Post by: tracker on October 18, 2015, 12:43:04 AM
I recently had black widow drawers fitted into my BT50 dual cab as well as an aux. battery only to discover yesterday that the weight of the battery along with trip to Cape York has busted the spot welds and opened up the floor of the dual cab where the battery is fitted.....I know it's not the fault of the company who fitted the dual battery and the drawers ...But I'm just making people who are contemplating fitting dual batteries in there vehicle aware of the fact that you will have to consider strengthening the floor where the battery is going to be fitted.....My problem is now trying to work out where to take my BT50 to have this problem rectified....Panel beater ???? Sheet metal guy's ??.......Any suggestions from the swaggers experts ??????....
Cheers from a not so happy Tracker.... :'( :'(
Post by: Diesel Power on October 18, 2015, 02:58:09 AM
By the way, it's dual. Dual means two, duel requires pistols and walking, haha.
Regards
Angus
Post by: tracker on October 18, 2015, 05:49:27 AM
A panel beater will be able to fix this up for you and give it a coat of paint as well.
By the way, it's dual. Dual means two, duel requires pistols and walking, haha.
Regards
Angus
Sorry about my grammar mate....!!..But i can lift heavy things...hehehe... ;D ;D
Cheers Tracker.
Post by: scarpsD40 on October 18, 2015, 06:02:34 AM
Post by: HEM19X on October 18, 2015, 06:28:06 AM
I am guessing that you mounted yours in front of the Black Widow Drawers, so would recommend inserting the biggest bit of Ply you can.
Regards
Hem
Post by: tracker on October 18, 2015, 06:35:16 AM
Tracker, when I fitted my Aux. Battery, it was mounted on a large piece of Ply.. to spread the load.
I am guessing that you mounted yours in front of the Black Widow Drawers, so would recommend inserting the biggest bit of Ply you can.
Regards
Hem
Thanks for the advise mate.....That was what i was thinking also....TJM put a tray under the battery but that obviously wasn't enough....The battery was fitted inside the wing area behind the wheel arch...
Thanks again Hem.
Cheers Tracker.
Post by: Cracka on October 18, 2015, 07:21:15 AM
Post by: sol on October 18, 2015, 08:02:23 AM
When I put the Battery in the back of the Colorado I put a piece of 17mm ply under the battery as well.
Good luck mate with the repairs.
Do you have to pull the drawers out to repair it?
:cheers:
Post by: tracker on October 18, 2015, 11:40:08 AM
Cheers Tracker.
Post by: GregP on October 18, 2015, 12:39:22 PM
Greg P
Post by: KingBilly on October 18, 2015, 12:47:22 PM
From what I read above, the battery is behind the wheel arch? Correct? How was the battery tray attached to the tub?
KB
Post by: tracker on October 19, 2015, 02:01:46 AM
Got any photos?Yes KB......Battery is fitted behind the wheel arch in the side wing area...battery tray i think is bolted to floor ...i haven't touched it yet until i let the guys have a look...
From what I read above, the battery is behind the wheel arch? Correct? How was the battery tray attached to the tub?
KB
Cheers Tracker.
Post by: V8CRSA on October 19, 2015, 07:14:57 AM
Tracker,
Sporty to hear about your troubles, I hope you had a good trip to balance out the dramas ?
It's a shame that the current drop of twin cabs aren't build to be just a little bit tougher as they are so popular and you hear so many failures.
Good luck getting yours repaired, I hope the installer comes to the party. You should be able to find a good panel shop to repair the damage and they may be able to put some extra meat under it to prevent future damage. Have you cant acted your dealer to see if they have a tub they removed from a new ute ? They often sell them cheaply.
Matt :cheers:
Post by: KingBilly on October 19, 2015, 08:23:18 AM
Yes KB......Battery is fitted behind the wheel arch in the side wing area...battery tray i think is bolted to floor ...i haven't touched it yet until i let the guys have a look...
Cheers Tracker.
