Anyone have a Kodiak Dual Battery System on Their Yota?

[cbradley]

Since my stock battery is on its last leg, I figured I would look into the possibility of a dual battery setup. I saw the Kodiak Dual Battery System at the Pomona Offroad Show last weekend, which looks rather compelling.

Rmarz and a couple other people are running them on their LJs and seem to like them. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11809

I was curious if anyone was running them on an FJ, Tacoma or 4Runner.

 

[cbradley]

I forgot to provide the link. http://www.kodiakinc.com/dual_battery.html I believe the FJ/4Runner/Tacoma kit runs off two Odyssey PC1200s.

 

[Cobra_R]

Looks cool. I've been thinking of doing a dual battery set up and this looks like its relatively painfree. How do you order it? I guess you have to contact them for pricing and other info....

 

[cbradley]

They only sell the setup as a complete kit, including the batteries. The one for the 4Runner is about $800. You have to call them to order it.

 

[pkelly72]

check out dirt parts from cruiser larry. ask if he has any old set ups available

 

[cbradley]

Will do. Looks like his website is down right now.

 

[J-man]

larry - that guy is nutz bout his FJ. great little shop in culver city off washington blvd tho.

 

[pkelly72]

give him a call

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Does the stated $800 seem incredibly high for two batteries, an isolator and some cables? I don't have that much in my 4-battery installation with a kusmaul relay isolator, as used on emergency response vehicles.....

 

[pkelly72]

yes it does. Optima yellow top $170, dual battery kit - painless $130, battery tray and straps $30...total about $350

 

[Cobra_R]

Yea 800 seemed a bit steep to me as well. What makes the kit that expensive?

 

[cbradley]

While a dual battery setup can be done for the cost you noted, the Kodiak one, which consists of two new batteries (which is how they both fit in the stock location, the strength of the kit) is likely something more along these lines:

(2) Odyssey PC-1200 batteries $320 ($160 ea.)

Custom battery tray $75 (W.A.G. here, but the one in the kit appears to be very well made and I am guessing that is the approximate cost for fabbing one in low volume).

Isolator, controller and accessories $300 (looks like a very similar product to the WranglerNW kit in the Winter 2008 OJ, so I used that number).

Total $695

If my numbers are correct, that leaves 13% for profit and overhead, including the design and support of the kit. That seems pretty reasonable for a low volume product of this sort.

My guess is that if you had to have the tray made it would cost you about $125. So you could probably save about $50 bucks or so on a DIY kit that is similar to the Kodiak. For $50 bucks I don't think it is worth the trouble or the loss of an opportunity to support someone that is making this kind of stuff.

One can do other types of dual battery systems cheaper, I just don't think you can do this one much cheaper. That said, if anyone has a lead on any of the above mentioned items at a much cheaper cost, please share. I would love to find out that I am way off on my estimate.

 

[pkelly72]

I think your right on given that you use this system. As you already know, there are a lot of other options.

I've been very happy with the dirty parts set-up and a yellow top. It runs a compressor, aux fuel pump, and a waeco. No problems at all.

 

[cbradley]

I guess what you are really paying for is that second battery to be able to fit everything into the stock location. It is a great setup for that. It is a lot of money though. I had hoped to spread out the cost and buy the tray and one battery for now (since I have to replace my stock battery), but sadly they only sell it as a kit.

What I am most likely to do now is replace the stock battery with either the Odyssey 34R-PC1500 or the Sears version and then add a PC1200 behind the air filter. I am not sure what the consequences of running two different batteries are though (and in which configurations). Since the Kodiak setup is unlikely to work for me since I need to replace a battery now, I most likely will end up going the National Luna route for the isolator and controller. The ultimate cost for everything ends up being about the same. The plus of going that route is a higher net capacity, while the negatives are the additional space eaten up in the engine bay and whatever difficulties emerge from having two different batteries.

 

[esh]

I have been looking at the various ways of controlling dual batteries and am going to try out a high amp marine voltage-sensing relay. It runs about $150 (cheaper on ebay) and the 300A continuous relay includes a switch, which makes it something like an HD solenoid + HD marine switch in one.

Writeup I saw for this setup- http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/forum2/showthread.php?t=11009

I also found a more convenient dual battery meter (I like actual numbers) and went with it over the Luna monitor- http://www.rgb007.com/product_disp.php?type_id=15&product_id=92 found it on ebay as well

As for cables, I'd bought a HD crimper years ago and a local RV battery service place carries a variety of wire sizes, including 1/0, and all the copper lugs to go with for pretty reasonable.

Total cost in a stainless tray ($85), Sears Plat group 34($200), VSR($150), meter($65), and cable stuff (~$50) works out to $550.