Posted 2006-06-06 8:31 AM (#42675) Subject: Installing battery holder
Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico
For those of you that have done work to the DR on your trailers, I want to install a battery holder in the jack are of my trailer. I need to strenghten the wall so the bolts don't pull through it since it is just sheet metal. I was going to put 1" plywood on the inside of the wall, but how do I fasten it? There is nothing to screw it to. Will an adhesive work?
Posted 2006-06-06 8:57 AM (#42678 - in reply to #42675) Subject: RE: Installing battery holder
Veteran
Posts: 274
Location: Memphis, TN
Just use the plywood, mounted inside the trailer, under your boot box or in a cabinet, as a backing for the battery mount. Run the mounting screws thru the wall and on thru the plywood. Secure with bolts, washers, lock-washers,nuts. I have a 2x4 brace across the top inside of my boot box and it is used to secure alot of stuff.
Posted 2006-06-06 2:48 PM (#42699 - in reply to #42686) Subject: RE: Installing battery holder
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 524
Location: Lone Oak, Tx
Terri,
I kinda made a frame with 1x2's and a 1x3 across the inside of my vertical wall and attached them with 1 1/2" #10 sheet metal screws. If your trailer is built like mine, there should be some frame work running around the outside, top, bottom and center of the vertical wall that you can attach your screws to. The part of the screw that proturded out the outside, I trimmed off with a dremel with a cutting wheel attached to that and then sealed the ends of the screws that were cut with RTV. That gave me something to attach my battery box to. I used carrige bolts with lock washers to attach the box to the 1x3 and 1x2's. That also gave me something to put insulation in between and attach my paneling. You should be able to see what I've done on my website.
I hope this helps.
Posted 2006-06-06 5:54 PM (#42703 - in reply to #42699) Subject: RE: Installing battery holder
Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico
Thanks. My trailer has the angle supports on the outside edges but nothing in the center. I love your site by the way, I'll look and see how you did it.
Ok, I just decided that since your north of me the next trip to NM I'll just drop off my trailer and pick it up when your done. Your trailer looks great. How long is your short wall? My verticle wall looks much taller than yours. I have to use a ladder to get in mine.
Posted 2006-06-07 8:07 AM (#42715 - in reply to #42675) Subject: RE: Installing battery holder
Veteran
Posts: 274
Location: Memphis, TN
Terri, you dont have to "attach" the plywood backing to anything. It is simply used to distribute the weight of the batt. box over the wall area, and will be held in place by the bolts thru the wall to the batt holder. I have been looking at Todds web site for ideas for-ever it seems. He did great.
Posted 2006-06-07 8:38 AM (#42717 - in reply to #42715) Subject: RE: Installing battery holder
Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico
I'm not just goint to use a piece behind the battery holder so the 4 bolts won't keep the whole thing from flapping around. I'm going to put a 4x8 sheet along the whole wall so what ever I put over it will lie flat.