Additional Battery for M-19

[CNCCornwall]

All right - here's one for you. I just got my M-19 last week, and with it came one group 24 battery in a box. I want to add a second one. The problem is, on the rail that is right behind the propane tanks, there is not room for two of the battery boxes, and the only double battery boxes I can find are side by side, and will not fit on the rail. Not only that, but I think I can route the propane hookup between the two boxes... but not around a double (even if I could find one.)

Anyone have any ideas that don't involve welding?

It seems to me that the rail provided was designed with two batteries in mind, but they must not be using the boxes I have. Unfortunately, I can't find any smaller boxes for group 24s... Help!!!

TIA,
Colin

 

[rl7greg]

How about a picture?

 

[CNCCornwall]

Ok - here you are. The existing battery box is over as far as it can go. I have tried turning the lid around and re-routing the cables through the side cable inlets, but a second box still won't fit. The tray is long enough, but the indentation in the fiberglass nose cap is not wide enough. (See pic 2)

If I could cut the handles and one cable inlet off each box, I could theoretically get them to fit, but that seems like a hack job to me. (These are group 24 boxes, not the bigger group 24/27 boxes.)

 

[Bob&Patty]

Colin, sounds like the same thing I did to get 2 batterys on a TT we had. Sorry, but sometimes its hack and wack. Could you weld more angle iron forward of the one you have. You might be able to get more batteries in place.. Maybe 4 golf cart batteries. Bob

 

[CNCCornwall]

Heh! I wish I could get 4 6Volts up there! Absolutely no room with the propane tanks right there. Heck - I'd be happy with another group 24! I'll figure something out. I'll post pics if I do.

 

[rumtot]

We had the dealer install a second battery on our M18. I will take a pic and post it. No welding was required. It's tight but they both fit. The M19 may be different. I was able to get into the battery box & add a set of heavy wires and install an inverter. Scott

 

[ddhburns]

hack job

I ended up cutting the handles off the battery boxes with a box cutter, then smoothing them up with a file. You really can't see 'em back there, so if it looks a little rough... eh?

 

[CNCCornwall]

Well, I did it. A lot of cutting and fitting later, but I got two group 24's in. It's a tight squeeze, but doable.

Here are some pics: