second battery
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From: new york on a LOOONG island
second battery
anyone ever add a second battery to these trucks or see a need for it
and if so how did you do it ? where did you mount it ?
any pro's con's?
thanks
and if so how did you do it ? where did you mount it ?
any pro's con's?
thanks
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: new york on a LOOONG island
anyone?
i mean im asking cause i am adding front and rear led lights... and grill lights ... winch... maybe even a rear inverter/hidden winch...
so id like to take pressure off the main battery if needed
i mean im asking cause i am adding front and rear led lights... and grill lights ... winch... maybe even a rear inverter/hidden winch...
so id like to take pressure off the main battery if needed
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,383
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From: DuBois, Pa.
I have done it in most of the trucks I have owed! It is easy to do and now for the rest of the story!
Why would you need one? 1st biggest reason,,, audio.. IF you would like to listen to your stereo while you tail gate, detail your truck, drive in movie, little party with the guys and so on it is nice to be able to do so and still not have any issues starting your truck. For work you may want to run some type of tool using an inverter instead of buying a generator. So lets say for anything that requires battery power that you may need to use for a extended time without the worry of starting your truck.
PRO's... you will always be able to start your truck!
1. if you use a aux battery for your stereo it doesn't drain any charge from your primary battery thus you can start your truck.
2. lets say you leave your lights on which is connected to the primary battery and the next morning it won't start,,, well throw the switch and start your truck from the aux battery.
3. easier on your charging system when using large amp's.
4. connect things you normally would use for extended time , audio, bed lights, phone charger, 110v inverter
CON's
1. added cost
2. area needed (lost) for the battery depending on *what size and type*
* the type of battery and size is dependent on how much time you want to run your audio or bed lights and so on. In most cases you can choose a battery that is no bigger than a tractor or motorcycle battery. The acid free battery comes in those sizes and also can be installed anywhere be it outside or inside the truck. I use this type and can get over 2 hours of pounding music... I can leave the bed lights on all night and so on. It would fit behind the back seat which takes up very little space which mostly isn't used anyway.
here is a basic diagram for you to use. I use a inline weather proof fuse to size which goes with the draw of the amp in my case 80 amp fuse. I then use a circuit breaker on the other end for redundancy. the circuit breaker normally would go off before the fuse.
Why would you need one? 1st biggest reason,,, audio.. IF you would like to listen to your stereo while you tail gate, detail your truck, drive in movie, little party with the guys and so on it is nice to be able to do so and still not have any issues starting your truck. For work you may want to run some type of tool using an inverter instead of buying a generator. So lets say for anything that requires battery power that you may need to use for a extended time without the worry of starting your truck.
PRO's... you will always be able to start your truck!
1. if you use a aux battery for your stereo it doesn't drain any charge from your primary battery thus you can start your truck.
2. lets say you leave your lights on which is connected to the primary battery and the next morning it won't start,,, well throw the switch and start your truck from the aux battery.
3. easier on your charging system when using large amp's.
4. connect things you normally would use for extended time , audio, bed lights, phone charger, 110v inverter
CON's
1. added cost
2. area needed (lost) for the battery depending on *what size and type*
* the type of battery and size is dependent on how much time you want to run your audio or bed lights and so on. In most cases you can choose a battery that is no bigger than a tractor or motorcycle battery. The acid free battery comes in those sizes and also can be installed anywhere be it outside or inside the truck. I use this type and can get over 2 hours of pounding music... I can leave the bed lights on all night and so on. It would fit behind the back seat which takes up very little space which mostly isn't used anyway.
here is a basic diagram for you to use. I use a inline weather proof fuse to size which goes with the draw of the amp in my case 80 amp fuse. I then use a circuit breaker on the other end for redundancy. the circuit breaker normally would go off before the fuse.
Last edited by mamonti; Nov 20, 2013 at 10:26 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 677
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From: Southern California
On the older models you had so much room under the hood it was a simple add-on.
Now underhood is so crowded I don't think there is any way to add one there.
A custom made box to fit under the truck against the frame would probably be the best choice. We've done it on vans for about thirty years but have never tried to do it to a truck but it should be similar to the vans.
You basically need a u-shaped aluminum box large enough to hold a battery and fit between the frame and side rocker panel underneath. Add an L-bracket to hold the battery in place and your set.
You'll need to use a closed cell battery or take it down once a year to add fluids. Use an RV/Marine type deep cell battery so it can be discharged and recharged without ruining it.
Now underhood is so crowded I don't think there is any way to add one there.
A custom made box to fit under the truck against the frame would probably be the best choice. We've done it on vans for about thirty years but have never tried to do it to a truck but it should be similar to the vans.
You basically need a u-shaped aluminum box large enough to hold a battery and fit between the frame and side rocker panel underneath. Add an L-bracket to hold the battery in place and your set.
You'll need to use a closed cell battery or take it down once a year to add fluids. Use an RV/Marine type deep cell battery so it can be discharged and recharged without ruining it.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 224
From: DuBois, Pa.
Ok for you winch(s) if I read this right you may go with two. Well I doubt you would ever run both at the same time so just go with the one that has the biggest draw. Use this for you fuse size, as for the bed lights and so on they take very little power so the battery I am talking about would work for you. Now if you want something big as far as a winch you may want to use the method stated by Lost in Sync!