Good afternoon,I'm looking for advice or scenarios on how to mount my propane tank and batteries on the front of my trailer.The trailer is very small and light, an 18' Bonair. I tow it with a Toyota Tacoma, V6.I am in the process of moving to solar, and will be doing a lot of boon docking with this (new to me) trailer. I have 2 6v batteries and a battery box.The problem is there is not enough room as there is an air conditioner and the mounts for a WD hitch in the way. I will add photos if possible.So my questions are:1. Can I install the propane tank on the wall of the trailer at the front? 2. If so, can someone please recommend a mount?3. Can the batteries be installed at the rear on the bumper - without altering the towing characteristic of the trailer?4. Do I need a WD hitch for this combination? (Tacoma max towing = 6500lbs. Tongue = 650lbs. Trailer is roughly 2000lbs empty)So many questions! Thanks for any advice. i would also like to see photos and hear stories of what others do in this situation. Thanks for your help.

I'm puzzled trying to visualize your setup as it exists- where's your propane tank now?I've only seen a few Oxygens, but as you can see in the below pic, the Oxygen's battery/tanks were usually mounted on the tongue. Is yours lacking any trays etc for the purpose?

I wouldn't put the cylinders on the wall. You could fashion a mounting platform above the tongue and above anything mounted, like a battery box.

Sounds like he has an A/C unit stuck in the front wall that overhangs part of the a-frame of the tongue. No, don't hang your propane bottle from the wall. I doubt there is enough structure there to secure it. It probably wouldn't be too bad to put a couple of batteries on the back bumper if it's strong enough. If I were to do that, I'd mount one each where the bumper is welded to the frame. Weld up some small bases from 1" angle for the battery boxes to sit in and some way to secure them besides the nylon strap that comes with most battery boxes.How about some pictures of your current setup?

Here are some photos. The last one is the battery box I'd like to install.Whoa those are massive. Sorry bout that.This is the trailer the day we brought it home:Close up with new tank:Battery box:

How far is your frame off the ground?Would you have room to build an angle iron box under the air conditioner and inside the frame? It would hang below the frame rails, but shouldn't hang much lower than your jack leg.

Advice re: Propane and battery install on tongue

Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
May 02, 2014
I'm puzzled trying to visualize your setup as it exists- where's your propane tank now?

I've only seen a few Oxygens, but as you can see in the below pic, the Oxygen's battery/tanks were usually mounted on the tongue. Is yours lacking any trays etc for the purpose?
westend
Explorer
May 02, 2014
I wouldn't put the cylinders on the wall. You could fashion a mounting platform above the tongue and above anything mounted, like a battery box.
AirForceAngler
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Sounds like he has an A/C unit stuck in the front wall that overhangs part of the a-frame of the tongue.

No, don't hang your propane bottle from the wall. I doubt there is enough structure there to secure it. It probably wouldn't be too bad to put a couple of batteries on the back bumper if it's strong enough. If I were to do that, I'd mount one each where the bumper is welded to the frame. Weld up some small bases from 1" angle for the battery boxes to sit in and some way to secure them besides the nylon strap that comes with most battery boxes.

How about some pictures of your current setup?
ckiely
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Here are some photos. The last one is the battery box I'd like to install.

Whoa those are massive. Sorry bout that.

This is the trailer the day we brought it home:

Close up with new tank:

Battery box:
mthockeydad
Explorer
May 02, 2014
How far is your frame off the ground?
Would you have room to build an angle iron box under the air conditioner and inside the frame? It would hang below the frame rails, but shouldn't hang much lower than your jack leg.
mayo30
Explorer
May 02, 2014
I can't see that residential A/C working very long where it is mounted,directly in line with all mud,road debri etc.I would lose it and use that space for your extra gear.Can't imagine that area not leaking now or soon.Move the a/c up and remount through the wall if you really need it,are you going to have 120volt to run it all the time?
dahkota
Explorer
May 02, 2014
I would junk the a/c. You can't use it boondocking without a generator. That will give you room for a second battery and a second propane tank.
ckiely
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Thanks. For now my wife is pretty insistent on keeping the AC, but I'm all for removing it.
We will have 120 on occasion.

So for now it will stay.

Anything bad going to happen if I put the batteries on the rear bumper? Lots more vibration I suppose.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
May 02, 2014
:S Me Slappin' my own head...I read the "Bonair" part and immediately assumed it was one of their molded units!

I'm up to speed now, thanks to the pics.

BTW: You can size those down by just entering something like "500" in the width box that appears in the upload-an-image window.

I agree with those that say get rid of the A/C, but if you must keep it maybe relocate elsewhere. It'll be pretty useless if all you're going to have is battery power, though. The safest place for propane and batteries is on the tongue, where they're designed to go. You could just carry one of each up front next to each other.
westend
Explorer
May 02, 2014
I have an A/C mounted like that Bonair, on my Cox PUP. No worries about the A/C in that location but you may wish to strap a board or make a nice shield in front to make it immune to road debris.

You could have four uprights and a frame built to hold the battery box above the A/C. In my neck of the woods, the local welding/fab outfit would have it done in an hour and out the door for < $100, maybe < $50. Putting the batteries in the back would be a problem waiting to happen, IMO. Also, may not be convenient for any future solar.

I put a steel box on the tongue of my Starcraft, it keeps everything, including all the trailer brake and lights connections out of the weather.