Leaking battery box 28vfbs

RescueCpt · 06-13-2010, 05:34 PM

We have a 28VFBS which has a built in battery box in the v over the tongue with a metal door (not a plastic box mounted to the tongue like most TTs). Ever since we bought it each time it rains the battery tray gets full of water. There was no weather stripping around the door when we bought it. I have taken it back to the dealer three times for this (dealer added weather stripping - no luck, replaced the whole box - no luck). Has anyone else experienced this with a built in box and if so have you been able to fix it?

milzat · 06-13-2010, 05:46 PM

Drill water drain holes in the bottom of the box.

RescueCpt · 06-13-2010, 07:11 PM

Then the tray won't catch the battery's fluid if it breaks or overflows.

NWJeeper · 06-13-2010, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RescueCpt

Then the tray won't catch the battery's fluid if it breaks or overflows.

Batteries rarely "overflow" I would not be worried about that. I'm with Milzat, drill a few 1/4" holes in the bottom and be done with it forever.

**Herk7769** · 06-13-2010, 08:12 PM

My camper's battery box had a 2 inch hole in the bottom for ventilation.

I also assume if it burst and the acid leaked out it would be better for everyone if it was "outside" on the ground (where rain water would dilute it) rather than eating away the frame of the camper waiting to be discovered by a bare hand wondering what all the liquid was.

milzat · 06-14-2010, 12:17 PM

My battery box has drain holes in the bottom also. That
s why I mentioned drilling the holes.

BTW, battery acid is sulphuric acid. It's a slow corroding acid and cleans up easily.

Drill the holes and don't worry about spills.

turbopuppy · 06-14-2010, 01:25 PM

OoH. I don't usually casually chime in unless I think somebody could get hurt. Sulphuric Acid is highly corrosive. It can be nuetralized with baking soda. If you don't have that, get the hose out and rinse all metal surfaces with copious amounts of water.

**Herk7769** · 06-14-2010, 01:31 PM

Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Villanova University 1972

Ditto on the set PH to 7.00 ASAP

milzat · 06-14-2010, 06:06 PM

Sorry, I should have also added " I can be nuetralized with baking soda" as turbopuppy did.

**Herk7769** · 06-14-2010, 06:17 PM

I can be neutralized with Vodka!

MtnGuy · 06-15-2010, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herk7769

I can be neutralized with Vodka!

And waste good vodka ???

turbopuppy · 06-15-2010, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milzat

Sorry, I should have also added " I can be nuetralized with baking soda" as turbopuppy did.

Little typo there.

**Herk7769** · 06-15-2010, 07:54 AM

and who said it had to be GOOD Vodka?

MtnGuy · 06-15-2010, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milzat

Sorry, I should have also added " I can be nuetralized with baking soda" as turbopuppy did.

I can be neutralized by good vodka.

milzat · 06-15-2010, 09:10 AM

Yes, TYPOs are very common on this, and many other forums.

We don't all have great typing skills, but we understand mostly the message that people are trying to get across.

And YES, it is funny at times.

MtnGuy · 06-15-2010, 10:17 AM

That is 1 of the things I love about this forum........we make mistakes and others will take advantage of them......all in good fun.

NWJeeper · 06-15-2010, 10:20 AM

That's what friends are for, to point at you and laugh when you do something dumb.

**Herk7769** · 06-16-2010, 07:26 AM

My quick (half) wit is why I retired as an LtCol after 33 years and 6 tries at the O-6 board.

Nothing hurts more than a well placed "needle".

That particular typo struck my "funny bone"

RescueCpt · 06-16-2010, 04:49 PM

My dealer is putting a different type of weather stripping around the edge of the battery box cover (the cover is in a vertical configuration as the box is recessed in the front exterior wall of my TT). I too am a little familiar with dealing with lead acid batteries breaking and overflowing (have had it happen in several of my personal vehicles and seen it happen to many other people over the years due to various situations) as well as the corrosive damage battery (sulfuric) acid can cause to various materials and skin, as I have been a firefighter and a Hazardous Materials Technician for 25 years. I certainly didn’t not intend to spur a chemistry debate, just wanted to see if anyone else had a TT or fiver with this type of battery box that had experienced a leak problem with water build up in the tray and how Forest River, their dealer, or they resolved it. Thanks for all the suggestions but living with the leak (and the battery sitting in water) or creating a situation where battery acid could spill and run out over the metal hinge at the bottom of the cover and down the front siding of my TT is an unacceptable answer to me. Hopefully the new style of weather stripping will work.

**Herk7769** · 06-16-2010, 05:14 PM

Your issue is very valid and however you solve it you should never have rainwater pooling in your battery box.

For one thing if the water freezes it could crack your battery.

For another, you could never be sure if it was rainwater or battery acid.

So, Hopefully the new weatherseal will keep out the rain, but you should also drill some drain holes IMO.

Good luck and sorry for the

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