Dual battery options

[LaOutbackTrail]

Soon enough I will be working on a dual battery setup for the Monty.

A preliminary look under the hood, was not a shocker, not much/any room for a second battery in our cluttered and filled engine bay. The only dual battery setup that I have seen has been for a small battery placed in a custom bracket bolted to the passenger side firewall, as seen in this thread. This seems to be a more difficult location to mount a battery, but I'm not opposed to it.

But what are our other options?

 

[scrubber3]

Mount it on the roof..... J/K

 

[off-roader]

Grasscat mounted a small cell like that in his bed and uses it to power his fridge. To charge it he simply plugs it into the rear 12v plug while driving. I plan on doing the same setup.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Interesting. I guess I should have mentioned that the dual battery setup is needed primarily for winching and for running a fridge. Goal is be self sufficient for a jungle trek.

 

[Monterorider]

Hydraulics rule.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Is that what you have??? I thought about it, but then looked at the PS pump on the monty and its TINY! My 87 4runner's PS pump was at least double the size of the monty's.

If you have one, what model?

 

[off-roader]

Is that what you have??? I thought about it, but then looked at the PS pump on the monty and its TINY! My 87 4runner's PS pump was at least double the size of the monty's.

If you have one, what model?

One of my long time Mitsu enthusiast buddies has had a MileMarker hydraulic (the 12k IIRC) for years. Grasscat also has one. They PS pump provides sufficient volume/flow for one.

 

[jluck]

Have you thought about fitting two lithium ion battery's in the factory location? there about half size of a conventional acid battery and I know in my rig the "correct" battery given to my as a replacement from NAPA doesn't come close to filling the OE spot.I think there is ample room for two Ions's there and thats on my "to try" list.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

What sort of LI batteries would you get (source?). I've not heard of this before.

 

[jluck]

Here is one just pulled from internet
http://lithiumpros.com/?gclid=CJC6143ylq0CFQVvhwod_0WqlA

I think these were the ones I was looking into before.

GOOD GOD! THERE SPENDY!!!!!!!

 

[off-roader]

What sort of LI batteries would you get (source?). I've not heard of this before.

The one Grasscat has in the rear of his 98 is ~1/2 the size of the standard battery. Like I said it has enough capacity to power his fridge. IIRC, when charged up it also has enough power to start your engine. That said my plan is to use one in back to run my fridge at night then recharge it during the day while on the trail. If I need my winch I can drain my main battery (Costco Deep Cycle) and if needed restart my engine using the small battery.

Remember though, 90% of the time you're using your winch your engine will be running so assuming you're not stalling it out, it should die on you.