Home brew dual battery tray

[Pointdexter]

Batteries are dual optima yellowtops

I'm trying to make a dual battery tray for my 2008 tacoma. I know that C.O. makes one but for $165 for the damn thing and $44 shipping to canada, I seriously cannot just drop two hundred dollars on a plate of metal.


I've googled and all I'm finding is the C.O. tray all over the place. I've thought of placing one battery right near the air intake on the left hand side but it looks like it wont fit. Has anyone done the home brew side of this? or is there another location that I haven't thought of that would be good?

thanks in advance.

 

[lx450landcruiser]

I hear ya. I even gave it a go welding my own up on a end of the day dead line. I tried to stuff a full sized battery in next to the stock one. Gave up and just put it under the bed. its clean and WAY cheaper.

 

[enzo]

I have a brand new CO dual battery tray for a 2nd gen Tacoma sitting my basement still in the box if anyone is interested. I'm to lazy to send it back. I bought an FJ in January and no longer need it. I feel your pain on the whole battery tray thing. I ended up spending almost $200 on an ABR Sidewinder tray from Australia. I wanted my aux battery opposite my OEM one and that requires moving a few things over. In the end it was worth the money.

 

[Gregster]

Here's an idea: obtain an old road sign and cut out your own bracket to fit - one bottom, one top. You could hold them together with threaded rods and nuts. There are some good designs at tacomaworld that can be found with a search of that site. I got my most recent road sign from my local metal recycler, it was a partially burned stop sign. You can easily cut aluminum plate with a jigsaw using a coarse blade meant for wood (the fine tooth blades meant for steel gum up fast with aluminum) Wear safety glasses and gloves.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/1491-upgrade-battery-stuff.html

http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67738

Good reference material here:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/103969-electronics-basics-reference.html

 

[Finlay]

ATO is having a sale on their dual battery tray.

 

[Wainiha]

I thought ATO was sold.

 

[Finlay]

I thought ATO was sold.

It was. The new owner is the same guy that runs 4Xinnovations.

 

[CaliMobber]

I built my own tray for my 4runner. Just bought angle iron and cut and welded to size and drilled holes for strap. If you have access to the tool its pretty easy. takes a few hours but im proud of my build. its in my sig, i know its not the same rig but its all the same idea.

 

[SLOwag]

I had one customized to fit my '09 Tacoma. I believe it was an off the shelf tray for a mid sixties corvette. It was cheap and an easy mod. It's dark now but I could post a pictomorrow if there's any interest....

 

[Wainiha]

The seperate websites threw me. 4xInnovations had them combined for a little bit.

But back to dual batteries. I think if they are both in the stock location it will crack the fender w/o some reinforcement.