Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Travel Trailers: Cool Mods - Thread restored 10/18/2012
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 > Cool Mods - Thread restored 10/18/2012

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Beachums

Indiana

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Posted: 08/09/17 01:31am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

53chevy wrote:

Beachums, I know this is an old post, but is there a chance you could please provide a few details on your battery box? Such as how you secure the batteries and how and where your wiring exits the box? Thanks.

Beachums wrote:

chr$ wrote:

Folks, I am looking at having a custom battery box made for my TT.

Is there interest in having a tongue box that can hold 4 GC2 batteries with vents and divided compartments for tools, inverter, etc. that is narrower than the current available tongue boxes?

Typical tongue boxes only are wide enough for a couple of batteries. No reason they cannot extend out each side of the tongue as our trailers are up to 8 feet wide.

These would be aluminum diamond plate, with weatherproof hinged lids, and two hasps to secure the goods inside.

I am thinking of having 5 made to reduce the overall unit cost.

What would such a box be worth to you?

[image]
[image]


Do you mean something like this?

[image]

[image]





My apologies for the late reply. I hope it doesn't come too late.

So really all I did was I went to my local Lowes and found a narrow aluminum truck box. I then ordered two standard sized battery boxes. I am using 2 12v 112 AH batteries.
I went to a Bass Pro Shops and paid way too much for a battery isolation switch. I installed that and wired it into my charge circuit. This allows me to use my 4 stage converter/controller to isolate individual batteries when connected to shore power.

[image]

A good friend of mine owns his own fabrication shop. He built up an over-stout base using box tube and 1/4" plate. My height was set using my personal judgement of the feasibility of still having enough leverage to throw the snap up brackets for the WDH.
To combat the ensuing electrolysis between the aluminum box and steel plate, I used rubber garage floor mats found on Amazon. I simply cut them to size and sandwiched them between the two metals. I used 1/4" zinc steel carriage bolts to secure the box to the base.

[image]

[image]

A shot of the tools box part number.


[image]


I drilled a 1" hole towards the bottom of the box. I tripled shrink wrapped the wiring bundle as it exits the hole. It is snug enough to not allow any long term rubbing. I put a 1000w inverter in the box as well. It is directly wired to one battery. As I do not dry camp very often, I rarely use it.

[image]

A couple of notes to consider that I did not until it was too late.

Even at the shorter width of the trailer this box mounted where it is reduces my maximum angle of turn significantly. I have regularly "kissed" my tail lights on my truck with the corners of the box. I am sure it is only a matter of time before I destroy my lens all together.

The selected height as stated before was largely arbitrary. As a tall person it is at the upper limits of comfortable usage. However, it is were set any lower, it would definitely further reduce the turning radius of hitched trailer as most TVs have a taper from top to bottom.

All in all, I got lucky. It has proven useful without too many problems.

[image]

I hope that helps.

* This post was last edited 08/15/17 10:30am by Beachums *   View edit history


2004 Ford Expedition 4X4 3.73 w/quick shift kit
Reese DC Straight Line/ Prodigy P2 Controller
2010 Coleman CT 250 GS


bobbyd16

NH

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Posted: 08/09/17 05:05am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Beachums wrote:

53chevy wrote:

Beachums, I know this is an old post, but is there a chance you could please provide a few details on your battery box? Such as how you secure the batteries and how and where your wiring exits the box? Thanks.

Beachums wrote:

chr$ wrote:

Folks, I am looking at having a custom battery box made for my TT.

Is there interest in having a tongue box that can hold 4 GC2 batteries with vents and divided compartments for tools, inverter, etc. that is narrower than the current available tongue boxes?

Typical tongue boxes only are wide enough for a couple of batteries. No reason they cannot extend out each side of the tongue as our trailers are up to 8 feet wide.

These would be aluminum diamond plate, with weatherproof hinged lids, and two hasps to secure the goods inside.

I am thinking of having 5 made to reduce the overall unit cost.

What would such a box be worth to you?

[image]
[image]


Do you mean something like this?

[image]

[image]





My apologies for the late reply. I hope it doesn't come too late.

So really all I did was I went to my local Lowes and found a narrow aluminum truck box. I then ordered two standard sized battery boxes. I am using 2 12v 112 AH batteries.
I went to a Bass Pro Shops and paid way too much for a battery isolation switch. I installed that and wired it into my charge circuit. This allows me to use my 4 stage converter/controller to isolate individual batteries when connected to shore power.
[image]
A good friend of mine owns his own fabrication shop. He built up an over-stout base using box tube and 1/4" plate. My height was set using my personal judgement of the feasibility of still having enough leverage to throw the snap up brackets for the WDH.
To combat the ensuing electrolysis between the aluminum box and steel plate, I used rubber garage floor mats found on Amazon. I simply cut them to size and sandwiched them between the two metals. I used 1/4" zinc steel carriage bolts to secure the box to the base.

