Battery compartment storage weight question.

[J Maguire]

This seems obvious enough but thought that I would double check. I have space to throw in my Powerblock dumbbells up in the battery compartment. They weigh 70lbs each, about the same as two more batteries. My pin weight is low and I could use the extra weight there as well. The area should be strong enough, am I missing anything?

 

[GeoffnCheri]

I would consider installing some braces front to back across the bottom of the front storage. Several members have done it in conjunction with other projects. On our 303 it is thin sheet metal and only attached at the frame edges and I am unable to tell if the is spot welded in places or completely around. An ounce of prevention...

 

[J Maguire]

I would consider installing some braces front to back across the bottom of the front storage. Several members have done it in conjunction with other projects. On our 303 it is thin sheet metal and only attached at the frame edges and I am unable to tell if the is spot welded in places or completely around. An ounce of prevention...

Commonsense would say the weight should be fine due to the whole reason the area exists in the first place - batteries. According to the dealer more batteries in the area is fine. Called them today in fact. But that area sure feels flimsy, doesn't?

 

[boyscout]

This seems obvious enough but thought that I would double check. I have space to throw in my Powerblock dumbbells up in the battery compartment. They weigh 70lbs each, about the same as two more batteries. My pin weight is low and I could use the extra weight there as well. The area should be strong enough, am I missing anything?

Even though our trailer is factory-prepared to carry a 280-pound generator in the front compartment, when we were instead installing four 67-pound batteries I fretted about the weight that would be less-distributed and in different areas than the area planned for the generator. The sheet metal does seem thin and not well-supported even if we haven't AFAIK seen a single story about the front compartment floor falling out.

To assuage my concern I bought a sheet of 3/4" pressure treated plywood and cut it to completely cover the floor of the front compartment. Distributing the weight of the batteries I've added lets me tow more comfortably... a cheap and easy remedy for my probably-silly concern.

 

[powerscol]

This seems obvious enough but thought that I would double check. I have space to throw in my Powerblock dumbbells up in the battery compartment. They weigh 70lbs each, about the same as two more batteries. My pin weight is low and I could use the extra weight there as well. The area should be strong enough, am I missing anything?

I think I posted here about my front box bowing. Do a search here and over at GD. To solve the problem I screwed the front lip every 6" or so into the cross beam. I also added a cross brace beside the battery box. The other thing is the saddle boxes (Black box just inside the pass through doors) is only good for about 10 lbs. Watch for the screws pulling out of the lip.

Hope this helps

 

[NASCAR9]

To assuage my concern I bought a sheet of 3/4" pressure treated plywood and cut it to completely cover the floor of the front compartment. Distributing the weight of the batteries I've added lets me tow more comfortably... a cheap and easy remedy for my probably-silly concern.

I did the same thing plus I glued stair runner carpet I bought at Home Depot to it.

 

[boyscout]

I did the same thing plus I glued stair runner carpet I bought at Home Depot to it.

Damn, anOTHER project for the list!