Need suggestions for external battery storage.

[Stereo]

I'm renovating an old Skamper. The previous owner had the auxiliary battery inside the camper in an unventilated space. You've educated me to the need for a vented space for my 24DP size battery. Rather than cutting more holes in the camper, I'm thinking I'll just keep the battery on the outside and run the cables through the shore power port. Can you recommend what kind of a case I need to store it in and how to reduce the risk of theft?

Or would it be better in the long run to create a space inside? If so, how would you recommend I do that for proper sealing and venting?

Thanks for your help.

 

[pods8]

Can you fit it in your bed in front of the wheel well so its tucked between the bed wall and camper? If so just build a hold down bracket and you're good to go. No theft worries.

 

[xtremexj]

Can you fit it in your bed in front of the wheel well so its tucked between the bed wall and camper? If so just build a hold down bracket and you're good to go. No theft worries.

That's exactly what I just built last weekend. Definitely NO WAY anyone can steal or monkey with the batteries.

 

[GpnAZ]

That's exactly what I just built last weekend. Definitely NO WAY anyone can steal or monkey with the batteries.

I did the same thing with my Dodge PW. I'll attach some pics.

 

[1stDeuce]

I'm in the process of the same thing with a group 31 on the right side of my Chevy. I measured about 8" of room between the bed side and the camper, and a group 31 is about 7" wide. Just run power leads out of the camper and hook it in once the camper is in the bed. (My camper has access ports to both of the front box corners.)
Only way to steal the battery (or even know it's there!) is to take out the camper.

Nice setup GpnAZ!! Are those tied into the truck batteries too? That's a lot of power potential!!
Chris

 

[GpnAZ]

I'm in the process of the same thing with a group 31 on the right side of my Chevy. I measured about 8" of room between the bed side and the camper, and a group 31 is about 7" wide. Just run power leads out of the camper and hook it in once the camper is in the bed. (My camper has access ports to both of the front box corners.)
Only way to steal the battery (or even know it's there!) is to take out the camper.

Nice setup GpnAZ!! Are those tied into the truck batteries too? That's a lot of power potential!!
Chris

Yeah, I have those tied in with another yellow Optima in the engine compartment and the 165 amp alternator on the Power Wagon does a good job of keeping them all up to charge. I also carry a battery jumper unit in case the batteries were ever to get too low to start the engine, but hasn't happened yet.

 

[Stereo]

Non-trapped locations?

Putting the battery in front of the wheel well is certainly the most straightforward solution and nice and clean. However, I need access to the battery when I'm on the road because I'll be using a portable charger when I have access to shore power. The converter in my ancient Skamper is not designed to charge the battery. I'm not wanting to invest in a new converter just now.

I'd also like to avoid drilling into my truck bed to secure a hold-down.

 

[SLO_F-250]

Laura,
I wouldn't worry about drilling a venting hole in your camper. Its just aluminum siding, 1x "studs, and 1/8" finish. Maybe try something like this:

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-converters/battery-boxes-vented.htm

Look back in my build thread at when I cut the vent panels in for the fridge. There's good shots of the construction of the camper.

Throw it up front under the bed step/seat. If you do put a hole in your camper just make sure you put plenty of putty tape around the flange of whatever you are screwing into the camper "hole."

I had mine in the dead space of the fender I personally didn't like it. It became a pain to mess with it, and I wanted access to it to charge things. I too have not hardwired "charge line", 12V cigarette lighter for cell phones, etc. I also was taking the camper on and off enough having the battery there wasn't ideal. Its personal preference, but I like having mine fully contained.
Paul

 

[1stDeuce]

That would be another plan I suppose... Just toss the battery in a currently unvented but mostly sealed space, then vent that space to the outside. The other even easier solution is to get a sealed AGM battery, so you don't have to vent it at all, and just keep it where it is.

After seeing GpnAZ's setup again, I may use the smaller "Andersen" connectors to hook mine to the camper. Easy to unplug it while I'm in there taking off the tie downs, which I moved inside the front of the box also. I'm not worried about drilling a few small holes through the wood panel sides of the camper, well under the overhang. Just use lots of RTV or caulk to seal them up and they'll be fine, and hidden from view when the camper is in the truck.

I'm already planning to redo the spaghetti mess of wiring in my camper... I can't stand it!! So I'll put in pos and neg posts near the converter, and I can hook the charger directly to the posts if I really want to go at it! I'm hard wiring my float charger in anyway, so when shore power is connected, it'll float charge the battery. If I tire of having to move the battery when I load/unload, I'll put it inside under the seat, right by the converter. (AGM battery, so no need for venting.)

 

[Stereo]

No worries about drilling into the camper. It's my truck bed I don't want to drill into. If I were to put the battery on the outside, I'm assuming I'd have to secure the battery bracket in place so it wouldn't slide around.

If the battery only needs some ventilation, but doesn't need to be sealed from the interior of the camper, I'm sure I can find a location inside. I'm planning on putting a cooler in the step seat so I don't think I'll have room there. But if it's OK to have it in with the shore power cord storage area, that will probably work.

 

[1stDeuce]

I used to think exactly like you Stereo, No holes!! But then I realized that the factory left out a few tie downs, and it was up to me to put them in... My life is now WAY easier!! I just got done adding two tie down hoops to my truck this weekend. They will be very convenient for securing my camper battery until I decide that I should just put it in the camper. I normally use the U-bolt type, and large fender washers on the back side. Even in the relatively thin side sheet metal, it's about as solid feeling as the factory one, whereas the single stud ones tend to bend the sheet metal and pull out more easily.

One ratchet strap later, I can't budge the battery, so I'm happy with it! Living in CO, I'm pretty sure I'll bash the box to death before rust gets the better of it, but I usually toss a little rustoleum around the holes after I drill them.
Chris