Question:
I want to add (okay, I want DH to add) a battery to my horse trailer. We
use it for camping and keep the dogs in the horse area, plus I'm usually at
the barn at night and it would be nice to just turn on the lights rather
than use a flashlight to find something in the dressing room.
DH can do the wiring part, but we're currently stuck on where to put the
battery and how to mount it.
I can't find any metal battery boxes for sale, and as the battery needs to
mount to the front of the trailer, basically a flat wall.
So. those of you with battery power, how is the battery mounted? If it
didn't come with the trailer, where did you get the box/shelf? If we have
to make it or have it fabricated (DH wants a welder anyway...) what design
would you use?
Any other clever ideas?
Answer:
First off, if all you want is an interior light, you can buy fluorescent
lights that use disposable batteries, and save yourself a lot of
trouble.
You can also connect a 12-volt incandescent light to the power lead that
comes from the truck, for use when the trailer is hitched up.
Either way, you save the cost of the battery and the hassle of keeping
it charged.
If you're dead set on installing a battery, please consider a plastic
box. Metal corrodes around batteries.
I've seen boxes mounted on the top of ball hitches, if that's what you
have. If it's a gooseneck, you're just going to have to find some
sheltered place to bolt it to.
