Box behind propane tanks 2002 Classic 30 S/O

[Al and Missy]

What is the purpose of the box behind the propane tanks? It has a lid, but is not water tight. Mine has apparently trapped water between it and the frame cross member it is welded to the bottom of. The weld is rusting as is the box and the corner of the frame cross member. I can't decide whether to try to fix it or cut it off.

Al

[n2916s]

On many models it is a battery box. On mine, the batteries are installed elsewhere somI use it to store my Lego blocks.

Mike

[Siegmann]

Mine sounds like yours. I use it to store an extra 10' sewer slinky (for the times that my 20' is too short) and the fitting that goes into the dump (but won't fit into the under-rig pvc storage pipe).

I enlarged the internal drain holes in the bottom of the box and had to steel wool/wire brush it and prime and paint it a few years ago. The seam/joint between the box and the cross member is right below the rub-rail. I caulked it.

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by n2916s

On many models it is a battery box. On mine, the batteries are installed elsewhere somI use it to store my Lego blocks.

Mike

It's not deep enough for batteries. I think it is storage, but since the lid is not sealed, I'd only put plastic stuff in it. Seigmann's idea sounds good.

My round sewer hose storage pipe was broken when I got the trailer, and the ones on my Safari 25 wouldn't fit the fittings either. I saw something on a MoHo site where a guy had made a tube out of a 4" PVC fence post cover. I bought one, but it wasn't big enough either. I made two storage tubes, one for sewer hose and the other for flagpoles out of 5" PVC fence post and caps. I hinged the caps on one end and used screws on the other in case I needed to take the cap off. I'm going to make another pair for my 30.

Al

[87MH]

You will find that this box is utilized by the factory to mount the hydraulic brake power head and reservoir.

[SeeMore]

On my unit it is the battery box. I modified the lid mounting so it could hold 2 golf cart size, 6v batteries.

[pappy19]

I use mine to hold some of the hitch parts when I unhook. My batteries are inside the main frame with 2 outside doors.

[Bill M.]

I have 2 trailers with the box. Both came with the aluminum cone that is the base for the jack and chocks for the wheels in the little box. So I use mine for that and have added a wrench and a extended lever for the lifts.

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

I have 2 trailers with the box. Both came with the aluminum cone that is the base for the jack and chocks for the wheels in the little box. So I use mine for that and have added a wrench and a extended lever for the lifts.

That sounds like the best use so far. I have been putting the jack foot in the truck and the chocks in a rear compartment. I need to figure out how to stop the water entrapment between the box and the frame cross member and fix the rust. I'm thinking I'll grind out the rusted weld and then fill the area with Sikaflex or something.

Al

[Pahaska]

Mine holds my sewer fittings, elbows, foam collar, and the like. I carry spare hose ends after I dropped a hose on concrete and broke an ear off the connector. If you have a Thetford outlet on your trailer, best either carry an extra end or a Thetford to Valterra adapter since most places do not carry Thetford hose parts.

[JCWDCW]

Mine holds the block for the jack and the jack foot. I used to keep a rag in there for wiping my hands of grease, but as noted it is a wet space. While traveling I also keep the Hensley cam wrench in it but not while in storage as it is not secure.
JCW

[NOAZRK2690]

Just get someone to tack weld whatever is wrong with it. Try sanding & cleaning the interior then brush on two coats of oil base aluminum paint by Rustoleum. Aluminum paint is also good for the rear bumper utility drawer. I use the box to store miscellaneous hitch parts, bearing grease, whatever. Not sure why anyone would want to cut the thing off.

[sandlapper]

I read once, somewhere, where it referred to as the flag box by Airstream. No matter what, it was intended for storage of things that could get wet.

On the late models it became the battery box as others have noted.

Make sense to store things in it that are used at the front of the trailer.

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by NOAZRK2690

Just get someone to tack weld whatever is wrong with it. Try sanding & cleaning the interior then brush on two coats of oil base aluminum paint by Rustoleum. Aluminum paint is also good for the rear bumper utility drawer. I use the box to store miscellaneous hitch parts, bearing grease, whatever. Not sure why anyone would want to cut the thing off.

My thought about cutting it off was I wasn't sure what it was used for and it appears to be trapping water between itself and the frame which is causing rust on the frame cross member.

I'll try some maintenance procedures first.

John, I saw in the Standard Equipment List that the trailer was supposed to have a flag storage box. I'm not sure I'd want to store flags in there, but I haven't found one anywhere else. It seems like a great place for chocks, grease, and the jack foot, however.

Al

[dznf0g]

My electric over hydraulic actuator is in there. I also keep a jack plate, grease gun and grease cartridges in there in a heavy zip lock bag.

[franklyfrank]

We had two new Airstreams.
28' and 30' Internationals and in both units that is where the batteries were.
It is battery box.

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

We had two new Airstreams.
28' and 30' Internationals and in both units that is where the batteries were.
It is battery box.

Sorry, in my trailer (2002) it is not deep enough to hold batteries. As Sandlapper (John) said, it evolved into a battery box, but in the 2002-era Classics, batteries are in two separate externally accessible compartments under the sofa.

Al

[badkat]

We have a 1999 28' Excella and our batteries are in doors of the trailer on each side of the propane tanks. We store stuff for the Hensley hitch in that box.

[ROBERT CROSS]

I got a BFH...(big fine hammer), pounded the bottom down, drilled a one inch hole in the center for a drain, put plastic drain tile on the bottom, ammo can tool box and 1 1/2 gal gas.

Oh..... and spray undercoat on the inside go the box.

Bob

[badkat]

Gas can behind propane tanks..not me.