Storage in battery compartment

[dshogman]

After my Lifelines were moved from the old coach to this one in April, I have not looked into the battery compartment - and that's after 4 1/2 months and 9000+ miles on the road. Until yesterday when I decided to hose out all the dirt. I notice there's an area aft of the batteries that could be used for some sort of storage - jugs of coolant, oil etc. Obviously, it's not a heated compartment. That aside, has anyone come up with any other issues re: storing stuff in that area? Would be interested in techniques and experiences.
Thanks.

[dshogman]

After my Lifelines were moved from the old coach to this one in April, I have not looked into the battery compartment - and that's after 4 1/2 months and 9000+ miles on the road. Until yesterday when I decided to hose out all the dirt. I notice there's an area aft of the batteries that could be used for some sort of storage - jugs of coolant, oil etc. Obviously, it's not a heated compartment. That aside, has anyone come up with any other issues re: storing stuff in that area? Would be interested in techniques and experiences.
Thanks.

[rmmpe]

I've seen this done on a Coach and it worked very well for storing jack bases. I've made my bases from 2 cross layers of 2 X 6 pressure-treated lumber and will modify that area for them next Spring.

[DrDaveCA]

I store a gallon of distilled water and a 50' air hose. Yes, it gets dusty and dirty, but a little water will clean it up quickly.

[APEXMAN]

On my 06 I built in the space aft of the battery comp and that is where I store my blocks for under my jacks and air hose.

[C&H from NorCal]

I bolted a steel shelf in the battery compartment of our 2003 - 36FD. Worked Great. I stored a gallon of water, leveling blocks and an orange safety cone there. I considered doing the same thing in the propane tank compartment of our 2006 - 36MD but have never gotten around to doing it. Harold

[Ted III]

David Horn, In the 4-1/2 months that you never looked in your battery compartment do we all assume that you never checked the water in your batteries?

Ted Ulmer

[EngineerMike]

I keep a spare serpentine belt, coupla spare charging solenoids (or is it 3?), and two battery float caps. The solenoids & caps are in a small, shrink-wrapped box to avoid soaking up water spray that comes up thru the jack's hydraulic hose opening (presumably where the dirt seeks to enter also- maybe I oughta make a vinyl closure for that? )

[Dale777]

Ted III,

Lifeline batteries, that David Horn mentioned, are AGM batteries. You don't need to, and can't, check the water level. I have the same AGM batteries, which I only check every few months just see if they are still there; I haven't lost them yet. They don't outgass, so there is no corrosion and no loss of water. And, they charge much faster than flooded acid batteries. No muss, no fuss!

[takepride]

Ted:

The only thing that needs to be checked on the AGM's is swelling (at death) and positive connection. Since they don't out-gas they don't really corrode, but dirt still gets in. I just hose mine off every couple months.

[Ted III]

Thank you, I missed that they were AGM batterie.

Thanks,
Ted

[dshogman]

Thanks Dale for your reply. I checked mine the other day and they were still there so I hosed the dirt off, put the cover back on, and shut the compartment for another 6 months.