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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: TN
Posts: 263
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Camper battery modification wiring questions.
Hi Fellas. I am planning a long distance camping trip with my 1969 gmc 1500 and vintage camper shell. I will be off the grid most days. I know I could ice down some coolers but I want to be able to keep my food cold effectively and not worry about running out of ice. My plan is to add a 12 volt fridge and an aux deep cycle battery under the hood to power this while the truck is off. My only problem is wiring the battery to the truck and making it charge correctly and also be able to separate the current from the regular battery so I can crank the truck in the morning. I read that deep cycle batteries don’t like to charge off a truck alternator. Is there something I can add to make it charge effectively off the alternator. Has anyone else added this kind of setup to their truck? How did you wire it up? Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: TN.
Posts: 8,097
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Re: Camper battery modification wiring questions.
__________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 84 Chevy K-20 63 Impala (my high school car) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...Crew Cab Build |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: TN
Posts: 263
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Re: Camper battery modification wiring questions.
I will check it out. Thanks.
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#4 |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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Spend the money on a small generator set it up to run the fridge.
You can charge a deep cycle battery with the truck alternator but it may take a while. I hook a small generator up to it and tie into the electrical system. ![]()
__________________
1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. |
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#5 |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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This is how I did mine in the ramp truck for the winch battery. It will charge both batteries at the same time when the truck is running. When the truck is off it kills the solenoid so only the winch battery is working the winch. If I leave the truck running and flip the toggle switch it will run off both.
![]() http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=780350
__________________
1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Portland
Posts: 1,330
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Re: Camper battery modification wiring questions.
You could also look into a battery 2 battery charger. It sits between your batteries and regulars flow to charge your aux from your main. Essentially it'll feed excess power from your starter battery to your aux. Popular in the camper van world for simplicity and when dual alternators aren't needed or wanted.
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: TN
Posts: 263
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Re: Camper battery modification wiring questions.
Quote:
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#8 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: TN
Posts: 263
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Re: Camper battery modification wiring questions.
Quote:
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#9 | |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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![]() Quote:
I would be willing to beat your battery wouldn't run the fridge all night any way. ![]()
__________________
1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. |
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#10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Portland
Posts: 1,330
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Re: Camper battery modification wiring questions.
Quote:
If you have a quality travel fridge and a 100 amp hour lithium you can run the fridge 3-4 days on a full charge. We just ordered a single 200 amp hour for the sprinter my gf is building. |
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#11 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: TN
Posts: 263
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#12 | |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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![]() Quote:
I would upgrade the alternator to as big as you can get that you can mount. Read this sites info on alternators and wiring. It's the best info out there for this. You will know a lot more about what you need after reading it. ![]() http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml I still think something like this is your best bet though. ![]() https://www.lowes.com/pd/Westinghous...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
__________________
1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. |
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