[IssaquahWA1979]

So I am sick and tired of having to remove my toolbox every time I have to tow a fifth wheel as my inverter, lighting are installed inside and requires un-wiring that is a pain. The other thing is I have 2 aux. batteries installed under the toolbox and although not in the way is weight higher than I would like for CG.

Ok so what I would like to do is move the two batteries down on the frame below the bed. I was thinking about using Uni-strut as its extremely strong and will not rust out. What I am not sure of is whether the frame can tolerate the clamping around it with say 40#'s hanging off the side. If anyone has done this or has any input on it I would appreciate it.

One other thing is I have had to do some road crossing through the winter about 32" of water the trck has done perfectly and I of course have cleaned thouroughly undercarriage and engine compartment just to prevent any problems but does anyone think this would be a problem submerging the batteries for a minute or two?

This post has been edited by IssaquahWA1979: 19 January 2009 - 12:54 AM

[Got Juice?]

I know that GM has a kit for their military GM trucks. A complete kit, battery box etc. for frame mount.

[Woodenhead]

There was a thread over at TDR about this a while ago, I'll see if I can find it and post a link. I've been considering doing this as well since things are getting cramped under the hood.

[Woodenhead]

Found the thread, somewhere in it there's a guy that mounted his to the frame of his second gen and posted pics.

Mike

http://www.turbodies...-truck-bed.html

[army1998]

border patrol has there battiers under the truck. and they have covered the whole truck underwater and they still run. and sand to. plus the military has most of the battiers under the trucks and they work find

[Torque Monkey]

I believe that done properly it should not be a problem. If it were me I would enclose the batteries in an box that has all of the drains and vents towards the bottom. This would make a temporay air buble around the top of the battery and protect it from water. It won't hurt the battery if the bottom gets wet. As for the frame holding I don't think it would be an issue at all. However if there was enough room I would mount the batteries end to end against the frame. That will keep leverage to a minimum. I have air tanks and horns mounted in that same location and there is a lot of room there.

Are you planning to bolt together the unistrut? I personally think this may be a bad idea. Usually with that sort of aplication you will find that the bolts will come loose. I think you would be better off making a angle iron bracket to hold those marine style batter boxes and clamp or bolt them to the frame. It might even be possible to make a bracket that hangs on the frame and then could be easily bolted to make sure that it doesn't come loose.

Dang now that you have me thinking about this you could even make a hatch in the bed of the truck so that you could service the batteries if needed. The possiblities are endless.

[army1998]

heck if i was home i would love to help you out on making this. i like to build things

[IssaquahWA1979]

thanks for the replies and the link, I need to get off my butt and re-subscribe to TDR I let it lapse and so now cannot read the link.

I was thinking of bolting it all together I am a big fan of lock-tite and double nutting with the lock style nuts. I thought about angle iron and I guess I could certainly weld one up I just thought the uni-strut is very strong and makes it really adjustable in the future if I changed battery types and sizes.

As for servicing I plan to run AGM's so I should not need to touch them for many years. I do plan to have a small drain hole at the bottom as suggested small enough to let water out but not easily in.

So for location its being suggested both go on one side? I had thought about this from a weight distribution aspect if I put them both on the passenger side it would offset the fuel tank a little bit. I wonder if there is enough frame space to do two group 31's end to end I will have to go looksy under the bed.

I know ford has a battery box setup for the e-series vans that goes on the frame I just wonder if it would be more work to modify it to our frames than just build one.

Keep the ideas coming I won't be starting this for a month or so, it will give me lots of time to think about how I want to lay it out and build it up.

[Torque Monkey]

If it is a long bed then there is plenty of room on both sides. I am not sure about a short bed. With these trucks the wieght distribution does not seem to be much of a problem with the amount you are talking about. My truck has never seem to take on a list with a full tank of fuel or an empty tank. For me I would certainly think on the outside of the passenger side frame rail would be the best. Easy to get to and plenty of room. That is where my air tank is mounted.


The difference between a full tank and an empty tank is in the 200 lbs. range. @ 30 gallons.

This post has been edited by Torque Monkey: 19 January 2009 - 01:27 PM