2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

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2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

February 20, 2017, 10:12:35 am

While working on installing a new Battery Monitor I removed the battery retainer bar. Seems its made out of a soft wood, maybe pine of some sort, with metal shim inside the brace.

My concern is I live in a rather moist area of the country (Pacific NorthWest) with the battery compartment vented to the outside. Wood will in time either rot or expand. In the wisdom of the Forum is there a better solution then what the factory has given us?

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #1 – February 20, 2017, 10:47:15 am

How 'bout the boaters timber? Teak.

Kent

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #2 – February 20, 2017, 10:49:48 am

" I removed the battery retainer bar. Seems its made out of a soft wood, maybe pine of some sort, with metal shim inside the brace."

You've got to be kidding! Wood on a 2014?

Remembering back I believe my originals were rubber coated steel. Currently (without going out to look) I believe my AGMs have a nylon rope system. Go figure!!!

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #3 – February 20, 2017, 11:03:59 am

You could make new ones out of nylon/plastic.

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #4 – February 20, 2017, 11:32:27 am

Maybe just coat the wood strip with Flexseal, Liquidseal, Thompson's Water Seal, or a similar wood waterproofing product?

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #5 – February 20, 2017, 01:06:58 pm

That is what I was looking for a few months ago. Thanks for the pictures.

How about using a piece of HDPE or Neoprene from Tap Plastic or McMaster Carr?

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #6 – February 20, 2017, 02:25:36 pm

Quote from: JCT - February 20, 2017, 11:32:27 am

Maybe just coat the wood strip with Flexseal, Liquidseal, Thompson's Water Seal, or a similar wood waterproofing product?

👍👍
I too belong to the KISS school of fixing stuff.
Ed

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #7 – February 20, 2017, 06:05:17 pm

"Currently (without going out to look) I believe my AGMs have a nylon rope system."

Took a while but I finally caught a break between rain showers to look at my battery retainers... NOT!

This should be an indicator of how often I inspect the battery compartment because I found that there are no retainers of any sort. The AGM batteries were installed about 2-3 years ago by AM Solar and have been riding without retainers ever since. Guess the weight plus the cable tension is enough to hold them in place.

After two consecutive days of rain (and a forecast of 3 more) I am becoming weary of having to stay in the house.

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #8 – February 21, 2017, 10:30:15 am

Cold Dog,
If you can get that wood retainer dried out well, it can be coated with West System Epoxy with good results. The epoxy soaks into the wood and completely seals it. It might last longer than the rest of the coach with that stuff on it.

Amazon.com : West System 6508 G/Flex Epoxy Bottles 2/Bag : Boating Painting...

This small amount will likely be enough to coat your part. I have had very good results with it, mostly used on wood exposed to sea water.

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #9 – February 21, 2017, 07:43:47 pm

Quote from: Blueox25 - February 21, 2017, 10:30:15 am

Cold Dog,
If you can get that wood retainer dried out well, it can be coated with West System Epoxy with good results. The epoxy soaks into the wood and completely seals it. It might last longer than the rest of the coach with that stuff on it.

Amazon.com : West System 6508 G/Flex Epoxy Bottles 2/Bag : Boating Painting...
This small amount will likely be enough to coat your part. I have had very good results with it, mostly used on wood exposed to sea water.

You beat me to it.
Marine epoxy resin is just the thing to make it water proof.
Many items in out LD have been coated and it even worked OK for this project too.
Selkie Kayak | Flickr
Untitled | lw5315us | Flickr

Epoxy is also good for build custom boxes and trash cans, among other things, for your LD.
Door trays | Flickr
Trash can | Flickr

Larry

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Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #10 – February 24, 2017, 01:04:15 am

I just made a coach battery retainer bar. I used a 1"X1" x36" poplar ( no knots) from hardware store. It fits between the caps of the GC2 6 volt batteries. Drilled 9/32 holes and coated with wheel bearing grease. Just like I coat the battery terminals. Used 1/4" x 1" fender washers and 1/4" wing nuts coated in wheel bearing grease to hold them all down.

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #11 – February 24, 2017, 05:30:40 pm

I would use ipe. Find a high-end deck builder and see if you can buy a stick. Pricey if bought retail, but tough and basically rot-proof for this use. It's kind of like aluminum that grows in the ground.

In my experience, poplar doesn't do well outside. Teak and white oak do OK. I'm assuming you're not interested in metal? Aluminum, or standard or stainless steel encased in dip-it plastic goo will do well. But use wood for the 'no chance of shorting' reassurance.

Chip

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #12 – February 24, 2017, 06:41:48 pm

Ipe wood looks like an interesting material.

Shorting with metal can be an issue. The retainer bar is within 3/8" of the 2 negative battery terminals on the 2 group GC2 batteries and the joiner cable goes over the retainer bar.

A coincidental battery shift would short one battery on an un-insulated metal bar.

Re: 2014 Twin King Battery Retainer Bar

Reply #13 – February 24, 2017, 06:50:22 pm

You might be overthinking the battery hold down.
LD has been using AGMs and this method of securing them for several years. None that I have looked at show signs of weathering or damage.
While the battery compartment door has ventilation slots, water is not being actively thrown into the compartment.
The wood is not being damaged by acid fumes, as they would be if lead-acid batteries were in use.

IMO, if the battery hold down is left the way LD built it , it will look the same in 15 years.
These are AGM batteries, the same type that get installed inside LDs, as extra batteries. They are relatively inert, if not overcharged.
If you feel that you just got to do something, giving it a good coating of marine epoxy, or even marine varnish, should give it all the protection it will ever need.
If the climate is so moist that you are worried about wood, inside a compartment, rotting, I would be concerned about storing an LD outside or leaving it unheated. I've seen moldy RVs and they ain't pretty .

Larry

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