Check your battery boxes!

[Gina D.]

I recently had a welder come out and put a battery box holder on the tongue of my trailer. (Along with the furnace.. this thing had no 12v system.. I re-installed one)

Anyway, that was just a week ago. I KNEW I needed to add drain holes to the bottom of the box, but in the confusion of roughing things in, I forgot.

Fast forward to today. Its been raining and a little snow for 3 days straight. I went to button up everything so I can tow tomorrow. Removed the lid to the box and found it full of water..up to about an 1/8th inch below the top of the battery. I CAREFULLY removed the cables and pulled the battery without incident. Dumped the water and managed to get the drain holes drilled and all is safe now. Another hour of rain.. my trailer may have been glowing.

Those of you with tongue mounted boxes.. make sure it can drain! I understand why they do not come pre drilled, its up to you to make it safe.

[james kent]

..........But why don't they make the vent holes on top with a waterproof little cover so that we don't have to drill little holes in a brand new box????

[Casita Greg]

As a rule, all battery boxes should be vented to atmosphere.

[Gina D.]

They are.. at the top and sides. That's how the water gets in.

Boxes are cheap and the holes are not visible. Its no a big deal. Unless you forget

[Roy in TO]

Thank you Gina!

We put our Trillium 4500 into storage today. I pulled the battery to store it at home connected up to a trickle solar charger in the garage. Sure enough there was water in the bottom of our brand new battery box.

I've made a tag to attach to the battery to remind myself to drill holes in the battery box before reinstalling.

I never had the problem in my boler American because my tongue box is above my battery box - covering but not blocking the vent holes.

[Carol Ann in TO]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

Thank you Gina!
I've made a tag to attach to the battery to remind myself to drill holes in the battery box before reinstalling.

Now all you have to do is remember to attached it to the battery

[Roy in TO]

I thought that is what wives are for, to remind me of things.

[james kent]

After the fact, Roy. After the fact.

[Sharon G]

Gina, I also was shocked to find my tongue mounted battery box full of water a couple of years ago. I drilled small holes at the bottom of the box so it could drain. No problems since.