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09-16-2022, 08:36 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Florida Coast
Posts: 40
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Mounting Battery Box with Two 6V Batteries in Rear Compartment
I’m installing 2 6V batteries in a battery box in the rear compartment of our 2720QD. I’ve researched fairly extensively on this site to see how others have done it and would like to use an approach similar to the pictures below from posts by Michael and Wavery respectively. I’m trying to determine the best way to secure the box in place. The first picture appears to use a 4x4 wrapped in non-slip material to hold the box in place, but I can’t tell how it’s secured to the TM (Michael’s no longer active on the site or I’d ask him). The picture on the right doesn’t look like the box is secured at all, but it may have been taken before the project was complete or I may just not be able to see how its secured.
If anyone has any insight into how substantially the box needs to be secured and the best way to do that, I would greatly appreciate your input.
Thanks,
Todd
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2019 2720QD
2013 Ram 1500 5.7 Crew Cab
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09-16-2022, 11:41 PM
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#2
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,928
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I used a multitool to cut the original battery box hole larger. I purchased a battery box that fit the 2, 6V Trojan T105 batteries perfectly. The battery box sits 3" below the top part of the floor and rests on the bottom layer of sheet metal and is supported by the rear bumper framing, where the shore power cable bundles.
I cut the hole in the floor precisely so that the battery box was a "press fit". That box can't move unless the trailer gets upside down. Then the battery box would be the least of your worries.....
The picture that you posted is of my 2004 2720SL. I did the exact same install on my 2009 2720SL. I just trimmed it with some Oak molding to tighten it up a bit.
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TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
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09-17-2022, 04:57 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavery
I used a multitool to cut the original battery box hole larger. The battery box sits 3" below the top part of the floor and rests on the bottom layer of sheet metal and is supported by the rear bumper framing
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Many years ago, I did the same thing on the normal-size battery box in my 2002 TM. There was apparently no support below it. When the trailer met a traffic bump or a curb (I wasn't the driver, I don't know which), the battery box dropped through the aluminum skin of the lower floor, pulled down the pan, and onto the asphalt. Be aware!
Bill
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09-17-2022, 08:51 AM
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#4
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,928
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill
Many years ago, I did the same thing on the normal-size battery box in my 2002 TM. There was apparently no support below it. When the trailer met a traffic bump or a curb (I wasn't the driver, I don't know which), the battery box dropped through the aluminum skin of the lower floor, pulled down the pan, and onto the asphalt. Be aware!
Bill
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We often camp and go off-roading in the desert near the Salton Sea (not in summer). We go about 2 miles back in on a very rough dirt road. I haven't had an issue. I recently switched to A LiFeP04 battery which is about 1/4 of the weight of the Trojan T105s.
I wounder if your 2002 TM had the square aluminum rear bumper. On the later models the battery area is supported by the frame, the back edge of the steel bumper box and the roof torsion bars are under that. The inner 1/4 of the battery box is sitting squarely on the frame. No way a battery or anything else is going through all that.
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TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
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09-17-2022, 11:10 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,179
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Quote:
I wounder if your 2002 TM had the square aluminum rear bumper. On the later models the battery area is supported by the frame, the back edge of the steel bumper box and the roof torsion bars are under that. The inner 1/4 of the battery box is sitting squarely on the frame. No way a battery or anything else is going through all that.
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Yes, it did have the square aluminum bumper tube, which carried the sewer hose.
Bill
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09-17-2022, 02:01 PM
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#6
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 1,891
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It’s amazing how small that area is on non-King TMs. In my 3326 the battery box is all the way inside against the back wall, about 2-1/2 to 3ft back from the door. Gotta crawl in there to check the water level, etc, so it doesn’t get done as often as it should.
I’m switching to two 6V batteries. I got a long battery box where they will sit end to end. As a solution to the inaccessibility, I’m adding a door to the side of the compartment and putting the battery box on a slide with a drop-down leg (similar to what’s under the tables inside) to make it a whole lot easier to service/remove/install the batteries.
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2007/21 TM 3326 (Pride of the Fleet)
2000 2720SL (Rebuild Project)
2002 2619 (Parts TM)
SMARTER THAN GOOGLE!
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09-17-2022, 03:38 PM
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#7
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,928
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shane826
It’s amazing how small that area is on non-King TMs. In my 3326 the battery box is all the way inside against the back wall, about 2-1/2 to 3ft back from the door. Gotta crawl in there to check the water level, etc, so it doesn’t get done as often as it should.
I’m switching to two 6V batteries. I got a long battery box where they will sit end to end. As a solution to the inaccessibility, I’m adding a door to the side of the compartment and putting the battery box on a slide with a drop-down leg (similar to what’s under the tables inside) to make it a whole lot easier to service/remove/install the batteries.
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Ya..... putting those 80# batteries in that battery box was interesting but I'm 75-years-old. I did it but I wish that I would have had my son do it.
The LiFeP04 battery is only 45#. That was easy and you never have to check fluids or be concerned about venting.
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TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
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09-17-2022, 04:21 PM
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#8
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Site Sponsor
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: MD
Posts: 411
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Mounting battery box
My box contains the batteries side by side. I placed it on the right side of the compartment, not over the factory cutout. I used 4 angle irons with holes, one on each side of the box. Each angle iron is held down by a 2-inch-wide U bolt that passes through the angle iron and floor, and is fastened underneath by the strap that comes with the U bolt. The angle irons hold the box horizontally, and 2 buckled straps threaded through the tops of the U bolts secure the box vertically.
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Tim
2004 2720SL TrailManor, 2 X T105, Trimetric 2030RV, TST TPMS
2003 Tundra Access V8 2X4 w/Tow Pkg
Equal-i-zer 1000, Prodigy, McKesh, UnderCover
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09-17-2022, 10:36 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Florida Coast
Posts: 40
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Thanks to all of you for the feedback and insight. Several options and considerations to mull over. I appreciate it!
__________________
2019 2720QD
2013 Ram 1500 5.7 Crew Cab
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09-18-2022, 05:52 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Florida Coast
Posts: 40
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Tim - What size angle iron did you use? I was looking at that as an option when I was at the hardware store yesterday. Just curious.
Thanks
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2019 2720QD
2013 Ram 1500 5.7 Crew Cab
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