Ideas for battery box under 5th wheel

[GaryS1953]

We have a small 5th wheel that has 1 battery installed outside (no basement compartment) right underneath the bedroom area on the front of the 5th wheel behind the hitch. I'd like to replace it and install some sort of a box for 2 batteries and an inverter. It would have to be compartmented, and vented, and lockable. Wondered if anyone had any ideas of something already pre-made that would work for this. We want to do some dry camping next summer. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[GaryS1953]

time2roll wrote:
Maintaining charge on those batteries could be an issue. Consider 200+ watts solar and put the controller in with the inverter. You would still wire it all to the RV 12v system and maybe leave the existing battery in place.

My ultimate goal is to have solar, but funds are limited so first things first. Batteries, at least 2 for now, but with room for 2 more, and then the inverter, as well as a portable genny. Get all that together then I'll be looking at controller and panels. Really like the idea of the 2 boxes on the bumper.

Thanks!

[time2roll]

If you put something on the rear bumper get a long thin box that can be ON TOP of the bumper. Hanging out toward the rear on some rack is asking for trouble.

I would be inclined to get two boxes. One for the pair of batteries and one for the inverter. If going big (2000+ watts) you really need four+ batteries to support it. Could just mount an exterior outlet to plug in the main cord.

Maintaining charge on those batteries could be an issue. Consider 200+ watts solar and put the controller in with the inverter. You would still wire it all to the RV 12v system and maybe leave the existing battery in place.

[laknox]

GaryS1953 wrote:
That is PERFECT! sometimes I just don't think of the obvious. Just because the battery is currently in the front doesn't mean it has to stay there. what issues would I have moving it all to the back?

As kep5niner says, need heavier wiring to avoid voltage loss. Depending on what else you might want to keep in the box, you might want to add bracing along the frame, forward of the bumper, to help support the weight. Since most of the less expensive racks are about 500 lbs' capacity, build towards that, at minimum. On my Komfort, I added just a heavier tube, specifically for a bike rack, but would feel comfortable with about 300 lbs on the rack.

Lyle

[kep5niner]

GaryS1953 wrote:
That is PERFECT! sometimes I just don't think of the obvious. Just because the battery is currently in the front doesn't mean it has to stay there. what issues would I have moving it all to the back?

Voltage drop. You would need some 0 AWG for any considerable distance.

[GaryS1953]

That is PERFECT! sometimes I just don't think of the obvious. Just because the battery is currently in the front doesn't mean it has to stay there. what issues would I have moving it all to the back?

[laknox]

GaryS1953 wrote:
We have a small 5th wheel that has 1 battery installed outside (no basement compartment) right underneath the bedroom area on the front of the 5th wheel behind the hitch. I'd like to replace it and install some sort of a box for 2 batteries and an inverter. It would have to be compartmented, and vented, and lockable. Wondered if anyone had any ideas of something already pre-made that would work for this. We want to do some dry camping next summer. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Beef up the rear bumper and add a locking tool box on a cargo rack.

Lyle

[GaryS1953]

Hmm, the one exterior compartment I have is just below the 2 steps going up to the "bedroom". Very small, currently holds my stabilizer jack handle and my the crank handle for the lifting the front, along with a few other odds and ends. Definitely way too small for batteries, let alone inverter.

[Veebyes]

The need to vent depends on the type of battery. Wet cells need venting.

AGMs & Gel cells do not. This is why they are the battery types of choice for cruising boats. They can be mounted anywhere. Enclosed spaces such as under berths is common.

So if you have a convenient interior space to locate batterys consider changing the battery type & forget about the complexities of creating something that does not exist.

[time2roll]

Is the compartment that small? My 4x GC2 fit just fine.

[RoyB]

Torklift has this type of frame mounted model available...


google image

Saw this online doing a google search. Pretty interesting having a mount under the trailer with several batteries on it... This has a manually operated winch line thru the floor to lower the frame down when working on the batteries... Don't know how this work well with wet batteries for measuring the inside battery fluid levels hehe...


google image

Roy Ken

[ScottG]

There are all kinds of mounts that hang on the side of a frame rail. Kind of a pain to get to but would work real nice.