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Topic: Coach batteries and difficult to remove (Read 855 times) previous topic - next topic

Coach batteries and difficult to remove

It is so interesting to read and see all the improvements that you are all making to your coaches, I too have been busy and although I cannot keep up with my Brother ( JohnH ) I am happy with my progress with our 8 months of ownership:
I have changed the starting solenoid, replaced all the shades. replaced the front TV, painted the bedroom walls, reupholstered the bedroom headboard and valences.
When I parked my U240 for the Winter I decided that I needed to remove all my batteries as I did not have any power available to keep them charged. What a hassle it was to get the coach batteries out (2 x 8D's ). I was on my knees and leaning inside the compartment lifting up and sideways at the same time. I  decided to remove the battery rack and add sliders so that in future I could remove them without risking back strain or worse.
 The photo shows the modification so next I have to put in the batteries.
We intend to take a quick trip into Washington for the Easter weekend so I still have to fire the GV up.
Geoffh
Geoff & Pat Haygarth
1994 U240 SBI GV 36ft Cat 3116, Allison 6 speed
 Build #4448
2015 Jeep Wrangler Sport

Re: Coach batteries and difficult to remove

Reply #1 –
Nice! Slide out trays for 8D batteries are WAY good! I replaced three 8Ds in our U295 a couple of months ago. We have slide out trays. It was easy, because the salesman/owner of the battery store helped me with the heavy lifting. He has an outstanding concept of customer service and satisfaction.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Coach batteries and difficult to remove

Reply #2 –
Nice job Geoff. Good to see you keep up the Family name and changes. See you in May then we can get it over the pit and do all the underneath services.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Coach batteries and difficult to remove

Reply #3 –
I had forgotten how to add more than one photo so I just attached one. John called me from Mexico a few minutes ago and explained the process to me.
 I had to install the rack on my own so I used jacks and it took a few hours but it is all in place. I also made a bracket and screen to protect the isolator and wiring from the road dirt, I checked all connections, cleaning and applying dielectric grease and also replacing the 15amp relays due to poor connections.
Geoffh
Geoff & Pat Haygarth
1994 U240 SBI GV 36ft Cat 3116, Allison 6 speed
 Build #4448
2015 Jeep Wrangler Sport

Re: Coach batteries and difficult to remove

Reply #4 –
Geoff,

Very nice work. Do I see a future business..John & Geoff's Foretravel repairs and modifications???????????

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: Coach batteries and difficult to remove

Reply #5 –
Geoff, When you open Geoff's battery mod company you will be swarmed with customers.  Nice job.
Gary B

Re: Coach batteries and difficult to remove

Reply #6 –
nice clean fab work !! congrats
Larry and Susan Rogers
  1998 U-270 36'
  Build 5344
  Cummins 8.3

Re: Coach batteries and difficult to remove

Reply #7 –
Very nice.  Now, if you had an 02-03 40' I wonder if anyone could even find the house batteries without being shown where they are hidden.. They are behind a panel in the middle of the coach-all 3. When we had them changed out when we bought the coach I  paid extra (and a nice tip-since it was 100 degrees in Nac) to have them installed.  Put the poor guy on the slide, pushed him in, let him wrangle one out, pull him out, push him in 2 more times then reverse to install..  Keeps weight in the middle of the coach, but not something any normal person would want to do.  Installer was a young guy (under 30) that looked like an old high school football player.. :))
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others
 

Re: Coach batteries and difficult to remove

Reply #8 –
I gotta make a set of those slides! I changed both batteries in my 84 FTX ORED a few months ago and it cost me a LARGE chunk of the meat on the side of my finger and about a pint of blood.... 8D's are massive and when gravity takes over, heaven help any appendage in the way! Again, those are some NICE battery trays.
Fred Lewers
1984 FTX ORED
Build #2423
1991 Ford Taurus SHO
17 1/2  trillion dollars....  TANSTAAFL....  The party's winding down folks!