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Old 10-21-2013, 08:03 PM   #1
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Where to put the batteries?

Reading the thread Some questions about outfitting my 19' caused me to revisit where we will put the batteries and I found out that Reece no longer puts them inside the trailer. So I thought I'd start a new thread to figure out the options for battery placement. There is of course, the storage box. If we don't opt for the storage box then the battery can go on the hitch in its own box. But I've also read that people mention they put them on the back of the trailer. I didn't realize that was a possibility. Any thoughts?
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Old 10-21-2013, 08:06 PM   #2
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I would defer to Reace and Escape.
They know what they are doing.
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Old 10-21-2013, 08:09 PM   #3
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I have had the batteries on a box on the tongue on other trailers, and I can say that I MUCH prefer having them inside. The box, and the strap around it started to look weathered and worn pretty quickly. If I was buying now, and still did not want the storage box, I would want to be having a serious chat with Reace, perhaps over a beverage or two.
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Old 10-21-2013, 09:19 PM   #4
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I agree wholeheartedly with gbaglo...these guys have been at it for years and have things figured out. That being said, the battery for my tent trailer was in an exterior battery box and after eight years of being outside, I didn't notice any wear or tear.
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Old 10-21-2013, 09:45 PM   #5
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I prefer having mine outside and I have 4 of them. The front box is a great place for them and then the rest of the box space is for this items you don't want inside like wheels chocks, hoses, hitch-related items, grease, electric cords, valves, gloves and hoses for the drainage stuff, etc.

The spaces under the seats near the dinette inside are for my blender, toaster, 5 gallon bucket for trash, bag for empty bottles, bag for dirty clothes, cast iron flat skillet, awning lights and extension cord, etc.

I prefer to keep the batteries outside, especially if they are wet cell type like mine.
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Old 10-21-2013, 09:58 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hotfishtacos View Post
items you don't want inside like wheels chocks, hoses, hitch-related items, grease, electric cords, valves, gloves and hoses for the drainage stuff, etc.
...and rags, rags, and more rags.
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Old 10-22-2013, 12:07 AM   #7
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But I've also read that people mention they put them on the back of the trailer. I didn't realize that was a possibility. Any thoughts?
They're on the back of the Escape 17; that location is not likely suitable for an Escape 19. The consequences to weight distribution of moving between the tongue and under a front dinette seat should not be huge, but moving dual batteries between one of those spots and all the way back at the rear bumper would make a big difference.

I don't have precise measurements, but it appears that the axle placement relative to the trailer body is different between these two models: in the 17 the axle is relatively rearward, leading to higher tongue weight - perhaps too high unless the battery is on the back.
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Old 03-02-2014, 09:27 PM   #8
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Can anyone tell me where the batteries are on the Escape 21? I am hoping they aren't in the storage box because I use all the room in that box for stuff -- chairs, hoses, electrical cords, leveling blocks, etc. etc. and I am hoping they aren't under the bed because I have to remove them every winter here in the frigid north. I like having them on the back bumper of our 17B, even if I do have to remove the spare tire to take out the batteries. but I am guessing that would mess up the weight distribution on a 21...
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Old 03-02-2014, 09:42 PM   #9
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Under the passenger side dinette seat.
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Old 03-02-2014, 10:43 PM   #10
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I have the dual 6V batteries under the front dinette and like Jim B, would not want to have them outside in the front strage box. Leaves much more space in the front box for other good stuff.
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Old 03-03-2014, 12:14 AM   #11
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Under the passenger side dinette seat.
Thanks Rick. They shouldn't be too hard to get out of there.

Leon
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Old 03-03-2014, 07:47 AM   #12
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The amount of space in your unit is fixed, whether you put something inside the dinette or outside in the box, either way you are using up your storage space. Just be careful when you make any changes to the factory set up that you do not create unequal weight distribution inside the trailer as this can effect your towing experience.
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Old 03-03-2014, 09:45 AM   #13
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Jim,

Hadn't planned on making a change to wear Reace puts them -- more a question of curiosity. I will soon have to put the batteries back in our trailer, and I was just wondering what that is going to be like with a 21. I agree that Escape thinks hard about weight distribution and one shouldn't make changes without a lot of thought.
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