Re: [A/S] Tongue mounted genset (aux. golf cart batteries in truck)

[Jerry Flanders <jeflanders@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

No pics - sorry. Just get one of the $15 heavy-duty charge relays (looks 
like a starter switch) from RV store, use either welding cable or thick 
booster cable for wire, get a small $15 fusebox with 2 ckts (meant for 220V 
air conditioner remote fuse/disconnect box. You pull out the fuse block for 
emergency disconnect). Parallel two 60 amp fuses to provide 120 amp 12 v 
service.

Find an inverter (I got a used commercial-duty one at an electronics 
fleamarket years ago for $75. You can do better now with a new one).  It 
connects between the charge relay and the fuse/disconnect box. Provide for 
your AC outlets and remote control as necessary. Rig up spray shields from 
1/4 plywood. There are many places underneath to bolt things to - just look 
around. Be sure you can get at the battery emergency disconnect quickly 
from the wheel opening.

To attach the battery box, I drilled two 5/8 holes in the truck bed far 
enough apart to support the batteries, made a box from wood and steel to 
contain the batteries (took lots of careful measuring and thinking). 
Probably the toughest part was actually raising the heavy 2batteriesplusbox 
into place - I used my "floor jack" (conventional car jack on wheels you 
see at a car service bay) to position it from below just forward of the 
passenger rear wheel, then used long bolts made from 1/2 inch threaded bar 
through the bed and down to hold it up. BIG washers topside. It actually 
extends about 2 inches below the truck, just barely shows. Paint it black 
and nobody sees it.

It has all survived for more than two years and about 30,000 miles 
(including my '01 trip to Alaska and back). Only downside I can see is that 
it is impossible to check battery water. When I put it in I just decided to 
let it run as long as the batteries worked OK, then simply replace them 
if/when they failed. No water. So far, they have worked OK. When I get it 
out this weekend I will see how the water level held up.

Jerry 4404