I have a 1994 dodge ram b350 pleasure way camper van and it became a winter home for the squirrels last fall. they built full winter nest up in the engine compartment. now I am having electrical problems. I checked wire harnesses, replaced battery and alternator, but when I start the van the small negative battery cable gets hot to the touch and the alternator draw juice instead of charging the battery... I can run it for about 5 minutes before the battery dies and the engine shuts down...

does anyone have any ideas where to look next?

 

You still have a short somewhere.... Time to go over the wiring again.....

Moving this to the Van section for ya. Welcome to DF.

 

When that smaller wire gets hot like that, it means the big negative cable has lost connection down on the engine block.