, sheds, barns, etc., so temperature swings are more the rule than the exception. And it doesn't take much of a voltage difference from ideal to have a significant impact on battery life. For instance, if you have batteries connected in parallel, connecting both the positive and negative terminals of a single battery to your charger, rather than connecting positive to one battery and negative to the other (see the diagram above to see how it should be done), can create enough of a voltage difference over time to significantly shorten the lifespan of the battery you're connected to. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
Posted By: jeeperic
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 10:50am
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Thanks for the info.
After I tuck the Pod in for the season, I'll pull the battery off and bring it in the basement, plug in a battery maintainer, then in the spring I'll add a second 12v for the boondock sites. ------------- That button at the top of the remote? That's the power button..press it. Turn it all off. Go outside! '14 RPod 171 '09 Jeep Wrangler JK (mine) '14 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 (hers) |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 11:58am
Honestly, you want to buy that battery now, if there is any chance of getting one from the same source as the one on your pod now, that is your best chance of having them matched.. a very important thing when running dual batteries. ------------- |
Posted By: jeeperic
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 12:12pm
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Oh? It's the one that came with the Pod. Would you suggest two new ones, then come spring? ------------- That button at the top of the remote? That's the power button..press it. Turn it all off. Go outside! '14 RPod 171 '09 Jeep Wrangler JK (mine) '14 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 (hers) |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 1:19pm
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Yes they should be matched if you are going to parallel them. But- in past times when I often literally couldn't afford two NEW batteries to match I'd have two of any vintage and capacity....run one until low then switch to the other one. That works fine, and is just a minor annoyance in the middle of the night when the switch is always needed. I forget which number Murphy's Law that is  ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 1:35pm
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Although one of the biggest advantages of running two in parallel (or series if they are 6 volt) is you actually get more total amps out from the 2 than you do by running 1 and then switching to the other. So for two 110 amp batteries, where you can get 55 amps each (50% SOC) if you run them seperately, you get 110 amps total. Run them together and you'll get around 125 amps before hitting 50% SOC. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: jeeperic
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 1:35pm
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Yep - sounds about right... Murphy can be a sneaky bugger!
For a winter project I'll be building a storage box for the front which will house the batteries and perhaps a compartment for a water filtration system as seen elsewhere on this forum. Who knows, maybe even put the propane tank in there somehow!! ------------- That button at the top of the remote? That's the power button..press it. Turn it all off. Go outside! '14 RPod 171 '09 Jeep Wrangler JK (mine) '14 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 (hers) |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 2:18pm
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Just be sure you have vents in the bottom to drain off any propane leak that might happen. ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 4:37pm
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Hi jeeperic, I couldn't be happier with my battery install. Remember that 6 v. CG batteries are taller than 12v. and won't fit in a standard battery case. Following someone else lead here (sorry, I forgot who to give credit to), I simply cut a couple of 12v. boxes and extended them with some plastic and gorilla tape. Cheap, easy and has held up well. You can see the batteries and install by clicking the link in my sig below. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: jeeperic
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 4:47pm
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Again, good advice.
I just did some measuring, and there might be room for a second propane bottle. With the added tongue weight, though, I won't be towing with the Jeep anymore. My wife might actually let me drive her new pickup. 
I like the clean look of this: 
-I'll need a pigtail with changeover lever -bidirectional regulator -another length of hose as an afterthought...try this scenario: six days camping, two adults = two hot showers daily, supper everyday on the stove, furnace on at night, and regular dish washing in the sink with hot water, etc, etc. Do I really need two tanks?? ------------- That button at the top of the remote? That's the power button..press it. Turn it all off. Go outside! '14 RPod 171 '09 Jeep Wrangler JK (mine) '14 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 (hers) |
Posted By: jeeperic
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 4:50pm
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Fred:
I'm going to print off all those mods you've done! Absolutely inspiring. ------------- That button at the top of the remote? That's the power button..press it. Turn it all off. Go outside! '14 RPod 171 '09 Jeep Wrangler JK (mine) '14 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 (hers) |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 5:01pm
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Thanks jeeperic. I would give some thought to that dual propane install unless you plan on doing a lot of extended camping without possibility of refill or backup. One 20# tank goes a long way. Further than you might think even with furnace, fridge and stove. A couple of things I didn't yet add to the mod-pics which we never leave home without is my http://www.amazon.com/Weber-54060001-Liquid-Propane-Grill/dp/B00FDOON9C/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1410987502&sr=1-1&keywords=weber+q+220 - Weber Q and a http://www.amazon.com/Worthington-281149-1-Gallon-Cylinder-Prevention/dp/B000SKX63U - 1 gallon propane tank for the Q and/or in case we happen to run out of the one 20# on a cold night. Have fun! fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: jeeperic
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 5:26pm
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I think you're right. I'll hold off on the second tank for now, heck, we've only had the Pod out once! That'll free up space in the box for other things...
