Battery box

[Bnrc73]

In my 2010 3400rl Montana, the cover to my battery box does not fit down over the battery. With the lead wires and my negative cutoff switch, and mounted pretty close to the hydraulics it just doesn’t fit. The box has the vent hose coming off of it. Am I asking for trouble if I just remove the top and vent hose and add a tye down strap to the base of the box to keep it from banging around on a rough road or an accident. As always, thanks in advance.

[jimcol]

I wouldn't run it with the top off. I don't know how much these batteries gas but if any at all it can be corrosive. I would move the battery cut off switch outside the box. (will probably require some modifications of the switch but doable. Any knife switch will do the same thing in the negative cable.)

[DQDick]

I went to sealed batteries and left the box behind.

[jcurtis934]

I also went agm so I don't have to deal with distilled water and off-gassing. And yes, they do this and it is a personal choice as to how much you gamble.

[Montana Man]

AGMs solve many issues. If nothing can fall on the terminals and short out, topless is fine. If it is a water battery I would vent it and use the lid.

[beeje]

I removed all the stock boxes/vents etc. Built a wood tray that holds 2-6 volt and 2-12 volt batteries tightly so they do not move around. No covers. No issues in 3 years. The covers are nothing more than a PITA to remove every time you want to check the water level. I believe the batteries do not gas off much at all and if they did the front compartment is so leaky that it would dissipate a problem.

[Bnrc73]

Please explain AGIs. Thanks

[Overlord]

Originally Posted by Bnrc73

Please explain AGIs. Thanks

Absorbent Glass Mat

I got rid of the OEM single battery box when I upgraded to two batteries.

Instead of buying an expensive sealed and vented dual battery box, I found a Coleman cooler that would just fit two group-27 12v batteries with a little room to spare, bolted it to the floor and used PVC pipe to vent down through the existing hole, drilled a hole in the lid and used PVC fitting to plumb into the existing upper vent hose, drilled holes in the side of the cooler for the battery cables and sealed them with silicone. Then fabricated a battery tie-down with 3/8" all-thread, some plywood, and 1/4" rubber sheeting. All together, I think it cost me $30.

[NCFischers]

I went to Lowes and bought a storage container that holds my two 12 volt batteries. I vented the bottom and lid. It snaps shut and is easy to remove to check the water.

[jeffba]

This discussion is making me move AGMs up on my list of Mods to make.

[MidMOTraveler]

I just cut out the box top enough for the wires to clear. Drilled 2 small holes on the outside lip and put the "S" hooks and rubber strap over the box cover.
Also ran wires for TPMS repeater thru the same way.

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by jeffba

This discussion is making me move AGMs up on my list of Mods to make.

That's kinda where I'm at too!

[jeffba]

http://www.crownbattery.com/news/agm...u-need-to-know

[Bnrc73]

Thanks for all the tips. I found out if I rotated the box at an angle away from the hydraulic pump, that I could get the lid on. I will have to get a different negative shutoff bar. No room in the box for it. I'll have to get one to mount to the trailer.

[Ram Montana High Country]

Don't AGM's to get most live require a different charging system?

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by Ram Montana High Country

Don't AGM's to get most live require a different charging system?

I think your thinking of Gel Cell batteries which are different from the AGM.

Read up on your Converter model just to verify though.

[mtlakejim]

I will also add that my battery box lid will not stay down either. It NEEDS a tie down strap across the top that I will be installing shortly. Problem is they have heavy wire cables connected to thru panel fittings and the wires tend to pull and push on the bo such that it simply will not stay down. It is a VERY flawed design.


On the subject of battery disconnects. IF you have two batteries, look into the two battery disconnect switches they have for boats. It allows you to select between Off, battery 1, battery 2 or both. They work great and allow you some flexibility on battery use. They also mount easily. My unit actually has multiple long leads that will make hookup very easy. Just be aware there are some things (like gas detectors) that need to remain on.

[Bad Moon]

If you run two batteries in parallel, you really don’t want to run on one battery, with the other one disconnected, for the same reason you need to replace both batteries at the same time.

[RayT]

My battery box covers also don't fit tight but I'm sure glad I still use them. Earlier this year one of my two standard lead acid batteries (Interstates from Costco) developed an internal short during our trip to San Diego. I didn't realize it until the next morning when I happened to go into the front basement. My IR thermometer had that battery at ~200º and it was off-gassing

There was a little smell of gas in the basement, just enough to make me notice and check the batteries, most of it vented to the outside. You could see the gas rising off the battery.

Bottom line is that I'll keep using my battery boxes, even with AGMs.

[DHLeach]

We have a 2014 291RLT and just had to fork out $400 dollars to replace a hydraulic leveler hose whose insulation had rubbed off due to the sharp edges and vibration on the adjacent, 2 pc battery box. Such a poor design that they would expose the critical hoses to road vibration.