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Old 05-09-2020, 11:23 PM   #1
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Batteries not centered on tongue?

Hey everyone!

I’ve been crawling the webs and forums and can’t find an answer to this question:

Do batteries have to be centered on the tongue?

I’m looking to replace the plastic battery box with a DIY plywood one, and the design I’m considering would wind up putting two batteries slung off to the side and using the other side for tool, hitch, and sway bar storage.

I’m concerned about throwing that much weight on the tongue over one side. I mean, we are only talking 1% of the total trailer weight, but probably 10-15% of the tongue weight would be hanging over the driver side of the tongue.

Any concerns about unbalancing the load like this?

My rig is a 2002 Thor Wanderer hybrid 182, pulled by a 2014 Expedition EL.
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Old 05-10-2020, 05:34 AM   #2
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I think you'll find that the weight of the hitch, sway bars, etc will offset the extra battery weight.
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Old 05-10-2020, 05:59 AM   #3
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Good you thought about the overhang weight,, build your box strong. I would split the batteries and put one on each side and put tools in the middle. Run cable between the batt's. When your going down the road your counter weight ' will be different. Tung flex going over bumps may have an effect , depends how far out the batt's are from center line.

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Old 05-10-2020, 10:19 AM   #4
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Batteries are HEAVY! The box should have the weight resting on the frame, hanging off the side would make me nervous. Relying on wood and screws to hold that weight over our "wonderful" highways might not end well.
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Old 05-10-2020, 11:43 AM   #5
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Being that they are mounted close to the hitch I think it would make no difference.
Just make sure they are well supported.
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Old 05-10-2020, 10:34 PM   #6
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Thanks for the replies everyone.

I hadn’t thought about putting one battery on each side - I’ll have to do some thinking on that.

Has anyone else stored tools and whatnot in the same box as their batteries?
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Old 05-11-2020, 04:53 AM   #7
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I think you see them mounted in the middle because they are safe there. Mounting them outside the frame rails are opening them up to being crushed when backing up the trailer. You should check your clearance when at a full steering turn and backing up in tight locations. You will probably find there is not room for them. Crushing a charged battery is probably not a experience you want.

If the tongue is long enough and you can mount them far enough back to clear the tow vehicle with the battery's outside the frame rails the weight should not be a issue.
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Old 05-11-2020, 10:08 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asuperheat View Post
I think you see them mounted in the middle because they are safe there. Mounting them outside the frame rails are opening them up to being crushed when backing up the trailer. You should check your clearance when at a full steering turn and backing up in tight locations. You will probably find there is not room for them. Crushing a charged battery is probably not a experience you want.

If the tongue is long enough and you can mount them far enough back to clear the tow vehicle with the battery's outside the frame rails the weight should not be a issue.
That could be quite a bang, crushing a charged battery, not to mention the spewed acid.
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Old 05-12-2020, 06:07 AM   #9
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I don't think batteries in a proper container is more dangerous than 30 pound propane tanks mounted on a hitch.

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Old 05-12-2020, 06:36 AM   #10
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Is there any possibility of using side post batteries and stacking them?
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Old 05-12-2020, 07:20 AM   #11
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I might think of something stronger than plywood held together with nails, glue and screws. Maybe some steel straps underneath some way or a couple of angles bolted to the bottom on the tongue frame. Batteries bouncing along, especially on some of the interstates we have traveled, will likely destroy a wooden box without some sort of reinforcement
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Old 05-12-2020, 05:38 PM   #12
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A plywood box probably won't cut it. If you are going to do this have a steel frame box welded up. As has already been said check turning clearance first.
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