Hi All,

2017 XLT screw cab, 3.5L, off road pkg. Topper and bedrug on/in the bed.

Any experience with this out there? Where exactly, kind of tray to purchase, etc?

I dont see any space under the hood, and I've seen suggestions of under the wheel wells or thereabouts.

I'm retired recently and plan a good bit of traveling across the country visiting dispersed relatives and friends and plan to walmart-camp in the bed while traveling. For cold nights I'll be using a 12V electric blanket inside my sleeping bag and will not use the main battery for this.

Thanks for any advice/help.

 

Mine is inside the bed, but under a commercial ARE topper. Keep in mind, it's not as simple as just paralleling a second battery or tossing an isolator in. These trucks use battery state-of-charge monitoring. You'll have to work with or disable that system.

 

Buy a backpacker air mattress and down sleeping bag rated for the lowest temps you expect.

I sometimes camp with temps around 10-15F and its plenty warm in the right down bag.

 

I would go this route if I was doing it.

Otherwise I'd consider getting some of those warning pants and coats you see the tool companies make -that uses the tool battery to run.

Dewalt and Milwaukee make these. Couple of their bigger battery packs say Dewalt 5AH packs - and a charger. Charge them up when you get wherever you're going - don't bother charging in the truck, though you could.

and easy peasy.


Finally if your set on using a electric blanket and the car battery - Get a fully covered battery box and mount in the bed. Be careful how you mount with the AL bed - IE drilling, coating the holes, using the right screws etc.

Run a set of wires up to the front to wire into the battery charging circuit in such a way as you have a disconnect setup. Thus when you stop for the night - pull the disconnect - so your bed battery is fully disconnected from the vehicle - and thus doesn't interrupt the battery conditions monitoring system for the main truck battery.

I would do either of the other options first however.

 

@larryroohr = Here is where someone else posted about this same issue with another F150.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/el...d-battery.html

 

I mounted my second battery on the inside of the frame rail...tucked nicely away

 

Thanks everyone.

It's more than just the blanket though. I'll also want to install my amateur radio at some point. Plus I'm retiring my 87 chevy I bought new 30 years ago in which I've always had a spare deep cycle which I've appreciated having more than once over the years. Holy crap have things changed never mind 11mpg going up to 20 with way more performance.

For charging I came across a marine dc-dc controller in another thread thats not cheap, but accounts for different types of batteries and will work well with our battery management systems.

I wont mess with the aluminum as I know nothing about it, I want to do any drilling and attaching to the frame.

I guess I could just go get a girlfriend to keep me warm, but those get expensive (kidding, just kidding).

So if I'm successful as TimelessR1 has been I'll update back here.

Thanks guys.

 

Look in your manual. I use the 7 prong trailer plug to charge my dump trailer battery while driving. You may have to plug a small cheater test light in the 4way plug to turn on the (Orange Battery +, and white -) in the 7 prong connector. Then route wires into a secured boat battery box in the bed of the truck.



Trailer Towing Connector
When attaching the trailer wiring connector to your vehicle, only use a proper fitting connector that works with the vehicle and trailer functions. Some seven-position connectors may have the SAE J2863 logo, which confirms that it is the proper wiring connector and works correctly with your vehicle.

Color Function Yellow Left turn signal and stop lamp White Ground (-) Blue Electric brakes Green Right turn signal and stop lamp Orange Battery (+)* Brown Running lights Grey Reverse lights

Recognizing a Trailer

1. Attach the trailer and wiring connector to your vehicle.

1. Switch on your vehicle.

1. Press the brake pedal for a few seconds.

A confirmation message appears in the information display. See General Information.

 

I'd put a quality solar unit on the roof of your topper.

 

I mounted my second battery behind the rear driver’s side seat, with the DC to DC charger. My application is for ham radio, and it works very very well. I’d look at mounting a box to the frame rail under the front part of the bed. Then use the charger to connect the positives, and then negatives just to the frame. The charger will limit your inrush current to under 30 amps, so you can make do with slightly smaller wire than if you just connected them together, plus it will keep your battery in good shape. Because of our auto start/stop stuff (if equipped), you will need an ignition controlled circuit to keep it from dropping out and having troubles (find a fuse to tap off).