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RobWNY's avatar
RobWNY
Explorer
May 12, 2018

Front Storage Bay Weight Limitations

Any idea how much weight the front storage area under the overhang where the spare tire is kept can hold? My Forest River 5th wheel has a thin metal floor. It doesn't seem like much weight can be in there without some extra bracing. I'd like to install my four lifeline 6V batteries in there if I can but each battery weighs 90Lbs. Can that area hold 360Lbs.?
  • Go to home depot or any hardware store and get a piece of angle iron and run it frame beam to beam c channel or I beam that they use for a frame and drill a 5/16" or 3/8" hole for the bolts your using..a 1.25 x 1.25 size angle iron should be more than enough to hold you battery boxes and some, Plus if the floor of the front is to thin put down a 1/2" plywood..
  • Sounds like a CYA from the MFG.

    Throw some 1/2" ply down and set your battery boxes on it. Your pin should be able to handle 20%+/- of the 5er's GVWR. Sounds like the only reason they are telling you a light weight is because of the thin metal. Beef up where the batteries go and I would think you'd be fine.
  • RobWNY wrote:
    I contacted Forest River about the weight limits on my 5th wheel front storage compartment. They said 75-100 pounds. I guess if I had a 2nd battery in the empty plastic battery box that's installed in there, I could safely add an additional couple of boxes of tissues. I guess I'll be investing in a couple of pieces of angle iron to span the width and rest them on the I-beam frame before putting in batteries or anything else for that matter.


    That's pathetic, IMO. Just one more cheap-out by a mfr. :M

    Lyle
  • I contacted Forest River about the weight limits on my 5th wheel front storage compartment. They said 75-100 pounds. I guess if I had a 2nd battery in the empty plastic battery box that's installed in there, I could safely add an additional couple of boxes of tissues. I guess I'll be investing in a couple of pieces of angle iron to span the width and rest them on the I-beam frame before putting in batteries or anything else for that matter.
  • My area has about 1/8” steel deck there... I have an Onan 6500 AND 2 Lifeline Grp 31 AGM’s there