X213 Tongue Storage Box

[Sergeum]

Good morning fellow X213ers! Has anyone considered removing the battery box and installing a "toolchest" between the LP tank cover and the front nose? I'd like a little more exterior storage and was thinking a larger box could accommodate both the battery(ies), and some leveling blocks etc... I've seen similar posts for other models... just wondering what kind of depth/height we could consider. I currently don't have access to my unit. Princess Auto(Canada) has 12' deep truck toolbox that may work...

[micron]

Personally, I wouldn't add anything extra to the front A frame. The tongue weight is already on the heavy side from the factory.

[Sergeum]

So you wouldn't recommend adding a second battery or use the front "garage"?

[Poppy]

I have considered a 4' box to mount behind the propane bottles on the tongue of my 24FSB, but not to add a second battery. I would be using it to lock up the existing battery, the WD bars, and maybe a few tools, while I'm at the campsite. Other than that, the only thing I can think I would want in it would be a cut off switch.
Poppy

[Sergeum]

My thoughts exactly! It's a good way to keep your battery locked up as well as keeping your disconnect out of sight. It would also be a good place to store towing stuff while parked at the campsite. While towing, the added weight of a few leveling blocks and such should be negligible.

[ALJO]

It is no problem to put a box on the A-Frame as long as you keep an eye on your Tongue Weight. Those aluminum boxes are light and strong.

[Sergeum]

Thanks ALJO... I'll closely monitor the weight addition... but like you indicated, storage is mostly for when the trailer is parked.

[Camper_bob]

I've thought about putting one on mine (28 BHBE) but I have my doubts as to whether one would fit between the propane tanks and the front of the trailer. That's the only spot I have, and it's not very big. I haven't taken a tape measure to it yet though... I might get more serious about it this summer when I go to install a 2-battery setup...

[RoyBraddy]

I have done a couple of 48-inch side mount tool boxes for friends for more battery space for the smaller trailer like the X213. Sure helps keeping the batteries out of sight - out of mind...



TORK-LIFT has a nice medium size aluminum box with slide-on lid that looks neat...
Sometimes the lid on the boxes won't open completely giving a problem to remove the batteries when needed.


You might check out your Bicycle storage area where the 12-inch wide very large floor shelf is installed. There is not much inside this large area. Might be able to build-in some storage doors here..


I would also investigate the storage area around the front clothes ward. There is a bunch of unused space you can see back behind this area accessible from the side front storage door...


I was looking at this trailer really close at one time to become my OFF-ROAD Ham Radio Emergency Comms trailer. Was wanting to remove both bunk beds and turn this whole area into a small storage area just inside the back door and the part in the middle would become a L-Shaped DESK area with hutch for my Ham Radios and computer setups...

Something like this


Would cut one of these OFFICE DEPOT desk kits down to fit...


Obviously I am not worrying too much about tongue weight haha...

Roy Ken

[Sergeum]

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/me...cture5821.html

Got around to adding some extra front storage. Had to move the LP tanks forward a little and will likely have to use a soft tank cover instead of the bulky stock plastic one.

[Dean M]

I would like to put a box just like you did and add a battery switch and a solar trickle charger on top of the box. May I ask how wide that box is?

[Sergeum]

6ft total but the "ears" are 6" each so the box is approx 1x5. I used 3/4" plywood to line the inside bottom. This added a lot of rigidity.

[GoodOldGus]

How did you end up mounting the box to the frame? I'm interested in something like this for my 23MBH. Thanks!

[Sergeum]

I lined the inside with 3/4" plywood to add rigidity to the storage box. It's screwed from the bottom-up. It's also more convenient for tying things down such as the battery box.
I needed to raise the storage box about 1.5" to clear the existing frame angle iron which is used for securing the battery. So I used 2 oak rails (painted with Tremclad) and bolted them to the A-frame. The box is then screwed into those.

[DasBlade]

I am running a Thomas John Deere Battery box BB-4 on my trailer nose. A Starcraft which is now a Jayco design 2016 26 BHS. It holds six sized 27 batteries for my solar array. My tongue weight was 540 Lbs. and is more like 820Lbs now to much for half ton truck but my 3/4 handles it fine. It is a heavy wall fiberglass box wall thickness is between 3/8 and 1/2 depending on area. Damn strong box with lots of protection for my $1100 in batts.