Thread: defender underseat storage box removal

I was thinking of doing something like this. I was going to cut the bottom off the tool box and rivet/sicaflex in a piece to lower the floor.

Pullsy, my batts are set up under the passengert seat. With both in place it becomes very cramped for working on. I think I may do a similar mod to what you have done. Sounds like a great idea. 8)

PS mine is an 02 Defender.

Tyrepower,
I started off with the same set up with two batteries under the passenger seat but the cramped space turned me off- the lack of room also necessitated buying a AGM deep cycle that I had to turn on it's side to fit. The AGM is $100 more expensive than a wet cell deep cycle so the cost of the box fabrication should be somewhat offset (over time) by cheaper replacement batteries. A part of the problem in the county is that the Isuzu motor was originally a 24 volt motor so I need to use a D70 (very big) conventional battery for starting further reducing the space in the passenger box.

RAR110,
Yours is a cheaper and easier method instead of a full replacement box. After seeing how easy the box is to take out I would take your out to make replacing the floor of the box easier. Being made of steel you could get a deeper base welded in and then the whole lot powder coated- just have to be careful as battery acid (and fumes) and steel can promote rust. Let me know how you go with this if you do it.

Pullsy

Originally posted by pullsy
Tyrepower,
I started off with the same set up with two batteries under the passenger seat but the cramped space turned me off- the lack of room also necessitated buying a AGM deep cycle that I had to turn on it's side to fit. The AGM is $100 more expensive than a wet cell deep cycle so the cost of the box fabrication should be somewhat offset (over time) by cheaper replacement batteries. A part of the problem in the county is that the Isuzu motor was originally a 24 volt motor so I need to use a D70 (very big) conventional battery for starting further reducing the space in the passenger box.Pullsy

I will still have to use the passenger side as the computer stuff is under the drivers side. However by making the box deeper it will make things easier to work on for what is really a small cost.
I will go for the AGM when the current set up dies.
Cheers Tyrepower

Tyrepower,
I don't know about on the newer defender models but the reason I have decided the driver side is due to the exhaust running down the passenger side of the vehicle and any deepening of the box had me concerned about the heat that could/would be transfered to the batteries and the potential cooking of them. Probably not an issue with the TD5. Good Luck.

Pullsy

Had not thought of that 8O 8O 8O Will have a look when I get home and see if it's possible. Even 20mm would make a huge difference for access.

A mate of mine did a very similar thing with his Defender TDi. What he did though after he took the bottom out was drop a stainless steel baking dish purchased from a kitchen shop and rivet that in and dropped the two large batteries in that. Left him with plenty of room.

He was rather proud of that idea and his handiwork.