That's unfortunate. When they bolted the battery tray down did they use some large flat washers, something like 50mm square plate washers underneath the tray? You need to spread the load in that area as it is only sheet metal. A better alternative would be to move the battery in front of the axle. Maybe shorten one drawer and put it up front in that space. I have my battery and water tank mounted forward of the axle with no issues.
KB
Post by: tracker on October 19, 2015, 04:27:28 PM
Just spoke to the suppliers ...They are going to replace the tub..... ;D ;D...I recon that deserves a ... :cup: :cup: :cup:
Cheers Tracker.
Post by: V8CRSA on October 19, 2015, 04:29:22 PM
G'Day,
Just spoke to the suppliers ...They are going to replace the tub..... ;D ;D...I recon that deserves a ... :cup: :cup: :cup:
Cheers Tracker.
That's great news, just shows there are still some company's that stand behind their work. :cheers:
Matt
Post by: tracker on October 19, 2015, 04:35:21 PM
That's great news, just shows there are still some company's that stand behind their work. :cheers:
Matt
Yep...TJM will certinally get my recommendations ..... :cup: :cup:
Cheers Tracker.
Post by: Patr80l on October 19, 2015, 05:05:59 PM
Sounds like you guys are having a grammar duelGrammar: the difference between knowing your Shit and knowing you're Shit.
Post by: scarpsD40 on October 19, 2015, 05:24:07 PM
Grammar: the difference between knowing your Sh*t and knowing you're Sh*t.fixed the spelling for you;D
Post by: KingBilly on October 19, 2015, 05:54:49 PM
G'Day,
Just spoke to the suppliers ...They are going to replace the tub..... ;D ;D...I recon that deserves a ... :cup: :cup: :cup:
Cheers Tracker.
Wow that is great sevice :cup:
KB
Post by: Moggy on October 19, 2015, 06:00:16 PM
Got any photos?X2 for the pics.
From what I read above, the battery is behind the wheel arch? Correct? How was the battery tray attached to the tub?
KB
Cos that sounds like where mine is & it ain't in no tray, there is a battery box but the battery sits directly on the tub.
What did TJM do to make it their responsibility ???
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Post by: Diesel Power on October 20, 2015, 02:40:14 PM
Post by: wilson79 on October 20, 2015, 03:11:28 PM
As you know I have also returned from the cape and had no issues at all with the tub being damaged due to the battery
Post by: tracker on October 31, 2015, 04:35:31 AM
I now have a new tub on BT50......Tjm fitted it yesterday :cup: :cup:...Battery now fitted on top of drawer system and not down on the floor in the wing area of drawer system. Once again big thanks to TJM for the replacement.....Any after market 4X4 gear i will need will most definitely be purchased from these guys..... ;D ;D
Cheers Tracker.
Post by: tracker on October 31, 2015, 04:38:44 AM
Before
Post by: Metters on October 31, 2015, 07:34:48 PM
What did TJM do to make it their responsibility ???
Good question. All of their engineering advice and extensive off road testing would have proven beyond any doubt that this particular section of the tub floor would have easily supported the weight of a very heavy yet relatively small object like a battery as it was being bounced up and down on rough roads. They do get engineering advice and carry out extensive testing don't they?
The next question is have Black Widow designed the top of their draws to support the weight of a battery? I doubt it because there would be no need to.
There might be another replacement coming up soon.
Post by: tracker on November 01, 2015, 01:21:29 AM
The next question is have Black Widow designed the top of their draws to support the weight of a battery? I doubt it because there would be no need to.
I'm just wondering where you think anyone should install an aux. battery the back of a similar vehicle.....??????...... ??? ??? ???.......Questions are easy !! solutions aren't.....Just saying
Cheers Tracker.
Post by: Moggy on November 01, 2015, 01:55:06 PM
The next question is have Black Widow designed the top of their draws to support the weight of a battery? I doubt it because there would be no to.
Mate, seriously dont think it would be an issue. I have a set in my work van & stack boxxes of Sika, drums of membrane & a compressor on my drawers without any problems.
