Why This Travel Trailer Tongue Box Upgrade is Worth it!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@monte99cm]

I know this was done a while ago. I have a 17mke I'm looking to do something similar with. I was looking at the next size up box the 2 3/4 cu. ft. one. Is there a reason you went with this one over the other?

[@jacobsupgrades]

@@monte99cm I was barely able to fit this size box on our 2019 21BHE I don't think anything bigger would fit on the tongue if our trailer. Take a bunch of measurements first.

[@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.

[@rickmarchetti3698]

I would be taking off those 5 gallon propane tanks and putting on 3 0 gal. Get some more propane @ don't have to worry about running out nearly as fast..

[@jacobsupgrades]

@@rickmarchetti3698 I wanted to upgrade but haven't gotten around to it. It's easy to rotate a 3rd tank too.

[@rickmarchetti3698]

@jacobsupgrades yeah add a third tank. Otherwise the video was good just thought I would throw in my tank comment

[@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

[@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.

[@G-WOTE]

The box is too big..

[@jacobsupgrades]

@@G-WOTE each trailer is different. I had to move my propane tanks forward a little bit for clearance.

[@G-WOTE]

@@jacobsupgrades yeah I think I'm about to do the same...