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Old 08-18-2014, 03:53 PM   #1
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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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Old 08-18-2014, 04:50 PM   #2
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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.
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.
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Old 08-18-2014, 06:34 PM   #3
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Great suggestion (although I did have the plywood sitting on the shelf)...
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Old 08-18-2014, 07:06 PM   #4
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Great suggestion (although I did have the plywood sitting on the shelf)...
Similar here - I have LOTS of plastic around with my biz! LOL
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Old 08-18-2014, 08:59 PM   #5
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Thanks for the heads up .
I'll take a look before our next outing.
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Old 08-18-2014, 09:04 PM   #6
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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!
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Old 08-18-2014, 09:20 PM   #7
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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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Old 08-18-2014, 10:53 PM   #8
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Those interested in these boxes might be interested in a recent discussion thread:
Battery box question
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Old 08-18-2014, 11:05 PM   #9
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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.

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Old 08-19-2014, 07:35 AM   #10
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Those interested in these boxes might be interested in a recent discussion thread:
Battery box question
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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Old 10-25-2014, 10:43 AM   #11
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A heads up for owners of 17B's with 6V batteries on the rear bumper.
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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Old 10-25-2014, 02:02 PM   #12
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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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Old 10-25-2014, 02:14 PM   #13
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.. 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...
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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Old 10-25-2014, 03:42 PM   #14
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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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Old 10-25-2014, 03:56 PM   #15
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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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Old 10-25-2014, 04:00 PM   #16
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Ditto Jon, and here's a pic of single 12V on 17B.
Attached Thumbnails
battery box.jpg  
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Old 10-25-2014, 04:22 PM   #17
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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?
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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Old 10-25-2014, 04:46 PM   #18
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Ditto Jon, and here's a pic of single 12V on 17B.
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?
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Old 10-25-2014, 05:19 PM   #19
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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.
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Old 10-25-2014, 05:22 PM   #20
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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...
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