boxer1 Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 I own an Autotrail Cheyenne 632 1998. Where would I get a new or second hand battery box. The bottom of my box has collapsed and the battery is sitting on the floor of the van. I think I drove over a ramp in France to fast and the battery has lifted up and back down again causing the damage. My fault for not seeing the ramp and not having the battery strapped down. The opening in my van is 370mm wide, 300mm high and 470mm deep. I only need the box part as the door is separate and in good condition. Boxer1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Hi Boxer.. Sorry, I'm not familiar with the specific type of battery box in question..but as you haven't had any responses,I'll suggest the obvious... :$ Can it not be repaired?..maybe bonding a piece of decent,hefty ply in the bottom...? ..or does it appear as if the damaged section, would be something that is(should be?) available as a separate part..? I assume you've "Had a good Google" ? (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 I guess your first port of call for advice on this should be Auto-Trail themselves though, given the age of your Cheyenne, I’m not that confident they’ll be able to provide a replacement part. A GOOGLE-search will show that there are plenty of ‘battery boxes’ being marketed on-line, but it sounds from your description that your motorhome may have a dedicated locker for battery storage, with the locker-base (presumably made of an acid-resistant material) set above the vehicle’s living-area floor. If that’s correct, then you might be able to adapt a commercially available battery box (or battery tray) to support your battery, but (as pepe63 suggests) a repair may be a better solution. It’s difficult to advise on the best repair approach without seeing your motorhome, but I’d envisage (again pretty much as pep63 suggests) fixing a frame topped with plywood to the floor (on which the battery is now sitting) to raise the battery to the height it was originally, and then using glass-fibre mat/resin liberally to bond the plywood to the remainder of the battery box and make everything acid-resistant. (A photo of the damaged battery box (or a fuller description) would be helpful.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxer1 Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 Thanks for the replies The box is so badly damaged not repairable. I have contacted O learys, sending phots etc, hoping they are able to help me. I contacted Auto trail and they informed me that the battery box for my van was not specifically made for this model and would have been used in all types of vans. I only need the box part as the door is ok. Boxer1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Hi Boxer1, It sounds more like the type of battery box used in caravans rather than MHs, so go to your local caravan dealers and look at the caravans they have in stock and see if you can identify a suitable box. My guess would be that there are only 2 or 3 manufacturers making such parts so once identified it should be relatively easy to source a replacement. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Boxer.. Didn't Autotrail tell you the make of the box and/or where you could get one from? (...or was it them who suggested O'Learys?) Loads of different ones are available "to view" online... http://www.camping-online.co.uk/caravan-equipment/locker-doors-and-battery-boxes http://www.waudbys.co.uk/products/details/17578.html http://www.caravantech-shop.co.uk/products/electric-12v-or-240v/battery-boxes-and-wet-lockers#.UYPYUypwbIU ..etc... (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Another option would be to change the battery for a Gel or AGM then it would not need to be in a box. You would need to check the charger would be able to charge them properly. If not there are some AGM ones that use the wet battery charge regime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek pringle Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 boxer1 - 2013-05-03 12:59 PM Thanks for the replies The box is so badly damaged not repairable. I have contacted O learys, sending phots etc, hoping they are able to help me. I contacted Auto trail and they informed me that the battery box for my van was not specifically made for this model and would have been used in all types of vans. I only need the box part as the door is ok. Boxer1 Hi Boxer, If the box you had fitted was also used in different models, then could not Autotrail tell you the name of the supplier, you may then be able to canvass from owners of these models as well. cheers derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Keithl - 2013-05-03 1:29 PM Hi Boxer1, It sounds more like the type of battery box used in caravans rather than MHs, so go to your local caravan dealers and look at the caravans they have in stock and see if you can identify a suitable box. My guess would be that there are only 2 or 3 manufacturers making such parts so once identified it should be relatively easy to source a replacement. Keith. Boxer1's Chyenne is 15 years old and he only wants the internal part of the 'battery box' (which we've both assumed from his original description is the type shown in this link provided by pepe63) http://www.waudbys.co.uk/products/details/17578.html not the door. It's quite likely that Auto-Trail's records won't nowadays contain details of the maker of the battery boxes they used to fit in 1998, and equally likely that the exact box used then is no longer available. The dimensions given by Boxer1 suggest his motorhome's box would take 2 x 110Ah leisure-batteries mounted side-by-side. There's a photo of a 1998 Cheyenne here http://tinyurl.com/chnyd4p and I'm guessing that the small external bottom-hinged door just behind the cab allows access to the leisure-battery. It might well be practicable to relocate the leisure-battery, but this approach would hardly be desirable as Auto-Trail has already dedicated storage space for it. Wiring modifications would also be required. It's no bad idea to carry a leisure-battery in a box or externally-accessible locker, but not essential even if the battery is an ordinary wet-acid type. It's commonplace nowadays for motorhomes to carry their wet-acid starter-battery 'naked' beneath a cab seat and far from rare for them to have a similarly-exposed under-seat wet-acid leisure-battery too. As long as wet-acid batteries are vented, the risks involved in not having them in a box/locker are fairly low. OK, if the battery leaks or explodes it will be better if it's in a box or locker but, if it's difficult to carry the battery other than unenclosed (but well-secured!!) beneath a cab seat or within a motorhome's living-area furniture, this shouldn't be considered a cardinal sin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxer1 Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 Thanks again for the help. Didn't ask Autotrail where I would get a replacement. I have found the name ZIG embossed on the side of the box. Found a web page for ZIG and will contact them on Tuesday. Most boxes now are side loading but mine is front loading if that makes sense and only takes 1 120 amp battery. The battery is situated below the hab seating at the rear of the van and If I am unable to get a replacement could I close off the opening for the box, keeping the door in place and then fit a general purpose battery box and screw it to the floor. Boxer1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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