I had a Eureka moment this evening!! I moved the sofa forward and crawled in behind (glad no one was around to see that). After removing the large alum cover that was about a foot tall, a foot wide and nearly the width of the trailer, I found a smaller second alum cover which hid the Univolt. Next to it was the plastic battery box (accessible from the outside). What was so surprising, though, (besides the layers of dirt) was the amount of unused space back there--with the Univolt removed, there would be room for about eight batteries!!
No need to build a battery box and rack system for the A-frame. I'll build a light-weight plywood box with a removable, but well-sealed lid for four 6 volt batteries. The current plastic box will be cut out, but leaving enough plastic there to act as a flange into the side of the new box (to maintain ventilation). The plastic flange will be sealed to the plywood box with caulking. I noticed, too, that the Univolt was sitting over a series of vent holes that go through the floor. Water has come through and stained the plywood floor--so, I'll incorporate holes in the bottom of the new box that are directly over the existing holes, sealing the joint to the trailer interior. No more water or dust inside from that source, and plenty of ventilation for the batteries!
The new converter can be screwed to the side of the box, and it will have sufficient cooling from the interior air.
This is great, as I don't have to muck about with the propane tanks, nor add a lot of unnecessary weight. I'll post pics as I begin the project. Now...what do to with all that steel I bought??
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