Added tool box to Mini Lite

[Rivasiuk]

The front of our mini lite had this wasted space so added a tool box. Holds the battery and stuff used for each setting up.

[rockfordroo]

Hope you remembered to add vents to allow the H2 from battery charging to escape.

(I'm assuming you're using lead-acid batteries.)

[babock]

I was going to do the same thing to add 6v batteries. After adding the weight of the box and 2 6v batteries, was going to be 170# on the tongue. It's why I switched to lithium that go under the bed. My trailer was already too tongue heavy to start with.

[Dwilcox]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Hope you remembered to add vents to allow the H2 from battery charging to escape.

I have the same box on my Lacrosse, there are slots out in the wings for attaching to truck bed rails. I have been fine for 3 years.

[Rivasiuk]

The truck box has air slots on both the wings for air.

[whirledpeaz]

Very Nice! Do you know the model number for the box?

[mhill260]

We just bought the same trailer, you like it? The box is a great idea. Where did you get it?

[Rivasiuk]

Originally Posted by mhill260

We just bought the same trailer, you like it? The box is a great idea. Where did you get it?

Lowe's $309 cdn 69"x12"x13"

[Rivasiuk]

Originally Posted by mhill260

We just bought the same trailer, you like it? The box is a great idea. Where did you get it?

I added two 60" Aluminum 1.5" angle iron just to support the box overhang.

[Reprise]

I did the same thing with my Alpha Wolf - got the 'midsize truck box' at Lowes (their Kobalt brand). I think I paid $129 on sale last fall (looking at their site as I write this, it looks like this size goes for almost $285 now. Ouch.)

Part of the reason I got it is that the welded tray that came from the plant will not allow two batteries side by side - in either direction.

My Grey Wolf fit 2 x GC-2 in plastic battery boxes, perfectly.
The 'uplevel' Alpha Wolf will only fit 1 battery (even 'naked', w/ no case.) Go figure. And it's a larger frame!

I figured if I wanted to go to a 4 battery footprint, this would give the room & provide a little bit of security.

As it turns out, it's a pretty tight fit between the propane rack & the faux diamond plate - I wound up putting the hinged end forward so I could open the lid 90".

As it is, it still scratches the black paint off the diamond plate during travel. But it works, and I can fit the 2 x 6V without issue. (I can also do the 4x , although it's a bit of a tight fit turning them the other way.).

Once I get my trailer back from the dealer it's at now (warranty stuff), I'll rig up something like a foam strip to eliminate the scratching of the plate.

To fasten mine to the trailer, I drilled holes in the bottom of the tool box, and used 4x U-bolts, w/ rubber grommets & flat washers to keep from shearing the thin metal. IIRC, the U-bolts were 2.5 wide x 5" long.

The nice thing is that I can fit my solar charge controller in that box, as well. Keeps it secure, out of the weather, & close to the batteries, without a long run of MC4 interconnect between the two. Pop out my 2 portable 'suitcase' panels, connect them to the charge controller, & I'm in business.

[Rivasiuk]

Originally Posted by Reprise

I did the same thing with my Alpha Wolf - got the 'midsize truck box' at Lowes (their Kobalt brand). I think I paid $129 on sale last fall (looking at their site as I write this, it looks like this size goes for almost $285 now. Ouch.)

Part of the reason I got it is that the welded tray that came from the plant will not allow two batteries side by side - in either direction.

My Grey Wolf fit 2 x GC-2 in plastic battery boxes, perfectly.
The 'uplevel' Alpha Wolf will only fit 1 battery (even 'naked', w/ no case.) Go figure. And it's a larger frame!

I figured if I wanted to go to a 4 battery footprint, this would give the room & provide a little bit of security.

As it turns out, it's a pretty tight fit between the propane rack & the faux diamond plate - I wound up putting the hinged end forward so I could open the lid 90".

As it is, it still scratches the black paint off the diamond plate during travel. But it works, and I can fit the 2 x 6V without issue. (I can also do the 4x , although it's a bit of a tight fit turning them the other way.).

Once I get my trailer back from the dealer it's at now (warranty stuff), I'll rig up something like a foam strip to eliminate the scratching of the plate.

To fasten mine to the trailer, I drilled holes in the bottom of the tool box, and used 4x U-bolts, w/ rubber grommets & flat washers to keep from shearing the thin metal. IIRC, the U-bolts were 2.5 wide x 5" long.

The nice thing is that I can fit my solar charge controller in that box, as well. Keeps it secure, out of the weather, & close to the batteries, without a long run of MC4 interconnect between the two. Pop out my 2 portable 'suitcase' panels, connect them to the charge controller, & I'm in business.

I used the 1 1/2" 90 degree aluminum angle running down the the front and rear bottom edges to support the overhang. Then used self tapping hex lugs through the box, aluminum angle into the A frame.

[WoodLark-SC]

According to their website, the local Lowes has one of those tool boxes in stock. If so, I'll buy it this morning. This is a great solution to my tool storage problem, and I also like the added security for the battery.

[fireman2213]

Originally Posted by Dwilcox

I have the same box on my Lacrosse, there are slots out in the wings for attaching to truck bed rails. I have been fine for 3 years.

Do you have pictures of your setup? I have a Lacrosse 318BHS and this would help a lot with storage issues

Thanks in advance

[Rivasiuk]

Originally Posted by fireman2213

Do you have pictures of your setup? I have a Lacrosse 318BHS and this would help a lot with storage issues

Thanks in advance

Here you go. As I mentioned before I used 1.5" Aluminum angle on the front and back bottom of the box to support any sag for stuff inside. The aluminum is the standard thickness.

Cheers

[WoodLark-SC]

I picked up the box at Lowes this morning, but looking at your latest pictures, I see there is a difference. Yours has straight up and down ends below the wings. Mine tapers so that the bottom dimension is about 4 feet instead of close to six. I won't get as much usable space, but hopefully it will still meet my needs.

[Rivasiuk]

Yes that one is to go between the tire wheels in a compact truck. You needed to get the full sized truck style. Double check the distance of your A frame that it covers the back of box so as to fully support it. You can always go back to Lowe's and exchange it. The one I got was 72" x012" x 13".

[babock]

When I was thinking about boxes, I was going to do a side mount box. A little narrower that way and I didn't like the way the "ears" looked.

https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/bet...RoCL9EQAvD_BwE

[WoodLark-SC]

Originally Posted by Rivasiuk

Yes that one is to go between the tire wheels in a compact truck. You needed to get the full sized truck style. Double check the distance of your A frame that it covers the back of box so as to fully support it. You can always go back to Lowe's and exchange it. The one I got was 72" x012" x 13".

Did your trailer have a mesh platform surrounded by angle iron on top of the frame? If so, what did you do about that?

[Rivasiuk]

Originally Posted by WoodLark-SC

Did your trailer have a mesh platform surrounded by angle iron on top of the frame? If so, what did you do about that?

No, my tray is welded under the A frame so wasn't an issue. It only held two battery cases nothing else.