Travel Trailer Tongue Box Upgrade

[@johnnyteunissen7707]

What a great video! I just bought a new RV trailer and wanted to upgrade to dual lithium batteries. Your video tells me everything I need to do to make it happen. Thanks for putting this video together!

[@jacobsupgrades]

Congrats on your new purchase! Dual lithium is worth it if you plan to spend time off the grid, I wish we had done this upgrade sooner.

[@rayofishal1804]

This has helped me a lot with adding the HF tool box to my TT. Thanks for sharing your install.

[@jacobsupgrades]

@rayofishal1804, I'm glad my video helped you out on your install, thanks for the kind comment.

[@chesschess100]

Awesome vid. I just bought a 21BHE and will be doing this exact same upgrade to the battery box. Perfect!

[@jacobsupgrades]

Nice! I'm glad to help out. What year is your Imagine?

[@chesschess100]

New this year. Picking it up next week. How do you like the yours?

[@jacobsupgrades]

@chesschess100, that's awesome where do you plan on taking it on your first trip? We love our Grand Design we put a few thousand miles on it traveling 39 states around the US living out of it full time for 2 years. We took the bunks out and turned it into an office den space with a flip up desk. The only thing I would change is larger windows that allow you to see out while standing.

[@RVTA]

Enjoyed your install. I'm in the process of doing similar. I guess for you, adding a bus bar is next! Congrats. My install is much simpler with only three wires.

[@jacobsupgrades]

@RVTA, I'm glad my install video could help. Good luck on your project!

[@andychapman1953]

Thanks for the video. Now I have a good idea on how I’ll do my storage box and battery upgrade on my 2023 22mle.

[@jacobsupgrades]

@@andychapman1953 I just looked up the 22MLE floor plan that's a nice looking set up and finishes. Let me know how your project goes.

[@Charlie-w5l3w]

I like this. Would like to see the bus bar set up and also if you added batter monitoring other than within the battery. Also with my Coleman, I have wires on both sides of the tongue thus thinking two wire holes. Did you have to move your propane connection? I will have to change mine to get a double box like this

[@jacobsupgrades]

@user-zr3rr3hc8n, I'm still working on adding the bus bar but will upload a video once I have something together. I didn't have to move my propane connections luckily it's a flexible hose. I did have to move my Starlink mount thought.

[@Blackbull1975]

what is the make of the box,? So I can get the same for my Imagine Trailer

[@jacobsupgrades]

@garysmith9767, Haul Master 2.31cu.ft. Trailer Tongue Box - amzn.to/3Zb1oCp I've also included the other products and tools I used the description.

[@neo8880636]

It is best to put the lithium iron phosphate battery inside the RV. The battery will not work at low temperatures.

[@jacobsupgrades]

@neo8880636, I agree operating temperatures are limiting in the cold. The Defender X100 can discharge at -4F and charge at 32F. I've ran them in cold desert weather and it's been fine but in extreme cold mounting them in the camper would be best or to add a 12volt battery warming pad to the box and turn on when needed. 12volt Silicone Flexible Battery Heater - amzn.to/3RpOYFO

[@SingletrackKim]

Jacob GREAT video, thank you so much for this! I have 2 questions I hope you can help with. 1) what did you wrap the ubolts around on the old battery tray bars on the tongue? 2) you list a spring lock cable pass thru, but I didnt see you install it. Is that on the other side of the grommet? THANKS @jacobsupgrades

[@jacobsupgrades]

@user-zn6wg2wy1v, 1) Yes I wrapped the U-bolts around the existing battery tray bars. I did have to buy longer U-bolts than what was provided with the tongue box. 2) I listed the spring loaded grommet because I think it's a better design preventing any cables from being cut from road vibrations over time from the sharp edge of the tongue box. Here is the 3" rubber grommet link - amzn.to/3SsESCz

[@SingletrackKim]

@@jacobsupgrades so you're saying you recommend the spring loaded pass thru rather than the rubber grommet?

[@jacobsupgrades]

@@SingletrackKim yes spring loaded pass thru to better protect the cabling long term.

[@jerrygundrum1]

That wiring mess is a fire waiting to happen You have starlink, but the rest of the install is made with the cheapest components you could find

[@jacobsupgrades]

@jerrygundrum1, I think adding a buss bar would help clean it up. Also moving the fuse to the tongue box. I used marine grade wire. Is there something else you would suggest?

[@jerrygundrum1]

@@jacobsupgrades How about some breakers or fuses at the battery? The BMS on the battery electronics are a complete unknown, does it have and temperature monitoring? Breakers first, then buss bar, then heating pad to keep the batterys from damage in low temps. Wire management so the wire don't rub through. Looks like you have a nice rig, spend some money on the victron system. It is more expensive, I have never heard of one bursting into flames.

[@jacobsupgrades]

@@jerrygundrum1 thanks for the advice, I'll look into updating it.

[@bansheerider619]

@@jerrygundrum1 All of that is unnecessary unless youre drawing a lot of power with an inverter. To just power your lights his setup is fine and much better than lead acid. Also most lithium batteries are IP65 weather proof. Yes it has low temp cutoff to prevent damage. Depending on where you are heating pads may not be needed.