21NE & 19 Battery Location

[Don W.]

Hello All,

For both the 21NE and the 19 are the batteries located in the front storage box? Has anyone moved these to the dinette benches?

We are considering these two models and would want to add additional batteries for off grid purposes and would want these under the dinette bench.

Thank you all for your thoughts in advance.

Don

[Vermilye]

As to location, yes - batteries are in the front storage box.

If you add flooded lead acid batteries, you will need a ventilated battery box if you put them inside the trailer. AGM & lithium are usually used without a vented box, although under severe overcharging, AGM batteries can vent fumes. An additional pair of 6V FLA or AGM batteries will add quite a bit of weight to the front end of the trailer.

For long term dry camping, you can't beat lithium. I've been using them for the last 3 years & dry camp for months at a time.

[Don W.]

Thanks Jon ! We had a 21C previously and the batteries were under the rear dinette.

I was planning on Lithium batteries such as the Battleborn Gamechanger, and perhaps even upgrading the inverter as well.

Does anyone know what items and mechanics are in the front dinnette of the 21NE that would interfere with adding batteries in that area?

Thank you!

[Jim Bennett]

While they can be moved, watch your tongue weight. The reason they were put in the storage box was to move the center of gravity forward.

My 2009 19 never had a storage box, they never made them then either, and with my batteries at the front of the dinette seat I was often adding weight on the floor in the front to keep the tongue weight heavy enough, especially with bikes on the back.

[cpaharley2008]

If my memory serves me correct, when I weighed my 2019 E21 it was 3800 at the axles and 500 on the tongue. I expect the 2022 E19 to be around those numbers.

[rubicon327]

Don: I moved dual 6V lead acid batteries off the tongue (no storage box) when I put my mini-split condenser there. They were put in a vented battery box in the passenger side dinette. Wouldn’t recommend as battery hydrogen gases inevitably leak out and nuisance propane detector alarms will happen. As Jon said go AGM or better yet lithium. I recently upgraded our trailer with a 400AH Bestgo lithium and rearranged the compartment that also now has a combination inverter/charger/transfer switch and other appurtenances. As Jim said watch your tongue weight if you shift battery weight back, reduce its weight (lithium) and have anything hanging on the bumper. We have a Stowaway storage box on the back and it tows much better when we remove the two bins of contents and place them forward in the trailer during travel. Two heavy bikes and rack will make a difference. Also the amount of water in the fresh tank behind the axles is a factor.
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post391787

The 21NE is set up similar to the 19 but you will have much more room to work with. You should have most of the u-dinette front bench and the larger passenger side compartment clear. On the 19 the only adequate room for the battery bank IMO is the passenger side dinette compartment.

[kathytony1985]

This is the front and passenger side of our dinette. The driver side has the black tank, solar controller and EMS so there isn't any room for a battery over there. Next month we are moving our Lithium batteries from our storage box to under our dinette. If I remember, I will post pictures so you can see how it all fits.
We have a 2021 21NE

[cpaharley2008]

You carry a lot of toilet tissue there....... Good thing it is light...

[kathytony1985]

Lol! I just received a case from Amazon. Preparing for full-time traveling in a few months.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by kathytony1985

This is the front and passenger side of our dinette. The driver side has the black tank, solar controller and EMS so there isn't any room for a battery over there. Next month we are moving our Lithium batteries from our storage box to under our dinette. If I remember, I will post pictures so you can see how it all fits.
We have a 2021 21NE

FYI that DC-DC converter is not mounted per manufacturers requirements. It should be vertical per Victron for proper cooling.

[kathytony1985]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

FYI that DC-DC converter is not mounted per manufacturers requirements. It should be vertical per Victron for proper cooling.

Thank you! We will be sure to relocate it when we are in there moving the batteries, etc

[DougO]

I put 2 SOK 100AH lithium batteries under the front passenger side u-shaped dinette in our new E19 and they fit very well. Conveniently I was able to connect them using the existing cables to the inverter and just use a low cover over the original battery cables in the front storage box so I did not have to cut any of the original Escape wiring, just add a few more wires.

[Dave Miller]

Originally Posted by Don W.

Hello All,

For both the 21NE and the 19 are the batteries located in the front storage box? Has anyone moved these to the dinette benches?

We are considering these two models and would want to add additional batteries for off grid purposes and would want these under the dinette bench.

Thank you all for your thoughts in advance.

Don

My 19 is in the build process and I noticed two vents on the exterior photo on the lower front passenger side. Emailed Escape and got a phone reply - they moved the standard location to under the dinette seat since so many people were going Lithium and want the batteries inside.

I'm doing my own lithium, so I ordered the standard single lead acid battery.

Now, if I could get them to run 4/0 wire for my 3000watt invertor charger I will be installing...

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Dave Miller

My 19 is in the build process and I noticed two vents on the exterior photo on the lower front passenger side. Emailed Escape and got a phone reply - they moved the standard location to under the dinette seat since so many people were going Lithium and want the batteries inside.

I'm doing my own lithium, so I ordered the standard single lead acid battery.

Now, if I could get them to run 4/0 wire for my 3000watt invertor charger I will be installing...

Wow...3000W. What are you intending to run if you don't mind me asking? I can run my 9,000 BTU mini-split AC and microwave simultaneously on our 2000W Xantrex Freedom XC inverter/charger.

[Dave Miller]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Wow...3000W. What are you intending to run if you don't mind me asking? I can run my 9,000 BTU mini-split AC and microwave simultaneously on our 2000W Xantrex Freedom XC inverter/charger.

Victron Multiplus inverter/charger. I want to be able to run the AC (coleman softstart) and not have to shut it off for the microwave. I can also program it for my 2200 watt generator and it will supplement the generator as needed, and use excess generator wattage to charge the batteries.

Already have 2 x 230AH batteries ready to go. Pick up the camper in July. Will take a battery along and DCDC charger for the trip home (compressor fridge) but won't install the invertor and solar until home.

I like forest service campgrounds, most of which lack hookups.

[MVA]

I posted this thread a while ago:
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post426495

The design layout was based on one 100 A-hr LiFePO4 battery (there is barely room for a second), fitting both controllers and a shunt in one E19 bolster. We do not use an inverter.

YMMV, 2 cents