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10-09-2016, 05:16 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 26
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Battery compartment
I have a 36rl with 2 batteries enclosed in 2 separate plastic cases. Is there any way to open these cases to check the batteries without mutilating the cases. Or, are you not supposed to check the batteries?
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10-09-2016, 06:31 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,407
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Hopefully the new management will figure this out. This has been an on going complaint since day one. These batteries have to be serviced to get good life out of them and it's just too hard to do for anybody over the age of 50 or 4.5 ft tall. I guess if you live on an island full of short people you wouldn't have a problem
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SOB "The RV Wiseguy"
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10-09-2016, 07:15 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 377
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny
Hopefully the new management will figure this out. This has been an on going complaint since day one. These batteries have to be serviced to get good life out of them and it's just too hard to do for anybody over the age of 50 or 4.5 ft tall. I guess if you live on an island full of short people you wouldn't have a problem
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My wife stands 4'10" I make her do it and I sit under the overhang and supervise. I want to make sure she isn't cutting any corners 
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2013 Redwood 36RL. 2005 Dodge 3500 DRW 4X4. 6 speed manual transmission. South Bend dual disc clutch.
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10-09-2016, 07:24 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,032
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogerfish
I have a 36rl with 2 batteries enclosed in 2 separate plastic cases. Is there any way to open these cases to check the batteries without mutilating the cases. Or, are you not supposed to check the batteries?
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There are screws holding the top half of the box on. You do need to check them and add distilled water every so often if not AGM,s
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2015 36RL pushing a 2015 Denali
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10-09-2016, 07:26 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,407
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkidder
My wife stands 4'10" I make her do it and I sit under the overhang and supervise. I want to make sure she isn't cutting any corners |
Yea.....getting good help is difficult. Everyone wants to cut corners 
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SOB "The RV Wiseguy"
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10-09-2016, 07:27 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,407
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Someone a long time ago had posted pictures of an aftermarket battery box that they had installed. I believe it was on a sliding tray as well, which is very handy.
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SOB "The RV Wiseguy"
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10-09-2016, 08:46 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 191
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Tomkidder:
Do you loan her out?
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2015 38RL with MORryde IS, residential fridge, DW, washer and dryer, generator, and slide in slide. 2 A/C, 1 HP and a fireplace. Added 17.5 inch wheels. Follows a 2013 Ram dually diesel with 8' bed and Reese 20K.
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10-09-2016, 08:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,444
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Yes, you need to check them frequently, especially if your cutoff switch does not completely shut everything down. I made a Velcro strap, took the screws out of the top part, unscrewed the bottom of the box, placed the strap under the box, screwed the box back to the floor and pull the strap over the top and Velcro it tight. Easy to unstrap, check the battery and restrap! If you don't want to make a strap, Camping World sells them. I have not however, figured out a way to check them without getting on my knees, something most of us cannot do easily! Redwood would do their Baby Boomers a big favor by relocating the batteries. Not Very Baby Boomer friendly, which is who they say they designed the Redwood for.
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 Rick and Mindy
Retired
2013 Redwood 31SL, 2011 Ford F350 SRW, 6.7, Crew Cab with Firestone Bags, Titan Disc Brakes
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10-09-2016, 09:12 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,353
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Getting on my knees is easy, it's the getting back up that's the problem, didn't realize how tall I've gotten cause it's sure a long ways up.
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Danny & Linda
Full-timed 10+ years
Former '13 FB owner
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Currently rv & truckless
Replacement undetermined
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10-10-2016, 01:52 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 397
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For how difficult checking batteries is, switch to AGM's and throw away the boxes.
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Scott
2015 38GK, Titan Brakes, H 114 Tires, IS
2015 Denali Dually
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10-10-2016, 02:16 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 412
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogerfish
I have a 36rl with 2 batteries enclosed in 2 separate plastic cases. Is there any way to open these cases to check the batteries without mutilating the cases. Or, are you not supposed to check the batteries?
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I replaced the screws with spring type clamps. If not sealed batteries, they should be serviced monthly. After returning my 36RL to storage I remove the battery conductors as the main battery disconnect does not turn off all connected loads. That is the easy part. Standing back up is the hard part!.
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Bob and Carol - Lees Summit, MO,
2016 Silverado 3500 HD, High Country DRW diesel, 3.73 gear ratio, long bed, 25K Reese Elite removable hitch with 2013 Redwood 36RL with 17.5" H-rated tires and MOR/ryde heavy duty shackle links and bushings; 6.5 KW gen
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10-10-2016, 10:07 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 190
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One modification I made with the stock boxes was to reorient them side by side length-wise, so I don't have to reach over the front one to check the rear one. Installed new battery cables so they all go in & out the rear of the box. I can lift the covers to the rear and get to the fill caps. Still a PIA (and back), but much more friendly than it used to be. Like others, I will replace these batteries with the AGM's when the current ones fail.