By the way, do you have the stain color handy for your trim? It matches perfectly? ------------- That button at the top of the remote? That's the power button..press it. Turn it all off. Go outside! '14 RPod 171 '09 Jeep Wrangler JK (mine) '14 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 (hers) |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 5:49pm
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I added a second LP tank to my 179. On our recent 30 day trip we made it about 25 days- fridge running on gas 24x7, boil a quart of water each morning on the gas stove for french press coffee and water heater on only when an infrequent shower was pending, maybe 4 times running my Olympian gas grill and only maybe 3 nights where the heater came on. Was glad to have the second tank as the fridge beeped "out of gas" one morning as I was just about to make coffee.  I do carry a small backpacking stove that runs on white gas for emergencies. Not having coffee would have qualified Oh- I used the mount system jeeperic showed but I didn't bother with all the changeover stuff, I just hook to one bottle and move it to the other when it empties. Takes all of 12 seconds. Used to do it in 10 but I've gotten old...
 ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 5:56pm
Hmmm. Stain. Don't quote me on this, but I think I made a mix of Minwax Red Oak and Special Walnut. I have a bunch of stains and mix 'em on scraps to the boss's satisfaction. I have a very beautiful and somewhat fastidious boss, errhh wife!  fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 6:02pm
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Budward, you burn a lot of propane! In a 26 day trip we made it almost 18 on one tank using furnace almost every morning and a bit at night, reefer 24/7, hot (propane) showers and cook a lot. When we did run out in Kalaloch, WA they had propane right there in campground. Very convenient. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: jeeperic
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 7:09pm
Budward, I whole-heartedly agree with you on the coffee-in-the-morning-emergency! I like the way you think! And Fred, our bosses must have gone to the same school!  ------------- That button at the top of the remote? That's the power button..press it. Turn it all off. Go outside! '14 RPod 171 '09 Jeep Wrangler JK (mine) '14 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 (hers) |
Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 8:29pm
We camped in Kalaloch last month, and it was great except for the perpetual fog over the ocean. I too was thinking that two propane tanks seems like a lot. Even with running the water heater for showers, ours will last for at least 3-4 weeks. If you're running the furnace much, though, that would completely change the equation. When we go to Alaska with our Pod next year, I'll just throw one of my spare propane tanks in the back of our Envoy. We'll be taking extra gas too, just in case. I've heard that you can go a long way between gas stations on the Alcan highway. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 9:01pm
Ahhhh, Kalaloch! I know I hijacked the thread, but hey! This place was just fricken gorgeous! I hope to return sooner than later! - fred       ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 9:57pm
We were camped in Rocky Mountain National Park in February a few years back in a pop-up truck camper - we went through a full tank of propane in 3 days- heater basically ran 24 x7, it was in the low teens IIRC! The truck is a 96 I ordered in July 1995- still have it and the 4Wheel camper..  ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2014 at 10:10pm
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Wow! Over 140,000 BTUs of energy per day! Shoulda just knocked a whole in the backside of the truck and run the engine/heater! fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2014 at 8:20am
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Well the problem with that is it is a diesel, they won't stay warm in those temps due to using so little fuel during idle! There are systems that bump the idle speed up to keep them warm, but propane is cheaper. 140,000 BTU per day- sounds about right - it is 16,000 BTU heater so run time would be 8.75 hours times 3 days and you are out! Keep in mind the grey upper part of the popup has no insulation! ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2014 at 9:37am
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Been there, done that with a popup in cool weather, the heat just blows right out of the seams and through the tenting. Much better insulation in the pods and no air penetration, but with heavy heater use I would carry a 2nd propane tank, too. Normally I go through less than a tank each summer. I just filled up the 2 30 pound tanks that came with our new camper, plus a spare 20, and spent about $70. I figure those big tanks will expire before they run out! ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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