Anyone put a locking battery box IN the mounts of a 2018 2506?

[Half Ton Heavy]

I want to either build a lithium battery, or just buy a couple BattleBorns, either way, want them to be secure as possible. I saw a couple threads here with people that got RV lockbox boxes, but had to build up a frame to ride on top of the tongue frame. I would ideally like to have it fit within the existing frame. Not a lot of room in that trailer to hide them inside, I suppose if pressed they could go in the front right side storage area, but like I said, not a lot of extra storage in that trailer!


Thanks,

Heavy.

[CincyGus]

Why the desire to have them inside frame vs. on top of frame?

Generally the supports they have running under the batteries cause me concern to begin with as they generally are just a couple pieces of angle iron welded to the frame. Always been a pet peeve of mine that it's not more significantly connected (Bolt through, thicker material) there with the weight of batteries.

That said, your lithium will be significantly lighter so not as big a deal for you. I've not seen any Battery Lockboxes that fit inside the frame other than a few folks that have custom made something. Most everything I've seen after market is on top of the rails.

Good Luck in your search!

[HONDAMAN174]

If it helps, these are the battery locks I went with using a standard case between the frame.


http://b-drvbatterylock.com

[Half Ton Heavy]

Why within the frame? Just for a more integrated look, in the end, I suppose it does not matter. I plan to put either four or even eight of these cells in it, along with a BMS. 280 Ah at 24 volts would be awesome, equivalent to about 6 or more regular deep cycle marine batteries, enough to go a week or so boondocking.
https://wholesaler.alibaba.com/produ...4adc70eftkzVSa

[Reverse_snowbird]

We used a case hardened chain and lock resistant to bolt cutters to secure our battery (in a box). We knew that a determined thief could probably get the battery, but we wanted to make them work for it. We did remove it for winter storage.
We figured that if we made it too hard, they might destroy the trailer in the process and that would have made a significant dent in our budget.

[Half Ton Heavy]

Just found this one, I *think* it will fit in the mounts.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Torklift-A7...gAAOSwP4hc-rJN

[Half Ton Heavy]

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

We used a case hardened chain and lock resistant to bolt cutters to secure our battery (in a box). We knew that a determined thief could probably get the battery, but we wanted to make them work for it. We did remove it for winter storage.
We figured that if we made it too hard, they might destroy the trailer in the process and that would have made a significant dent in our budget.

Yup, the appearance of security is all we can hope for unfortunately. I figure if I make my own battery it will look like a science experiment when they finally open the box and lose interest. So remove the whole box or just the battery?

[boogiejack75]

Originally Posted by Half Ton Heavy

I want to either build a lithium battery, or just buy a couple BattleBorns, either way, want them to be secure as possible. I saw a couple threads here with people that got RV lockbox boxes, but had to build up a frame to ride on top of the tongue frame. I would ideally like to have it fit within the existing frame. Not a lot of room in that trailer to hide them inside, I suppose if pressed they could go in the front right side storage area, but like I said, not a lot of extra storage in that trailer!


Thanks,

Heavy.

Might find something here: https://www.tuffyproducts.com/

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by Half Ton Heavy

I want to either build a lithium battery, or just buy a couple BattleBorns, either way, want them to be secure as possible. I saw a couple threads here with people that got RV lockbox boxes, but had to build up a frame to ride on top of the tongue frame. I would ideally like to have it fit within the existing frame. Not a lot of room in that trailer to hide them inside, I suppose if pressed they could go in the front right side storage area, but like I said, not a lot of extra storage in that trailer!


Thanks,

Heavy.

To answer comment #2 in frame was necessary due to the front of our THs (both of them) sloping out toward to the ball to make inches more for the bed inside.

That meant I could put to 24s or two gc2s between the A frame. I put a heavy steel bar under the frame and Up over the box. Tied them together with 1/2 in all thread. Then you can tack weld the nut on the bottom of the rod and I used 1/2 butterfly nuts like hold the propane tanks in place, on top then drill the wing through to the top steel bar and hang a long shackle pad lock on each end.

[Tom48]

Speaking of homemade looking batteries. My RV partner just ordered 8 200 amp lifepo cells from China and a Daly battery management system. He built two 400 amp six volt clusters and each fit nicely in a GC2 battery box. That is 400 amps of usable battery in the space of two 225 amp gc2 batteries that would only geve you 112 amps usable.

