TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:47 am

I did a bunch of searching and couldn't find anything about this so I will just ask, I guess. Does anyone know if someone makes a spiffy little rubber tray, liner, mat or something to place under the battery in our buses in case the battery decides to leak? Seems like that may prolong the life of the body steel in that area. Battery hold down may be an issue with something in there though.
Ideas?
Scotty

Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:51 am

You cold possibly fit one of these?

Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:00 am

Do not use any of those Acid Absorbing Battery Mats, your tray will last about a year, they may be great for absorbing acid, at the same time they retain moisture, you can guess the rest, or envision the rust. Installed them in my 70 & 78, less than a year later I have numerous holes in the battery trays, prior they were solid.

Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:07 am

Gel battery like an Optima? Expensive but no leaks.

Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:11 am

I just cut out and old rubber floor mat to fit...it channels away any moisture that may get in there. I take it out and clean it once in a blue moon.

Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:48 am

that area gets wet every time you drive in the rain. The problem is that anything, including the battery, sitting on the metal will wick moisture under it by capillary action. The water will also wash the battery acid on top of the battery onto the metal. The battery box is probably a good solution although those are held on with a strap so a strap hold down would have to be installed.

Another solution is to POR-15 under the battery and that will slow any rust. Then use a stock VW battery cover to keep water off the top.

A battery mat will only soak up water and keep the area wet. Anything that allows air under the battery to dry the area would help.

Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:05 am

SGKent wrote:

Another solution is to POR-15 under the battery and that will slow any rust.
.

Do this and use a gel battery and you sholdn't have too much of a problem any time soon. It's not just the battery of course but also the air vents allowing water in that area and if it sits then rust occurs.

Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:09 am

I just coat the whole area with fiberglass and resin. Running the glass 4 inches or so up the sides and lapping the glass over into the engine compartment a bit.

Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:08 pm

79SuperVert wrote: Gel battery like an Optima? Expensive but no leaks.

X2! Why waste your money on all that other mumbo jumbo. Get the optima and be done with it.

Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:22 pm

I lined mine with truck bed liner after welding in a new tray. should last a long time

Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:33 pm

Do a battery box like Batan shows. It solves numerous problems. Also use the gel on posts and terminals. You will never have to clean the battery or terminals again.

Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:44 pm

I've never tried it, but it sounds like what you're looking for.

http://gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3246&category_id=&category_parent_id=

Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:49 pm

Dead 1 wrote: 79SuperVert wrote: Gel battery like an Optima? Expensive but no leaks.

X2! Why waste your money on all that other mumbo jumbo. Get the optima and be done with it.

Damn right, and they last longer as a general rule as well. End up more than worth it in the long run. The middle post terminal ones will fit tight but will just fit without modifying your stock cables if you still have stock cables BTW.

John

Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:48 pm

Any other advantages of an Optima unless you tip the bus on it's side? I don't see how double the cost justifies not having to check the electrolite level a couple times a year. On a standard battery use the gel goop on the terminals and there never will be any acid or moisture anywhere on or around the battery. The cables never again will need any attention. Put it in a $8 plastic battery box and it will never get rained on. In 5 years it will be as immacuately clean as when you put it in new.

Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:37 am

Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with moving the battery inside under the Z-bed? That's what I did and the original cables did not have to be changed. Made the engine compartment look a lot less cluttered too.

Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:23 am

Mr. Loaf wrote: Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with moving the battery inside under the Z-bed? That's what I did and the original cables did not have to be changed. Made the engine compartment look a lot less cluttered too.

That's exactly what I did with my '74.

Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:27 am

My battery tray area is in very good shape and I would like to keep it that way I think. Never having owned a bus, I didn't realize it got wet in there. Makes perfect sense, just didn't know.
I like the battery box idea a lot. I am sure I could make up some spiffy hold down "thingy" that uses the stock mounting points so I can hold the box down with a strap.
Does anyone know how the batteries are held down inside the plastic battery boxes? A loose battery is a battery destined for the recycler early!

I am going to head out and see how tough it would be to put the battery inside the bus like the Loaf suggested. That is really cool as well. How did you re-route the cables? Did you use a grommet or something where the cables passed through he sheet metal?
I have never owned a vehicle that had a group with this much support behind it. This is awesome. You guys are great.
Scotty

Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:49 am

Look under your seat, the holes may already be there. A battery box is mounted to the tray using bolts if you decide to keep the battery in the rear. The battery is held inside the box with a strap or metal clamp. If you have no holes you could drill one or two and use a rubber grommet to insulate the holes.

Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:22 am

hercdriver wrote: I've never tried it, but it sounds like what you're looking for.

http://gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3246&category_id=&category_parent_id=

Nooooooooo! A friend used one of those and it was absolutely useless.

Sat Aug 29, 2009 12:13 pm

The battery box I have sits on a plastic battery tray that is bolted to the bus. The tray allows for rain drainage like Kent mentions. The box is held to the tray with a strap that goes over the top. The battery fits nicely in the box and doesn't move around. Don't remember if the strap came with the tray or the box. You don't want to bolt the box down, you want it so that you can lift and slide it out. Mine was taller than necessary so I just cut the sides down a bit. The box and tray would also be a nice way to do it if you moved the battery under the seat.
Those acid absorbing mats might be ok if your battery was wet with acid. Use the gel on the cables and there is no acid anywhere except inside the battery. There is just plain no valid reason for the bus tray to rot out. Wish the PO would have known that.