Hey Everyone,
I have a 2011 Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab truck and there is no good way to add a second, large, deep cycle battery under the hood. To get around this, in the next few months, I'm going to install a CTEK 20A offroad battery system in the bed of my truck to serve as a DC-DC charger and MPPT solar charger for the main battery and a deep cycle "house" battery. I want to get a Deep Cycle AGM battery and mount it in the bed of my truck (which has a topper). Even though AGM are "sealed" it is my understanding that they still need to be able to be vented in the case of gas buildup. With this in mind, what is the best, safest way to mount the battery? Some ideas I've had:
1) Get a battery tray similar to this one and install it solidly in the bed of the truck. Install battery, cover terminals with appropriate terminal covers to prevent shorting, and call it a day. If just venting to the inside of the topper is "good enough" than this would work.
2) Install the battery is some sort of vented marine battery box like this one attach the box firmly (probably via good ratchet straps to facilitate easy removal).
3) Get a hardcore sealed and vented battery box like this or this , install securely, and vent to the outside of the topper (drill a hole and seal the hose up real good).
Opinions? Suggestions? I feel like an AGM should mitigate most of the issues I could run into with a standard flooded cell (certainly no spilling), but I want to make sure its vented appropriately. I've already got a Minkotta battery center, so that would certainly save some money.
Thanks!
I have a 2011 Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab truck and there is no good way to add a second, large, deep cycle battery under the hood. To get around this, in the next few months, I'm going to install a CTEK 20A offroad battery system in the bed of my truck to serve as a DC-DC charger and MPPT solar charger for the main battery and a deep cycle "house" battery. I want to get a Deep Cycle AGM battery and mount it in the bed of my truck (which has a topper). Even though AGM are "sealed" it is my understanding that they still need to be able to be vented in the case of gas buildup. With this in mind, what is the best, safest way to mount the battery? Some ideas I've had:
1) Get a battery tray similar to this one and install it solidly in the bed of the truck. Install battery, cover terminals with appropriate terminal covers to prevent shorting, and call it a day. If just venting to the inside of the topper is "good enough" than this would work.
2) Install the battery is some sort of vented marine battery box like this one attach the box firmly (probably via good ratchet straps to facilitate easy removal).
3) Get a hardcore sealed and vented battery box like this or this , install securely, and vent to the outside of the topper (drill a hole and seal the hose up real good).
Opinions? Suggestions? I feel like an AGM should mitigate most of the issues I could run into with a standard flooded cell (certainly no spilling), but I want to make sure its vented appropriately. I've already got a Minkotta battery center, so that would certainly save some money.
Thanks!