[chuckt]

Why do you need to build a tray? My 2018 2506S came with a large on frame tray that supports battery box and has an extended tray that can use to transport extra coolers, bikes, etc. Are there differences in the exterior set-up? Either way that passenger side front storage probably doesn't have the room for what you want to do. My TT also has a Lazy Susan in that space which is set under the kitchen sink. Good luck. And when can we go camping? Tired of stay-in-place. All my early reservations have been cancelled at least until June 10th at military bases and several private CGs.

[Chuck324]

There are many locking boxes that will fit in the tongue rails. I have a 2604WS and found one that fit in perfectly. It took a bit of searching to find the one that fit correctly. It is aluminum and about 22" deep. I did move the factory battery supports to a better location for my needs. The bottom of my box sits at the same level as the bottom of the rails so that takes up 6" or so, the box sets about 18" above the rails.
https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...1&d=1589842247

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...1&d=1589842247

[Half Ton Heavy]

Originally Posted by chuckt

Why do you need to build a tray? My 2018 2506S came with a large on frame tray that supports battery box and has an extended tray that can use to transport extra coolers, bikes, etc. Are there differences in the exterior set-up? Either way that passenger side front storage probably doesn't have the room for what you want to do. My TT also has a Lazy Susan in that space which is set under the kitchen sink. Good luck. And when can we go camping? Tired of stay-in-place. All my early reservations have been cancelled at least until June 10th at military bases and several private CGs.

The inverter and charge controller will live in that kitchen storage cabinet somehow. I will either replace the wfco converter, or add a charger/converter in the compartment behind the breaker panel. Might need a little luck! Thanks.

[Half Ton Heavy]

Originally Posted by Chuck324

There are many locking boxes that will fit in the tongue rails. I have a 2604WS and found one that fit in perfectly. It took a bit of searching to find the one that fit correctly. It is aluminum and about 22" deep. I did move the factory battery supports to a better location for my needs. The bottom of my box sits at the same level as the bottom of the rails so that takes up 6" or so, the box sets about 18" above the rails.
https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...1&d=1589842247

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...1&d=1589842247

Exactly what I need! Thanks!

Any chance you have a link to that box? It locks?

[drburns]

If you go LiFeP04, you can move the batteries to inside the RV. I put mine in the pass-thru storage area. Makes them harder to steal, and helps take some weight off the tongue.

[Half Ton Heavy]

Originally Posted by drburns

If you go LiFeP04, you can move the batteries to inside the RV. I put mine in the pass-thru storage area. Makes them harder to steal, and helps take some weight off the tongue.

Is that a 24 volt stack? Regardless, lots of amp hours there! With the 2506, there is VERY little storage, I will have to stick with the tongue. Still, easy to fit 280 usable amp hours there. Just going to have to get slightly creative. I would much rather have them inside, but with space so precious, it is going to the inverter. Unfortunately, that means some expensive cables.

[drburns]

These are two 12 volt 280ah LiFeP04 'batteries' connected in parallel so the final output is 12 volts still. 24 volt has advantages, but I did not want to make any more changes then I needed to. :-)

More details on my complete setup are here - https://diysolarforum.com/threads/rv...73/#post-71576

[Half Ton Heavy]

Originally Posted by drburns

These are two 12 volt 280ah LiFeP04 'batteries' connected in parallel so the final output is 12 volts still. 24 volt has advantages, but I did not want to make any more changes then I needed to. :-)

More details on my complete setup are here - https://diysolarforum.com/threads/rv...73/#post-71576

Yes, I am a member over there too. I am getting ready to buy 4 of the 280AH cells. I figure with the 23" box, I can fit them, a BMS, and the renogy dc/dc charger with mptt solar controller (all in one unit). The 280 ah battery seems like plenty, but when I was growing up, my Dad called me old overdo. For good reason. 540ah would be awesome! I would be willing to bet with NO solar, could still get close to a week out the batteries.


24 volt would be great for the smaller cables, higher efficiency. But I would lose the vehicle charging, at least easy charging....

[Chuck324]

Thank you for your response. I forgot to include the pic of the inside. There is 2 batteries in there right now with room for 1 more easily. I also will be going to DIY lithium when I need to replace these and figure I can put 4 100AH units and weight less than the 2 current batteries. I have all ready install an inverter/charger in the storage bay with 4/0 welding cable between it and the batteries.

[Chuck324]

Sorry, I didn't read the whole reply in time. I used the
Lund 6134T 21-Inch Aluminum Trailer Tongue Truck Box.
I bought mine from Amazon but not necessarily the best price. There were other reasons that I won't go into. Just so you know it took me quite a while to find the one that fit. I built a cardboard mock-up of what would fit, had to call several different mfg and talk to the engineering/design staff because they all do not use the same way of giving dimensions. But as you can see it works.