Jon R
Senior Member
I did a forum search using the topic title I used above and didn't get any hits.
I'm pretty new here, and discovered this fine site while researching truck campers. I now have Grandby on order, and expect to have a lithium battery system with adequate solar to keep up with camper loads. I don't expect to have to rely on truck battery power for anything other than truck loads.
Since my existing 28 year old K2500 payload capability really isn't quite adequate for the camper plus tongue loads I anticipate, and because I don't want to rely on it for long highway trips and remote camping, I've decided to finally order a new truck. I have generally bought my vehicles new and driven them decades until they are used up, so I hope this new truck will last me twenty years or more. The truck will be used as a general utility truck, Grandby hauler, and 8000 lb boat trailer towing vehicle (sometimes hauling both the camper and the boat). I don't see myself ever towing a large RV.
I am interested in opinions or advice on two electrical system ordering decisions for my new truck (currently planning on a GMC 3500HD CCLB SRW gas with the heavy duty camper front springs (torsion bars) option):
1) Should I order the second battery option? I'm tending to "no" because I don't think I need it for any specific reason, it's a little more weight and complexity, and every six years or so I'll have to replace two batteries instead of one. Any pros or cons I'm missing?
2) The basic alternator is 170 amps. One can order a 220 amp single alternator or a dual setup with one 220 amp and one 170 amp alternators. I'm thinking order the single 220 amp alternator, again thinking a second alternator is more weight and complexity, but wanting the higher output single alternator. Thoughts?
I apologize if this has been covered before. I tried a forum search but didn't get any hits. Feel free to direct me to any previous discussions. Thanks.
I'm pretty new here, and discovered this fine site while researching truck campers. I now have Grandby on order, and expect to have a lithium battery system with adequate solar to keep up with camper loads. I don't expect to have to rely on truck battery power for anything other than truck loads.
Since my existing 28 year old K2500 payload capability really isn't quite adequate for the camper plus tongue loads I anticipate, and because I don't want to rely on it for long highway trips and remote camping, I've decided to finally order a new truck. I have generally bought my vehicles new and driven them decades until they are used up, so I hope this new truck will last me twenty years or more. The truck will be used as a general utility truck, Grandby hauler, and 8000 lb boat trailer towing vehicle (sometimes hauling both the camper and the boat). I don't see myself ever towing a large RV.
I am interested in opinions or advice on two electrical system ordering decisions for my new truck (currently planning on a GMC 3500HD CCLB SRW gas with the heavy duty camper front springs (torsion bars) option):
1) Should I order the second battery option? I'm tending to "no" because I don't think I need it for any specific reason, it's a little more weight and complexity, and every six years or so I'll have to replace two batteries instead of one. Any pros or cons I'm missing?
2) The basic alternator is 170 amps. One can order a 220 amp single alternator or a dual setup with one 220 amp and one 170 amp alternators. I'm thinking order the single 220 amp alternator, again thinking a second alternator is more weight and complexity, but wanting the higher output single alternator. Thoughts?
I apologize if this has been covered before. I tried a forum search but didn't get any hits. Feel free to direct me to any previous discussions. Thanks.