Front Storage Bay Weight Limitations

[RobWNY]

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.?

[wantabe351]

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..

[goducks10]

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.

[laknox]

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

[RobWNY]

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.

[azdryheat]

That area is designed for a generator.

[ford_truck_guy]

My area has about 1/8” steel deck there... I have an Onan 6500 AND 2 Lifeline Grp 31 AGM’s there