Battery cover straps

[HappyCamperCanada]

Possibly a really stupid newbie question...how the heck do you get the battery cover straps undone?! They're really tight (from the dealership). I tried to undo them and thought maybe I'm missing something. There must be an easier way. And didn't want to break anything. But maybe they're just really tight and I have to muscle them undone. It's a Camco double battery box. 2 straps.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by HappyCamperCanada

Possibly a really stupid newbie question...how the heck do you get the battery cover straps undone?! They're really tight (from the dealership). I tried to undo them and thought maybe I'm missing something. There must be an easier way. And didn't want to break anything. But maybe they're just really tight and I have to muscle them undone. It's a Camco double battery box. 2 straps.

I've been struggling with mine too and I started a recent thread about it.
I had to insert a small Phillips screwdriver though a loop in the strap and then pry and twist to get enough slack to get the plastic buckle to release.
I have since purchased a much simpler to use and stronger battery strap from Amazon. Looks for words like "cam buckle".
Link in a moment.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ps-188634.html
Straps
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[campfire joe]

I have the opposite problem i can't get mine tight enough. Last year my wife was towing the camper and i was behind her and i saw something fly off. Stopped and it was my battery cover. Seems to be holding now. My wife messed around with it so it may never come loose now.

[TitanMike]

I took the strap(s) off on my TT completely. Changed to a Master Python Cable lock. Drilled a hole in front and rear of the cover even with the top of the battery for the 3/8" cable to pass through and down around the support rails.
When cinched up tight it holds the battery tight against the bottom of the box as well as holding the lid on.

This makes my battery real hard to steal as the posts on each end prevent a thief from slipping the battery out from under the cable even if they cut the case off around it.

Stealing batteries? Yes, it does happen and not just in storage yards. I had two stolen from the front of my TT while it was sitting on a pad in my back yard, behind a tall fence. Someone merely walked in, cut straps, cut wires, and walked out with two almost brand new Group 31 Deep Cycle batteries.

When I filed police report the officer said he gets a couple incidents like this a week. Batteries are then sold to recyclers for $5-$10 which then goes to the thieves next drug "fix".

[HappyCamperCanada]

I got them undone. I used pliers to wiggle the top of the strap enough the slide a zip tie through and made a loop with the zip tie to pull the strap through the buckle. Realized that the dealer tech guy threaded the buckle wrong (or right if his goal was for it to never come off!). I rethreaded the strap so now it's not ever going to come loose while driving but I can get it off easier when needed.