Chassis Battery Locker- What do you put in the extra space?

[Bchtravlr]

I am trying clean up my basement and am looking at this as an opportunity.

[WantAB]

Nothing flammable, made out of metal or explosive?

[Renipladlo]

Maybe a small plastic box with tools dedicated to battery maintenance only. Tape the tools up all the way except for the end which does the work (wrench, screwdriver) a small container of baking soda, a small bottle of distilled water (plastic bottle) but would refrain from filling that space with stuff, those batteries have to breathe and if Lead Acid, will gas and coat anything in the compartment with stuff.

[Dutch Star Don]

If you look at the photo, he has Gel batteries. No special precautions needed.

I carry three wooden ramps for occasionally leveling the coach. I place all three on the right side of the tray. On the other side I have a pair of jumper cables, one of those boxes with the reflective triangle and a 0ne gallon jug of Wash and Wax ALL to refill my smaller spray bottle. Directly in front of the batteries, between the batteries and tray, I keep a spare pair of windshield wipers.

[Bchtravlr]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

If you look at the photo, he has Gel batteries. No special precautions needed.

I carry three wooden ramps for occasionally leveling the coach. I place all three on the right side of the tray. On the other side I have a pair of jumper cables, one of those boxes with the reflective triangle and a 0ne gallon jug of Wash and Wax ALL to refill my smaller spray bottle. Directly in front of the batteries, between the batteries and tray, I keep a spare pair of windshield wipers.

I was thinking I was safe with my batteries not being lead acid.

I was thinking of relocating my 2x10x20 wood blocks for placing under my leveling jacks when needed, plus my collapsible traffic safety cones. Great idea for storing my spare windshield wipers.

[Stuart W]

I carry wood pads and plastic pads for under the jacks

[snowhawk2]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

If you look at the photo, he has Gel batteries. No special precautions needed.

I carry three wooden ramps for occasionally leveling the coach. I place all three on the right side of the tray. On the other side I have a pair of jumper cables, one of those boxes with the reflective triangle and a 0ne gallon jug of Wash and Wax ALL to refill my smaller spray bottle. Directly in front of the batteries, between the batteries and tray, I keep a spare pair of windshield wipers.

Can you post a picture? You have some great ideas.

[zzotte]

Nothing, they need all the ventilation they can get

Zzotte

[tom chelbana]

On our 18 LA we added another storage compartment as you can see. Started off be completely enclosing the compartment and adding rubber seals to the outside so the compartment is dry and sealed from outside weather. Used a rubber mud flap to separate the AGM batteries from the metal shelf above the batteries. Did this about a year ago and by putting shelves in almost all outside storage compartments really increased storage. I noticed Newmar says on their 2020 coaches they have also added shelves to a number of compartments. We travel about 200 days a year and most years over 20K miles and it sure is nice not having to use our tow for additional storage.
Newmar Man

[Renipladlo]

All - Could not tell what type of batteries OP had. But all are great ideas. Our new one will have LA, but all those wooden blocks would fit there, as well as the ramps I carry too. My tool kit would be good since I will be doing maintenance on ours monthly, then don't have to wonder "now where did I put those wrenches/screwdrivers I set up for my battery maintenance". Hopefully, coating all the terminals with NO-OX-ID Special A grease will preclude some of the gassing corrosion.

[tom chelbana]

Added AGM batteries to our Essex and put them in a closed compartment it ran it for 10 plus years like that.
Newmar Man

[TomAndPeg]

List-o-stuff I keep in the battery bay:

1. Small aluminum folding table
2. Thick rubber mat used for ground work
3. Gallon of distilled water
4. Gallon of 50/50 antifreeze*
5. Turkey baster bulb for adding small portions of distilled water
6. A plastic cup for pouring distilled water
7. A battery hydrometer

* Before anyone warns me about the flammability of glychol-based antifreeze, know that it has to be above boiling (250F) and atomized in order to burn. My bay is well ventilated and I would expect my batteries to blow up before the antifreeze burns.

[FLJOE]

I am one of the poor slugs that only have 8 wet batteries in my bay, so I only keep a gallon of distilled water, my battery fill cannister, and a bottle of solution I made up for spraying spilled diesel off the side of my coach when fueling.

Even if I had sealed batteries I probably wouldn't build a shelf or keep much else in that compartment due to the fact it is under a slide on my model. Too much head banging getting stuff in and out IMHO.

[richard5933]

This is how I handled the house batteries in the bay. Not willing to lose use of the bay, I enclosed them using PVC sheeting and installed a power vent. Vent runs whenever voltage is high enough to cause gassing.

I know that this is not a Newmar, but I thought it might prompt some creative thinking.