Front Storage and Battery Weight

[IRV2]

Question for you guys with big (heavy) battery banks. Do you reinforce the cargo floor and if so how?
I noticed in my front storage area the one under the front cap, that the metal floor is welded in several places and then screwed to the front just under the cargo door. A couple of weeks ago I moved one of my batteries to the front area with the other battery.
Today I noticed that the screws were getting really loose, so I moved the second battery so that it was along the welded portion of the metal floor it an attempt to distribute that weight better and closer to the main support. The metal floor does not rest on the "L" bracket but is underneath it and welded. There is no support on the front other than these little screws the go through sheet metal into 3/16" luan.
It got dark before I could take a pic of the batteries lengthwise instead of side to side. You can daylight between the floor and the front of cargo door. I did screw some self tappers to caught the aluminum bar that is on the bottom of the door structure I'll post those pics tomorrow.

[jsmith948]

That is the correct fix. When we picked our trailer up, there was a gap between the floor pan of the front compartment and the front wall of the trailer. The floor pan was supported by small Robertson screws along the front edge.
The shop added self drilling/tapping hex head screws (about #12 in size) attaching the floor pan to the aluminum frame that runs across the front of the compartment. Don't know why the factory used such small screws that seemed to be threaded into just the luan on the front wall.
As far as reinforcement, you could bolt angle iron stiffeners under the floor.
When I installed out BAL stabilizer arms, I bolted a 3/16" x 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" angle on the inside of the compartment crosswise along the front edge of the floor pan to stiffen the pan at the center where the stabilizers are attached.
The floor pan is very light (thin) and I'm going to change the location of my tool box or add a stiffener under it as well.

[IRV2]

Thanks for that reply I'd like to see a pic of what you did there Jack. Heres a pic of the batteries going lengthwise and one of the self tappers I added along the front edge. Yeah maybe a u bolt of sorts used to bolt the angle iron from jack to jack. this would be underneath like you said.

[jsmith948]

Thanks for that reply I'd like to see a pic of what you did there Jack. Heres a pic of the batteries going lengthwise and one of the self tappers I added along the front edge. Yeah maybe a u bolt of sorts used to bolt the angle iron from jack to jack. this would be underneath like you said.

I didn't attach the angle iron to the landing legs. Just bolted it to the floor pan on the inside forward edge of the front compartment in 6 places spread out along the length of the angle. Used 1/4 - 20 SS bolts with Nylock nuts. I'll try to post some pics.

Also, I ended up leaving my 2 - 6volt batteries in the original comartment. snug fit but it works

[IRV2]

Thanks for the pics I thought you went under the floor from jack to jack. I can't believe you got those batteries in there lol. I didn't even give it a thought I like your plywood box nice job!