[image]

A shot of the tools box part number.

[image]

I drilled a 1" hole towards the bottom of the box. I tripled shrink wrapped the wiring bundle as it exits the hole. It is snug enough to not allow any long term rubbing. I put a 1000w inverter in the box as well. It is directly wired to one battery. As I do not dry camp very often, I rarely use it.

[image]

A couple of notes to consider that I did not until it was too late.

Even at the shorter width of the trailer this box mounted where it is reduces my maximum angle of turn significantly. I have regularly "kissed" my tail lights on my truck with the corners of the box. I am sure it is only a matter of time before I destroy my lens all together.

The selected height as stated before was largely arbitrary. As a tall person it is at the upper limits of comfortable usage. However, it is were set any lower, it would definitely further reduce the turning radius of hitched trailer as most TVs have a taper from top to bottom.

All in all, I got lucky. It has proven useful without too many problems.

I hope that helps.


======================================================

Could you please re-post with missing embedded images if avaiable?

Thanks...

GeckoEC

Wisconsin

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Posted: 08/10/17 12:12pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Here's our current list of mods for our 2014 Sportsmen Classic 19BHS – http://imgur.com/a/hJQzRhttp://imgur.com/a/hJQzR


Below are some photos from storage mods using melamine shelves that have a finish that is almost a direct match. Yes, I'm aware these are a bit heavy and yes fully aware of damage and fire risk on the one above the stove (will be adding corrugated metal to the bottom and we NEVER use stove anyhow). The one over the bed is by our feet and there's plenty of room and no problems with that, although it was tricky to cut to fit right since the top shelf isn't square and the front of camper and rear for shelf is curved a bit.

The next major project is to replace the horrible table leg with a threaded pipe version.

[image]

[image]

[image]


[url=

Beachums

Indiana

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Posted: 08/15/17 10:37am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

bobbyd16 wrote:


======================================================

Could you please re-post with missing embedded images if available?

Thanks...







Done. Check my original reply.

PennyPA

Out There Somewhere

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Posted: 08/15/17 11:43am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Great mods but, especially with a single axle trailer, you'd best be very aware of your GVWR!


COPD and LVRS
On the Road Again

My Home - 2002 Glendale Titanium, 32/37DS with a basement slide.
Our Home's Leader - Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo Diesel Dually

Our Leaders - Sam(Bird), Chirp(Bird), Nellie(FAT cat), Lucy(Kitten), Willie(Dog) & Daisy(Dog)

Graycat

Texas

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Posted: 08/31/17 03:30pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Good match on the wood color Gecko. How did you scribe the cabinet by the bed to match the slope of the trailer?


Marti, Lee, and an old gray cat

mat60

maine

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Posted: 12/17/17 08:34pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

nadkaw1957 wrote:

Here is how I built my storage slide:
[image]
[image]
[image]
[image]


.
.Just thinking about this today wondering how the heck to use all the storage under there without much fuss getting to the center. Thanks.


2018 Heartland Trailrunner 24 SLE... 1999 old style Chevy 2500 with 34k

chr$

Arizona

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Posted: 12/18/17 11:09am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I made mine high enough to slide a table underneath it


-CHR$
1996 Safari Sahara Edition 35' Diesel Pusher. Just getting the Solar stuff started.


badsix

north bend or.

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Posted: 12/23/17 03:30pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

[image][image]this is a stand I made for our Tailgaterfile:///F:/DCIM/101NIKON/DSCN1107.https://imgur.com/a/YpNOMJPG

* This post was last edited 12/24/17 12:02pm by badsix *   View edit history

BarneyS

S.E. Lower Michigan

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Posted: 12/23/17 04:12pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

badsix wrote:

[image][image]this is a stand I made for our Tailgater

Your pictures did not show up.

It is very simple to put pictures into your post on these forums or to many other sites on the internet. To post photos do the following.

1. Upload your photo, one at a time, to this site.

2. Copy the resulting URL.

3. Paste the URL directly into your post with NO modifications. Do not add or subtract anything from the URL.

Your picture will then appear in your post and be properly sized for use on these forums. Do the same for each additional photo.

You just Upload, copy, and paste.
If you would like to practice doing that, just go to this thread that I started in the DIY forum to try out the app.
Barney


2004 Sunnybrook Titan 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch (Sold)
Not towing now.
Former tow vehicles were 2016 Ram 2500 CTD, 2002 Ford F250, 7.3 PSD, 1997 Ram 2500 5.9 gas engine


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