Steven,
Sounds like a very ingenious use of the hidden compartment.  I like a lot
of your ideas and second Michael Sullivan's request to see photos.  I don't
think I'll copy your use of your small battery, I don't want to give up the
extra capacity provided by our Optima battery under the driver's seat. But,
the charger, new lights, fuse panel and wiring ideas are very intriguing
and some elements may need to be incorporated into our Westy.  I need to
come up with an ingenious use of the hidden compartment; I just hate
hauling around air in a compartment that could hold useful camping items.
What other uses for the hidden compartment have other Westy owners invented?
Kevin M.
'89 Westy
Bothell, WA

At 09:59 PM 4/20/99 EDT, S Sittservl wrote:
>Since there always seems to be interest in auxiliary battery
>installations, I thought I'd report on mine.  I actually finished
>it in October - it's taken me a while to get around to writing the
>report.
>
>The installation in my '88 Westfalia included some major accessories and
>some re-wiring, as well.  I think the most unique feature of the
>installation is the location: everything (including the battery) is
>installed in the "hidden compartment" in the driver's side cabinetry.
>That's the compartment that's reached via the "trap door" in the floor
>of the storage bin that's just aft of the refrigerator.  Normally, it
>houses just the 110V outlet and circuit breaker.  Since its
>inaccessibility makes it not terribly useful as storage, it seemed
>the perfect spot to use.  (In contrast, I've found the more typical
>auxiliary battery location - the bin behind the driver's seat - useful
>for storing the camper's curtains and screens, and I didn't want to
>give it up.)