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Ken & Patty
2015 38GK Onan DW W-D Disks MorRyde IS & Pin-box Trav'ler 2015 GMC Denali 3500HD DRW Duramax
"Who lives sees much; Who travels sees more!"
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10-11-2016, 02:40 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 377
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RW Cal
Tomkidder:
Do you loan her out?
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No,I'll keep her. I have four very expensive daughters I would like to offload though. The tall lanky one stands 5'0" all are very light weight, as the fattest one weighs in at 94lbs. (Easy storage) All this sounds really good, Right? Well hold on, there's more.............. I swear each daughter has a reoccurring monthly subscription which is more than I like to pay each month. For what I pay each month for one, I could probably buy a complete set of AGM batteries monthly, and have them installed. I'll bet I would come out money ahead.
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2013 Redwood 36RL. 2005 Dodge 3500 DRW 4X4. 6 speed manual transmission. South Bend dual disc clutch.
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10-11-2016, 03:28 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,855
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkidder
No,I'll keep her. I have four very expensive daughters I would like to offload though. The tall lanky one stands 5'0" all are very light weight, as the fattest one weighs in at 94lbs. (Easy storage) All this sounds really good, Right? Well hold on, there's more.............. I swear each daughter has a reoccurring monthly subscription which is more than I like to pay each month. For what I pay each month for one, I could probably buy a complete set of AGM batteries monthly, and have them installed. I'll bet I would come out money ahead.
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Not to play, Can you Top This?, but just wait until college comes around. At my age, I'm seriously considering a life of crime. My reasoning: fewer years in jail before I go to that big RV park in the sky.
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2012 F350 KR CC DRW w/ some stuff
2013 36FL
Cindy and Tom, Toby and Kasey (our Berner and Newfie)
Oh...I forgot the five kids.
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10-11-2016, 05:53 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 377
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spindrift
Not to play, Can you Top This?, but just wait until college comes around. At my age, I'm seriously considering a life of crime. My reasoning: fewer years in jail before I go to that big RV park in the sky. |
Well.........at least the health care is better. Newer computers, faster internet. Some of the RV parks I have stayed in have worse micro management than a prison warden. Make you think. All my girls are in collage now and I am helping to try to keep them fron too much debt.
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2013 Redwood 36RL. 2005 Dodge 3500 DRW 4X4. 6 speed manual transmission. South Bend dual disc clutch.
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10-11-2016, 10:57 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,313
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I got 1 daughter that just graduated her first round of RN training and my second daughter is still in high school..i got a long way to go.. 
__________________
2020 F-350
2020 3991RD with-
17.5 Goodyear 114's , Titan Disc brakes, MorRyde 8K IS, Onan 6.5..
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10-12-2016, 04:50 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,855
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford truck guy
I got 1 daughter that just graduated her first round of RN training and my second daughter is still in high school..i got a long way to go.. |
My advice to you...Hang on, it'll be a fun ride. 
__________________
2012 F350 KR CC DRW w/ some stuff
2013 36FL
Cindy and Tom, Toby and Kasey (our Berner and Newfie)
Oh...I forgot the five kids.
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10-12-2016, 10:21 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,313
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spindrift
My advice to you...Hang on, it'll be a fun ride. |
I am hanging on !!!
__________________
2020 F-350
2020 3991RD with-
17.5 Goodyear 114's , Titan Disc brakes, MorRyde 8K IS, Onan 6.5..
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10-13-2016, 03:07 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 377
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford truck guy
I got 1 daughter that just graduated her first round of RN training and my second daughter is still in high school..i got a long way to go.. |
The tall lanky one is in PA school and the other 3 are finishing the RN program now. My wife is an RN and we travel all over the country. I really am loving life.
__________________
2013 Redwood 36RL. 2005 Dodge 3500 DRW 4X4. 6 speed manual transmission. South Bend dual disc clutch.
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10-14-2016, 12:50 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,033
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bergeman
For how difficult checking batteries is, switch to AGM's and throw away the boxes.
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Agreed and it is also a simple project to install a slide tray to make servicing easier since RW won't do it.
Steve
__________________
Retired 2014 Redwood 36FL and 2015 GMC Denali 3500 DW Duramax but Now a 2020 Tiffin Allegro Bus with a 2022 GMC Canyon Denali toad.
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