Battery Congestion

[brandysdad]

On my 2016 Redhawk 26XD, I am unable to access the battery fill caps for service without first disconnecting all wires from the terminals due to the cables running lengthwise over top of the battery to the positive post. This configuration also severely limits the amount of battery tray slide-out. On checking several units at the Jayco dealership this appears to be a common problem with Jayco Class C motorhomes but more-so on the 26XD equipped with auto-levelers.
Has anyone installed a heavy duty bus bar close to the battery to reroute and eliminate some of the clutter and if so, will it impact any Jayco warranty?

[Mustang65]

You can purchase a couple 3/8" Power Blocks (1-Red, 1-Black) and mount them on the inside of our battery area. Connect all the cables that currently connect to the batteries POSITIVE terminal to the red power block along with a NEW cable (determine length needed) that will connect the power block to the positive cable of the battery. You can do the same for the NEGATIVE terminal of the battery. Measure how far the battery slide comes out, add a few inches to that length and order a good size AWG cable that has crimped lugs on both ends of the cables. I would probably order a 1/0 AWG cable to connect the two and should allow for any extra future loads on the battery. This way you will only have to deal with two cable contracting and expanding. This should make things a lot easier for you. If you want to feel a little safer, mount a 4x4 plastic electrical box in the battery area and put the power blocks inside.

Good luck,

Don

[Fairenatic]

I have read several times in this forum the same question.

"Does anybody at Jayco actually use their products?"

Just seems like another example of cutting corners and not putting a lot of thought into their designs beyond floor plans.

[troutslayer]

Class Cs are notorious for not having much room (no matter who the manufacturer is). I have seen the attached product use with some success.
Amazon.com: Flow-Rite RV2000 Pro-Fill RV Edition 2 Battery Kit: Automotive

[NC Roamer]

You might be able to reroute the battery cable to allow the battery tray to slide out a bit farther. It helped somewhat on our Greyhawk.

[brandysdad]

Tried to reroute the cables to no avail. Dealer suggests waiting for warranty to expire before adding “non Jayco approved improvements”. Makes you wonder how persnickety Jayco can get if something goes wrong with the 12-volt system that’s not related to battery hookup.
Warranties’, you can’t live with them, you can’t live without them.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by brandysdad

Tried to reroute the cables to no avail. Dealer suggests waiting for warranty to expire before adding “non Jayco approved improvements”. Makes you wonder how persnickety Jayco can get if something goes wrong with the 12-volt system that’s not related to battery hookup.
Warranties’, you can’t live with them, you can’t live without them.

Unless your dealer is the one to complain who will contact JAYCO about the mod?

[rgolding]

Brandysdad -
You said -"Dealer suggests waiting for warranty to expire before adding “non Jayco approved improvements”. Makes you wonder how persnickety Jayco can get if something goes wrong"

I learned the hard way that the Dealers Service Department are spending a lot of time covering their, well it the same reason you wear pants". Jayco and dealer are now buying us a new cargo door and fairly extensive paint job repair, because they felt I shouldn't do a simple repair of making sure a cargo door skin does not cause a problem.

Its your equipment and your responsibility to maintain. Reasonable improvements and repair can be challenged by a manufacturer, but they aren't going to want to go to court over it.