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Old 04-04-2019, 02:46 PM   #1
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THOR #14340
Battery weight in 2004 Windsport 35d

I changed the coach batteries from two 55 ah 12 volt batteries to four, 6 volt 430 ah batteries. The old batteries combined couldn't weigh much more than about 70 lbs. The new batteries weigh a total of almost 500 lbs.

Should I be concerned about the extra weight I’ve added to that side of the coach? The battery compartment is on the same side as the living room slideout so it just seems like there is a tremendous amount of weight on that one side.

Is this a problem? Or should I find something different to worry about?

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Old 04-04-2019, 03:06 PM   #2
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Lead weight is about 60 lbs per 100 ah @12 volts. 110 ah = 66 lbs and 430 ah = 258 lbs. If there is space in the original battery compartment for the batteries, I would assume the battery compartment is stressed for the load. I asked Thor MC about that very thing on my factory tours. The guide stated that Thor plant engineering gave the battery specs to MorRide for the battery compartment and MorRide did the design and engineering for that compartment. My coach's battery compartment is stressed for two group 31 12 volt batteries - 136 lbs.
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Old 04-04-2019, 03:29 PM   #3
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If there is space in the original battery compartment for the batteries, I would assume the battery compartment is stressed for the load.
There is space, but just barely. There is (was) a sliding tray that holds three 12 volt batteries. But the years had taken their toll and it was rusty and nasty looking. I was going to clean it up but opted not to. Instead, I laid a 1" thick rubber mat in the compartment and then welded a brace under the compartment. (Probably didn't need the brace but I did it anyway.) With the tray out of the way, there was room for the four batteries I placed in it.
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Old 04-04-2019, 04:03 PM   #4
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If you're going to add weight to your motorhome: it might as well be for battery capacity...
Did you happen to take any side to side measurements of how your rig sat on it's suspension?
Perhaps you should check it now, and see if you're leaning to one side a bit...

Good luck!
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Old 04-04-2019, 04:16 PM   #5
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Did you happen to take any side to side measurements of how your rig sat on it's suspension?
Perhaps you should check it now, and see if you're leaning to one side a bit...
I have the leveling jacks down. I'm afraid the RV might flip over on its side when I pull them up.
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Old 04-04-2019, 06:12 PM   #6
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I about blew out my o-rings installing 2 65 lbs batteries in my RV, I can't even imagine.

If you beefed up the compartment or are sure its strong enough, I would not worry about the extra weight. My water tank is on one side of my rv (and 100% behind the rear wheels) and I can't tell the difference in driving if its full or empty (415 lbs).

If you are really concerned get to a truck scale and weight the axles and then weigh one side, you can see if your load is really that different. To be accurate you would need the rv loaded like you are on a trip including the human meat puppets.
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Old 04-04-2019, 07:02 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Squerly View Post
I have the leveling jacks down. I'm afraid the RV might flip over on its side when I pull them up.
DEPLOY THE OUTRIGGERS!!
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