The ply in mine is 18mm
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Post by: dales133 on November 01, 2015, 02:03:38 PM
Grammar: the difference between knowing your Shit and knowing you're Shit.Grammar, shes upstairs havin a lay down
Post by: Bill on November 01, 2015, 02:07:59 PM
I cant answer about Black Widow drawers, but my Outback drawers had 2 good sized Marine batteries and a charger side by side on the top for about 3 years before I moved it all into the camper trailer. Never had a problem.
The next question is have Black Widow designed the top of their draws to support the weight of a battery? I doubt it because there would be no need to.
I'm just wondering where you think anyone should install an aux. battery the back of a similar vehicle.....??????...... ??? ??? ???.......Questions are easy !! solutions aren't.....Just saying
Cheers Tracker.
Bill
Post by: Metters on November 01, 2015, 08:54:40 PM
Mate, seriously dont think it would be an issue.
You are most likely right. My point is a battery was placed in a location that would not support it and it resulted in a structural failure in the car and a lot of inconvenience for a customer. You can forgive an owner installing it like that at home but a major company like TJM should have known better.
If that is the only suitable location to put it then they should have some kind of properly engineered cradle or whatever under it that spreads the load.
In the case of the draws I am assuming TJM put it there. Once again are they absolutely certain everything will be ok or are they assuming it will be ok?
Post by: cheif carlos on November 01, 2015, 10:39:52 PM
Post by: Metters on November 02, 2015, 08:28:00 PM
I would have considered it a design fault from Mazda/etc, given spread across the tray you can load 800-900kg's (allowing for driver/passenger, the 20-30kg's over that space should be ok????
I doubt it. In my days in the motor industry, I saw a few car bodies cracked by under bonnet dual battery conversions. Nobody was suggesting a design fault. That amount of weight was not supposed to be in that position.
The maximum carrying capacity of that tub would most likely be no more than 500 kgs. The five seats have been designed to carry five big people, not five jockeys. That would account for another 500 kgs. I have a 30 kg battery in my camper that looks like a similar size to this particular one. If you were to cover the entire tub floor with them, it would be way overloaded. That would mean the floor area under each battery would be overloaded. If you reduced the weight of each battery until the tub was down to maximum capacity, chances are no part of the floor would be overloaded and we would not have this problem.
The only people who could answer this question is Mazda's engineers. I would have thought any large national company would only have to contact Mazda and they would get the correct answer. It would be in Mazda's interest to assist them.
Post by: tracker on November 03, 2015, 04:56:47 AM
I think this one should be put to bed.... TJM are happy....Customer is happy.......ZZZZZZZZZZ
Cheers Tracker.
Post by: sol on November 03, 2015, 05:11:44 AM
Notch Point this weekend?
:cheers:
Post by: tracker on November 03, 2015, 05:28:49 AM
Good news mate, glad you got it fixed. :cup:
Notch Point this weekend?
:cheers:
Yes Mate...Really looking forward to it...3 days... :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
When are you coming down so we can plan a trip there .
Cheers Tracker.
Post by: 4wd26 on November 03, 2015, 07:48:30 AM
it could have been a bad day on the robot welder, or there is a lack of welding in this area of the tub on the mazda, don't matter but I'm now wary?
I was thinking that this location was perfect on my dual cab, in fact have mounted a portable battery in this location, strapped down.
why strapped down- well I stuffed a "thumper battery box" in the rear of the dual cab when not held down, quite a lot of pendulum forces in the rear of a dual cab behind the axle.
lesson learnt and further gained from this thread, especially as I was looking at a 150ah battery
have to rethink the design and placement of the battery tray
Post by: Beachman on November 03, 2015, 08:32:35 AM
Maybe I was lucky as I got 9 trouble free years including a trip to the Cape. I have also helped another couple of friends install their 2nd battery in exactly the same spot and they also haven’t had any trouble to date.
Maybe Tracker just got unlucky, but all that counts is it’s been fixed.