Help with undermounted battery / water tank

[Catagonia]

Hello Folks,

Looking for a bit of advice from anyone who has fitted undermounted battery trays / boxes on their T6s?

I'm midway through converting my 4motion SWB T6; I ideally wanted an undermounted fresh water tank, but there really doesnt seem to be much choice.

At the moment I've got a backup plan of a wheel arch water tank, and mounting the battery in the kitchen pod. Unfortunately I cant get batteries under the seats due to them being lowered swivel bases. The van is 'light' conversion... ie no full furniture, just a kitchen pod.

Thanks for any help dudes.

 

[Ads_Essex]

Click on the underslung tab at the top of the page - there are a few topics on this that might give you food for thought.

 

[Catagonia]

Doesnt look like the underslung batteries are very popularl at all.

I'm going to have to have a measure up and see if it's worth fabricating something myself.

 

[Catagonia]

Just a quick update on this; I've spent a couple of days scouring around to try and find something. The closest I have come is something previously made by Retrofit Campers, I've emailed them but no response as of yet (the pictures are from 2015 to be fair)

I've narrowed down where the batteries could be fitted to the following voids - located behind the B pillar, the best way of describing them is the dead area between the body and the chassis rails. I've attached some pictures anyway.

The dimensions look pretty much bob on for any standard, low height AGM. Looks like I could fit 2 x 90ah in there.

I'm going to have a look into getting some boxes fabricated that will fit in there, withbthe hope of using the original seat clip points to bolt the battery box to the floor.

Could anyone shed any light on whether a LiFePo4 battery would survive being on the outside of the van? Or is it best to stick to lead acid / agm / gel etc?

 

[Ads_Essex]

I think @Dellmassive has posted something before about lithium’s being sensitive to cold weather - he’ll be in the know.

And @Rod_VW has some auxiliary batteries installed somewhere on the cill - not sure if he’s ever posted up photos of them.

 

[rod_vw]

Yes I've fitted a couple under the right side just behind the 'A' pillar. It's not wonderfully elegant but can be done and doesn't cause any problems except accessibility.

They have been mounted onto modified main battery trays (part number 7H0 805 283F) and fixed to a bracket on the chassis out-rigger at the front and threaded rod as suspension at the rear. Wiring has been connected via Anderson connectors with enough length to enable the tray complete with battery to be lowered on a trolley jack. With the right battery you can fit all of this so that the bottom of the tray is level with the plastic shield which I cut to clear it. I still have a T5 with that fitment which is six years into mission and this system has been OK all of that time.
The only photo that I have of of the first one that I did on a 2010 T5 but the system can be the same on a T6. This one had been in position for about three years when this photo was taken. As you can see the plastic under tray is still in place with the bottom of the battery tray filling the cut-out when fitted under the van so there is very little sh1t getting up around the battery. I use 'nylock' nuts on the studs and have never had any doubt that they were coming loose.

 

[Catagonia]

Very nice Rob, thank you for the post! Have you had issues with battery performance in colder times?

 

[rod_vw]

None that have come to my attention, they are normal starter battery wet lead acid types.

I worked on the theory that lorry and some other commercial batteries are out in the elements without problem and that lots of old classic cars had under floor batteries so it shouldn't be a problem and it hasn't been.

 

[DXX]

I’ve got 2x 45Ah AGMs underslung on the drivers side, I’ve had no issues with them, even after driving through some pretty deep floodwater.
One thing I’ve learnt from experience is to ensure the battery securing frame is strong enough to keep the batteries in place in the event of a collision. Without delving into the maths a very dense item like a battery will rip out nut’s / bolts / self tappers etc. Build it like a battleship!

 

[rod_vw]

I’ve got 2x 45Ah AGMs underslung on the drivers side, I’ve had no issues with them, even after driving through some pretty deep floodwater.
One thing I’ve learnt from experience is to ensure the battery securing frame is strong enough to keep the batteries in place in the event of a collision. Without delving into the maths a very dense item like a battery will rip out nut’s / bolts / self tappers etc. Build it like a battleship!

Do you have any pictures? I don't know if I will convert another, but if I do it's always a good thought to free up space inside.

Thanks,

Rod

 

[Catagonia]

+1 to the above. I know it's the accepted wisdom to fit the batteries under the seats; but it would be nice to put a thread together with some decent information for an alternative.

I'm measuring up at the moment with the idea of sending it over to a fabricator to make a box... which if successful I guess would fit to any t5 or t6

 

[Catagonia]

Something similar to these, so they could be insulated to some degree.

 

[rod_vw]

One of the critical dimensions is the battery height unless you don't care about it protruding below the normal plastic shield level. I suppose a plastic plate attached to the underside of the floor would ensure that the +ve terminal could not short out, I've just used the normal connector covers in the past and of course clamped the battery down to the mounting plate.

 

[rod_vw]

Something similar to these, so they could be insulated to some degree.View attachment 71061View attachment 71062

Personally I think that is over-kill but each to his own. I would certainly want a drain hole in the bottom for natural road water and acid should the battery leak.

 

[DXX]

Do you have any pictures? I don't know if I will convert another, but if I do it's always a good thought to free up space inside.

Thanks,

Rod

 

[Catagonia]

That's the ticket. That's where my deisel heater is installed, but its exactly the right design.

Where did that come from bud?

 

[Catagonia]

Personally I think that is over-kill but each to his own. I would certainly want a drain hole in the bottom for natural road water and acid should the battery leak.

I see what you mean, even if it was fully enclosed there would still be some water ingress >> rusting or shorting out.

 

[rod_vw]

@DXX that looks nice, do you envisage that the only way to access them is to lower the complete assembly down with a jack? I see that picture is taken on a wheel free lift but there are occasions when that would not be available.

Just being cheeky, do you have drawings for the box please?

 

[DXX]

@DXX that looks nice, do you envisage that the only way to access them is to lower the complete assembly down with a jack? I see that picture is taken on a wheel free lift but there are occasions when that would not be available.

Just being cheeky, do you have drawings for the box please?

Its a NWCC installation, I doubt they will give you drawings but they may sell you the box to fit yourself.
I’ve got standard T32 running gear and a set of big axle stands if I need to lift the van.