Regarding the Group 48 batteries that you fitted in Vanagons:  Did they have the foot for the hold down bracket?  When I bought my camper, it had a battery that was too small for the compartment, and there was no way to use the factory bracket with it, either.  In fact, since I had little experience with these beasts, I concluded that the bracket was rather useless.  I shimmed the battery that was there in place.  When I replaced it, lo and behold, getting the proper battery resulted in the bracket working wonderfully well.  Best battery securing feature I have ever seen on a vehicle.  Probably lots of vans are missing this part, because PO used incorrect batteries and just tossed the bracket.  Luckily for me, though a wrong battery was installed, the bracket was left in the compartment, just rattling around loose.

mcneely

---- vw_van_fan_Mark <madvws@COX.NET> wrote:
> There used to be several sources for Group 48 batteries that were the
> same height as Group 41 batteries. I haven't found any for a couple of
> years now. The BCI specs have always said the 48 was too tall but I have
> put lots of 48 into Vanagons and these fit better than 41. It is not
> simply a case of mislabeling a 41with a 48 as the short 48 bats have
> cases that are different in other ways than the 41. But as I said, all
> the new production 48 I can find are now too tall to fit.
>
> Mark
>
> SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott ) wrote:
> > How about go to Knects' s Auto Parts and tell them.
> > They must be selling 'wrong' 48's or I have my numbers mixed up.
> >
> > I can believe you about a Westy battery cover though ...
> > But I don't even like those screw-down covers.
> > ...................................
> >
> >
> > On 7/8/2015 2:29 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> >> Here is a BCI battery spec chart
> >>
> >> http://www.interstatedealers.com/IBCatalog/common/automotive_spec.pdf
> >>
> >> The BCI group 41 is 6-5/8 inches tall.
> >>
> >> The BCI group 48 (H6) is 7-1/2 inches tall. It will not fit under the
> >> screwed down cover of a Westfalia battery box.
> >>
> >> Dennis
> >>
> >>

--
David McNeely