The battery box is sealed and vented, so that's why it's blocked off.  You would need to remove the battery to get at it, so it's really not practical.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Marc Perdue [mailto:mcperdue@gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 10:21 AM
To: Stuart MacMillan
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Strongbox center console

Yeah, the installation instructions have a template that you need to use to cut the sheet metal prior to install:
http://www.rockymountainwesty.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/drawertemplate.pdf

Marc

On Tue, May 19, 2015 at 12:46 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
> There is no opening under the seat on the passenger side in my '85 Westy, only on the driver's side.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marc Perdue [mailto:mcperdue@gmail.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 9:11 AM
> To: Stuart MacMillan
> Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> Subject: Re: Strongbox center console
>
> The driver's and passenger's side version are the same dimension, so I suspect they're designed to fit in the space in front of the battery boxes.
>
> Marc Perdue
>
> On Tue, May 19, 2015 at 12:03 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Will those work with a second battery? I'm thinking of GW's set up with the small battery they use (purchased locally).  I don't think you'll be able to open it without removing the battery.
>>
>> Stuart
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On 
>> Behalf Of Jeffrey Vickers
>> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2015 10:34 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Strongbox center console
>>
>> IMHO, nothing says “please break into my van” better than a large, conspicuous black box that looks like s safe sitting in plain view.
>>
>> If I needed a lock box, I’d consider this concealed version:
>> http://www.rockymountainwesty.com/Locking_Storage_Drawer_Front_Driver
>> s
>> _Seat_p/rmw-lsd01dr.htm
>>
>>
>>> On May 18, 2015, at 9:00 PM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote:
>>>
>>> Date:    Mon, 18 May 2015 12:56:07 -0700
>>> From:    Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
>>> Subject: Strongbox center console
>>>
>>> First time I've seen this. Maybe I'm late to the party, but I wanted 
>>> to pass it on anyway:
>>> http://vanagonlife.bigcartel.com/product/locking-steel-center-consol
>>> e
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Stuart
>