Batteries on Tongue of 17bh

[Canadian_in_NJ]

Hey there,

We have a 2018 Jayco Jayflight slx 17bh. When we bought the trailer new it came with 1 12 volt. We upgraded to two 6 volts and they do fit (just) in the original batter location.

I am wanting to add more batteries and have been toying with the idea of putting the additional 2 6 volts in the box of my truck and just having a battery selector switch.

Ideally, I would like them all on the tongue and could fit them if I fabricated a mount.

My concern is all the added weight, can the frame handle it?

I have a 1 ton, so the truck will have no problem, its just the integrity of the trailer I am worried about.

Has anyone done this to this trailer?

Thanks

[kblast523]

I have added ONE additional battery to every TT I've owned, used 12v and solar to boondock. The frame on this particular model starts with a little less than 400 lbs on the hitch, and adding three 6 volt batteries will raise it quite a bit. It will also reduce your available payload on the trailer. All things considered given the side of the tongue rails, I would not want to go much above 500 lbs. My JayFeather is only 650 lbs tongue weight and has 5" beams.

[Jhindman]

I see where you added two 6volts to your tongue. Can you let me know the battery box you used. I didn’t realize how tight the fit would be until I started looking. Don’t want to get something that doesn’t fit.

[brwarrior]

Originally Posted by Jhindman

I see where you added two 6volts to your tongue. Can you let me know the battery box you used. I didn’t realize how tight the fit would be until I started looking. Don’t want to get something that doesn’t fit.

I have (2) GC2s on the tongue of my 195RB. I had these boxes for my batteries I transferred over from my old popup. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1. The dealer cut one of the cable protrusions off on one of the lids. He could have just as easily turned the lid 180 degrees to fit. The posts on a GC2 are diaganol from each other.

That being said the coupler is only rated for 700 pounds. When I weighed with 30 gallons of fresh water I was at the coupler rating.

Planning on a lithium conversion.

[kblast523]

Originally Posted by Canadian_in_NJ

Hey there,

We have a 2018 Jayco Jayflight slx 17bh. When we bought the trailer new it came with 1 12 volt. We upgraded to two 6 volts and they do fit (just) in the original batter location.

I am wanting to add more batteries and have been toying with the idea of putting the additional 2 6 volts in the box of my truck and just having a battery selector switch.

Ideally, I would like them all on the tongue and could fit them if I fabricated a mount.

My concern is all the added weight, can the frame handle it?

I have a 1 ton, so the truck will have no problem, its just the integrity of the trailer I am worried about.

Has anyone done this to this trailer?

Thanks

I had a 2012 Jayflight SLX185RB, added solar and a second battery and a Durostar DS4000 generator hanging on the rear bumper. This trailer started at 2,760 lbs. Generator and platform added 135 lbs. Extra battery added 60 lbs, solar panels and controller added 42 lbs. Also ditched the 5,000 btu wall AC for a 6,500 btu model adding another 15 lbs. Now weighing in at 3,012 lbs that leaves only 488 lbs cargo. I was young, dumb, naive and a rookie RVer but I pulled this rig with a Ford Flex!! Did a nice job too, even had a WD hitch that helped keep the front tires of the tv on the pavement. I always had the friidge loaded, never carried water, but lots of clothing and equipment. I am absolutely positive I was overweight by more than a few pounds. Next trailer I owned was just the opposite. but I did the same things to it, and it still didn't pull worth a crap. Never could get the weight on tongue right and it wagged the dog from day one. Thank goodness the one now doesn't.