P500 Battery Under Seat?

[Mudder]

Installed the $3 trash can, installed one yesterday after reading other posts for Cheap Underseat Storage.

 

[trigger]

Actually Honda sells an underseat storage compartment for that space.

I think you could fit both if you wanted too.

Looks like the side cover cost may be worth it to experiment with the OEM side cover for drawer front

I would try to find a way to hinge that panel.
You could enclose everything behind it, would be like a cubby storage on an RV or bus.

 

[Deleted member 3748]

I've thought about having a battery in that spot as well. You have great ideas for making it work. I find myself accessing the engine through that hole frequently. I haven't fully figured out your plan yet but I'd make sure it's easily removable so you can get in there. I know you want your batt. cables to be as short as possible, but maybe an extra foot of cables so it's not a pain in the ass to get the battery out of the way?

I'm curious to see your design because I want to see your idea for having the underseat storage AND a battery in there. Very interesting!!

 

[trigger]

I've thought about having a battery in that spot as well. You have great ideas for making it work. I find myself accessing the engine through that hole frequently. I haven't fully figured out your plan yet but I'd make sure it's easily removable so you can get in there. I know you want your batt. cables to be as short as possible, but maybe an extra foot of cables so it's not a pain in the ass to get the battery out of the way?

I'm curious to see your design because I want to see your idea for having the underseat storage AND a battery in there. Very interesting!!

Yeah, I plan to have some extra cable for just that reason. The cover I put on is removable, the plan is to wire the battery up, in the box, on the ground and then just lift it up and into a fixed tray. Strap it up and zip tie the extra cable back.

 

[Mudder]

Found this waterproof 10 in. square box at surplus store, couldn't resist buying it. Thinking about side mount, goes with my green machine. Just the right size for side panel and 7.5 in. depth fits up against 3 gal. trash can from underseat hole. Just a thought.

 

[saleen722]

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[saleen722]

I stuck my second battery under the hood. Fits great and I put rubber around the casing. I stuck the charger cable along the side of the post for hide away charging.

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[Buford]

They do now.. just got one today! It's absurdly over priced. But oh well!

Those have been available since the introduction of the P500. Honda is great about way overpricing their accessories.

 

[Jshell3]

I know right? That's why I can't believe no one had done this yet.
Been eyeing that framing member with the holes, there are also two horizontal pieces that run front to back on either side of seat area, kinda tucked up in there. Could use those to hang a tray from, access the box through the hole.
Here's the cover that I made so it's not getting all that mud from the wheel well. Has a hole drilled in it at the top to accept the seat belt bolt too, it's solid.
View attachment 39411 View attachment 39412 Rolled it under the bar just a little bit at the bottom.

That looks good @trigger !

 

[JTW]

Those have been available since the introduction of the P500. Honda is great about way overpricing their accessories.

Yes.. I wasn't paying attention to this being a 500 thread. They just came out with it for the 1000.

 

[trigger]

Battery box and 4 ga. welding cables delivered today. Searched all over for a metal battery tray, going to make one out of garage door angle steel. Thought about buying a welder to make one but this stuff will work and is way cheaper.

 

[trigger]

Tried fitting the box through the hole and it went through but was real, real tight. That meant I couldn't access it or service it that way, so I just went from the bottom. Fabbed up the tray and mounted it, pretty easy really and plenty of room leftover, nothing wrong with having some room. Just cut one side of the angle and bent corners, then bolted, it's solid. Two bolts down through the frame, one through the side into vertical 1 1/4" square. Dry fit the box to make sure everything would work, then pulled everything out, all under paint now.
Gotta get a battery and hope to have it wired up tomorrow.

 

[Chooglin]

Looks great @trigger , it looks like that will work out nice !

 

[Deleted member 3748]

Looks great!! What are you going to use for hold downs? Some threaded rod with a hook bent into the end may work. I'm going to check out some marine suppliers.

 

[Deleted member 3748]

No luck at West Marine. At Jegs, however...

Battery Tray | JEGS

 

[trigger]

No luck at West Marine. At Jegs, however...

Battery Tray | JEGS

Yeah, I saw those. All too big for a U1 battery though, and those are set up to hold an uncovered battery, I wanted one in a box. Like on a travel trailer, just strap the box in around the tray. I plan to put two around this one though.
Bought a Die Hard Gold last night, 340 cca and a 1yr warranty, $54 with a core trade.

 

[Deleted member 3748]

Nice! You have this all figured out. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product!

 

[Mudder]

May have to order online. Hope you can find one locally.

 

[trigger]

I'm curious to see your design because I want to see your idea for having the underseat storage AND a battery in there. Very interesting!!

Had no intention on doing that originally. I don't use that space for storage and now it houses the second battery. Picked up this bottle jack at wally world, like $22. I have other bottle jacks but this came with a case. 6.5"x 10.5"x 4.5". It's going to fit in that space too and it fits through the factory hole under seat. Just have to figure out how I want to mount it, needs to be independent of the battery mount.

 

[Deleted member 3748]

I changed my oil on Saturday and was looking around while I waited for the drain. You're right, @trigger , there's a ton of room under the seat!