There is actually another alternative that I detailed to the list last
summer.  I haven't heard of anyone else doing it, but after several LONG
camping trips (3,000+ miles) there are no problems to report.

I used a PAIR of "U1" gel cell batteries wired in parallel and mounted in
the space under the driver's seat.  They are mounted upright and provide
just a smidgen more amp hours than an Optima for about $30 less.  They are
sealed, "gel" type batteries, so they require no venting, and they are
readily available at any battery shop.  The modifications necessary were
removing the mounting strip for the non-Westy seats, and widening the bottom
of the compartment with a 2x4 and 3 lb. hammer (the compartment tapers
inward towards the bottom).

FWIW, I also rewired *all* the accessories in the Westy to run from the aux
batteries by tapping into the fuse panel and bypassing the regular battery
connection.

Eventually I will get around to taking some digital pix and posting to a web
site...

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
Santa Barbara, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Chuck Mathis
Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 1999 3:47 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: auxilery battery

In a message dated 12/20/99 7:34:38 PM, susanb@WIZZARDS.NET writes:

<< thanks ...have been shopping around...hard to find here..the tallest it
can be
is 6 and 7/8 tall (inches)...will hit the marine stores tomorrow......sb >>

Susan;

I don't want to rain on your parade but the height of the battery is going
to
cause some problems if you try to find one to fit in the original hole.  I
had several dealers chuckle out loud when I asked for a deep cycle with
"those" deminsions.  Marine deep cycles tend to be pretty big -- though not
as big as golf cart batteries.

I put a Sears Diehard Marine battery (more than double the capacity of the
original) in my '85 Weekender by rerouting the original cable through the
back of the compartment to the space below the rear facing seat.  There's
loads of room under there, no height restriction, and the seat mount makes
for a good ground.  Why the Diehard?  I got it free.

If you have the full blown Westy you might consider putting the battery
under
the back seat.  Be sure to install a proper hold down and adequate
ventilation.

Good luck.

Chuck