Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

Wall Construction and Fasteners- Cargo Bays

September 02, 2022, 06:08:58 pm

Hello all.

Can anyone tell me about the wall construction within the "house battery" cargo bay?  On my coach this is the bay which contains the fuel tank on the drivers side.  The exact wall I would like to know about is the dividing wall between this bay and the next bay on the drivers side.

I would appreciate advice on the type of screws (including length) etc. as I am preparing the installation of a back board which will have the components needed for my new LiFePO4 batteries.  I do not see any through bolt fastening so I assume a lag or wood screw will be appropriate. 

I will be installing the following on the back board-
1.  Battery positive disconnect switch.
2.  Smart "shunt" for the negative cable.
3.  Positive busbar
4.  Negative busbar
5.  Battery #1 ANL fuse block (each battery will wire to the busbars.)
6.  Battery #2 ANL fuse block
7.  ANL Fuse block on the line side of the positive busbar.
8.  2-Pole breaker/disconnect for solar array output cables
9.  MPPT Controller
10. MPPT controller "output to battery" fuse block

I am going to build the board in my garage and then take it out to install in the coach.  I will most likely use marine grade plywood possibly using sheet metal veneer.

Thanks.

-FT

Quote Selected

Re: Wall Construction and Fasteners- Cargo Bays

Reply #1 – September 02, 2022, 06:31:53 pm

Use a magnet to locate steel box beams in the walls.

Quote Selected

Re: Wall Construction and Fasteners- Cargo Bays

Reply #2 – September 02, 2022, 07:59:32 pm

Thank you Brett.

I really haven't delved too much into how these things are put together structurally.  What is the fiberglass installed on?  Is it some type of lath or furring, which is attached to the box beam, then they fiberglass?

Anyway- I appreciate your response.  I haven't noticed your posts lately.  I usually check for your stuff.

-FT

Quote Selected

Re: Wall Construction and Fasteners- Cargo Bays

Reply #3 – September 02, 2022, 09:20:53 pm

I cut a hole through a cargo bay wall to gain access to the area behind our water heater.  The link below will contain some photos that may help you understand the bay wall construction.  It is a simple "sandwich" consisting of two thin (but strong) sheets of fiberglass material with foam in the middle.  As Brett mentioned, the "bones" of the walls is a framework of square steel tubing.  A simple "stud finder" magnet will easily locate these steel components.  For maximum strength, you should try to attach your back board with good quality sheet metal screws that penetrate the steel tubing.

Behind the Water Heater Access Port

Quote Selected

Re: Wall Construction and Fasteners- Cargo Bays

Reply #4 – September 02, 2022, 09:34:11 pm

Thank you very much Chuck.  That is really helpful to me.

So it looks to me like it is a foam insulating material installed between the box beam structure.  Some self tapping screws should work fine.

I tend to worry about things like what am I going to drill a screw in to.  You know a water pipe, some wiring, etc.

Great photos.

Best to you.

-FT

Quote Selected

Re: Wall Construction and Fasteners- Cargo Bays

Reply #5 – September 02, 2022, 09:35:28 pm

I mounted my solar controller in the location you are talking about. I went through the wall and used large area washers in the next bay. Reply #1 has the components mounted on both sides of the coach.


final solar upgrad.

Quote Selected