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08-18-2014, 03:53 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
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6V Battery Boxes on 17B's
A heads up for owners of 17B's with 6V batteries on the rear bumper. I pulled the battery boxes on my 3 1/2 year old trailer to do some other modifications and found the plywood floor under the boxes had rotted to the point where I could put my finger through it. It appears standard plywood was used, and road spray or leaking battery acid did the damage. I have driven some rough roads that splashed small amounts of battery acid outside the plastic boxes. While I don't think the batteries are about to fall out (the 1/8" angle iron, while rusted, still supplies support) it is worth checking - I ended up replacing the plywood on both sides with 1/2" marine plywood.
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08-18-2014, 04:50 PM
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#2
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye
A heads up for owners of 17B's with 6V batteries on the rear bumper. I pulled the battery boxes on my 3 1/2 year old trailer to do some other modifications and found the plywood floor under the boxes had rotted to the point where I could put my finger through it. It appears standard plywood was used, and road spray or leaking battery acid did the damage. I have driven some rough roads that splashed small amounts of battery acid outside the plastic boxes. While I don't think the batteries are about to fall out (the 1/8" angle iron, while rusted, still supplies support) it is worth checking - I ended up replacing the plywood on both sides with 1/2" marine plywood.
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Could cut up a piece of white kitchen cutting board (which is actually UHMW plastic) for less $ than a sheet of marine plywood to spread the load of the battery across the bottom of the box. Cheaper and won't rot.
__________________
Charlie Y
Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
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08-18-2014, 06:34 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
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Great suggestion (although I did have the plywood sitting on the shelf)...
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08-18-2014, 07:06 PM
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#4
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye
Great suggestion (although I did have the plywood sitting on the shelf)...
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Similar here - I have LOTS of plastic around with my biz! LOL
__________________
Charlie Y
Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
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08-18-2014, 08:59 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Steveston B.C., British Columbia
Trailer: 2012- 17'B.... 2016 Tacoma SR5 TRD
Posts: 504
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Thanks for the heads up .
I'll take a look before our next outing.
__________________
I've almost been everywhere man.
Almost been everywhere.....
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08-18-2014, 09:04 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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You can buy those plastic cutting boards at the Dollar Store. May take more than one.. so, you'll have $2-3 bucks invested!
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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08-18-2014, 09:20 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Maple Bay, British Columbia
Trailer: Bigfoot 25T21RB
Posts: 42
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It's a bit expensive ($80), but this Canadian co has battery boxes that fit the Trojan T105 6v batteries (x2) perfectly. Used in the marine market they are pretty bullet proof. Marine Totes & Tanks : Battery Boxes
I'm going with the dual 6 volts, and depending on how the ETI box is done, I might install the plastic box that I already own. Wet batteries off-gas, so I'm interested to see exactly how they build the box and vent the batteries.
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08-18-2014, 10:53 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Those interested in these boxes might be interested in a recent discussion thread:
Battery box question
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08-18-2014, 11:05 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, BC, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 17B;2012 Nissan Frontier SV 4
Posts: 701
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Tractor1's suggestion .....
"Could cut up a piece of white kitchen cutting board (which is actually UHMW plastic) for less $ than a sheet of marine plywood to spread the load of the battery across the bottom of the box. Cheaper and won't rot."
I think this is about one of the first modifications I've read about on this forum that my "skill set" can manage.
Larry
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08-19-2014, 07:35 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 -- The Skylark. Towed by a 2014 Highlander
Posts: 1,159
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
Those interested in these boxes might be interested in a recent discussion thread:
Battery box question
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I remember that discussion, and it prompted me to check the plywood on our 2012 17b. It looks ok. Of course, we haven't used the trailer as much as Jon has used his, and we only spent a little time in the SE this spring when it was raining every day. but I really like the idea of replacing the plywood with some of the composite decking materials.
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10-25-2014, 10:43 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye
A heads up for owners of 17B's with 6V batteries on the rear bumper.
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Did the spare tire have to be moved in order to fit two 6V battery boxes on the bumper?
I've got two 12V batteries. One on the bumper and one under the rear bunk in a sealed, vented battery box. I'm considering going with two 6V batteries and I'd prefer it if they were on the bumper.
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10-25-2014, 02:02 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
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No, but the rear bumper & frame is extended during the build. I don't believe adding batteries to the rear of the 17 is an "after build" option. If your frame was extended during the build, I don't see why you couldn't put both outside...
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10-25-2014, 02:14 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye
.. but the rear bumper & frame is extended during the build. I don't believe adding batteries to the rear of the 17 is an "after build" option. If your frame was extended during the build, I don't see why you couldn't put both outside...
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Why would the frame of a dual-battery 17 be extended any more than the frame of a single-battery 17? They both have the battery or batteries between the body and the bumper, right?
There was a discussion in this forum - possibly in the context of the bike-rack receiver - of the position of the spare: it might centred with the dual batteries flanking it but off-centre with the single battery on one side. And of course the steel framework that supports the second battery might not be installed on single-battery trailers, although that could presumably be added.
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10-25-2014, 03:42 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
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I don't know how the outside 12V battery was added to his Escape. If it was factory, the frame extension was probably done. If not, who knows? When I purchased my 17, the single 12V battery was not on the bumper; you needed to order the extended frame with the 6V batteries & the options list noted that it could not be added after the build.
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10-25-2014, 03:56 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
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Vermilye, do you have one 6V battery (on the bumper) on one side of your spare tire and the other 6V battery (on the bumper) on the other side of the spare tire?
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10-25-2014, 04:00 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Ditto Jon, and here's a pic of single 12V on 17B.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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10-25-2014, 04:22 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J Mac
Vermilye, do you have one 6V battery (on the bumper) on one side of your spare tire and the other 6V battery (on the bumper) on the other side of the spare tire?
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Yes, the spare is centered, and there is one battery on each side. The left side just clears the license plate.
You can just see them at the bottom of this photo:
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10-25-2014, 04:46 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
Ditto Jon, and here's a pic of single 12V on 17B.
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Glenn with your 12v already on your back bumper, it must be out far enough that you go to a dual 6 volt? Or is the extra weight the factor- bumper needs to be beefed up to hold 2?
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)
"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
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10-25-2014, 05:19 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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I don't know. Just know that you had to decide when you ordered the trailer. I think it is mucho hassle to retrofit.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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10-25-2014, 05:22 PM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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When I put in my build sheet, I was notified going from a single 12V battery to dual 6V batteries would cost me an additional $600.. after build. Check with ETI, don't assume...
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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