2005 Jeep LJ Rubicon Dual Battery Install

rmarz

Adventurer
February 2008, a successful (well, operational) installation of a Kodiak Dual Battery System in my 2005 Jeep LJ Rubicon. With info gleaned from Expo members and Stu-Off Road I chose to purchase and install the system, despite my being an ‘end user’ type and not a ‘wrench turner’ type of person.

With much debate over the cost, all it took was one dead battery to seal the deal and place the order. I am not sure why the Optima red top decided that that day was when it would fail, but fail it did after two years of good service.

The install: Pretty straight forward, amazingly the two PC1200’s fit with about a 16th of an inch to spare. If done over I would have ran some 550 cord under the second battery while dropping it onto the battery tray in order to allow it to be moved easier into its final position. After the battery was in place, I could have pulled the cord out.

Once the batteries were in place there was nothing left but the harness, right?

Wrong , my non electrical comprehending brain was in complete confusion and after reading the instructions several times I could still not get the management system to work properly.

The solution: Call tech support and declare my ignorance, Tech Support to the rescue! It seems I had been provided an ’extra’ part. A Toyota FJ connector to be exact in my Jeep kit, and I had of course hooked it up just like it belonged in a Jeep. Once the good folks at Kodiak had determined what I had done I was up and running in no time.

Conclusion: I purchased the kit so that I could self jump my engine and not worry about having the Engel run all night. I chose the Kodiak System after doing some research and concluding that the Kodiak was the right set up for me. The instructions were a little hard to follow for a layperson like myself but I managed. I have not had much time to field test the system but I am confidant it will perform as designed. I am glad I bought the kit and I am glad I have the insurance of an extra battery.

www.stu-offroad.com

www.kodiakinc.com

 

Trail Monkey

Adventurer, Overland Certified OC0014
i also have the same system in my 05 LJ.. nice job installing.. mine has worked well for the past year..
 

rmarz

Adventurer
Thanks.

I tried to make the install as clean looking as possible, but due to cable lengths and my desire to have all accessories run off of the main battery, it turned out a little cluttered. The rubber protector for the main battery positive terminal is a kind of rubber home made thing, but better than a short.

After dropping the second battery into the tray and the struggle to get it into position, I am not sure how I would get it out, it is a very tight fit.
 

Andrew Walcker

Mod Emeritus
Nicely done! Richard let me know if you need any battery parts (rubber boots in red or black, military terminal clamps, etc.). I have some left overs from my installation.
 

rmarz

Adventurer
Andrew Walcker said:
Nicely done! Richard let me know if you need any battery parts (rubber boots in red or black, military terminal clamps, etc.). I have some left overs from my installation.

Andrew, thanks for the offer. The next time we meet up you can take a look and let me know what you think. My homemade contraption will protect the positive terminal for now, but something a little more professional looking would be great, thanks again for the offer. I have one used compression strap that needs to find its way back to you at the same time.
 

rmarz

Adventurer
Andrew Walcker said:
No problems, we REALLY need to sit by a fire with a cold Sam Adams soon:26_7_2:

Well now, put that way.......I am thinking at least two days of counseling to cover the Intricacies of shade tree electrical system installs.
 
Thats my install on Stu's site and I've now had that kit in place for close to a year and a half with no issues. It works as claimed but its disappointing to hear that the instructions are still not up to par...that was my beef with the kit as well. Looks good :)
 

rmarz

Adventurer
“Thats my install on Stu's site and I've now had that kit in place for close to a year and a half with no issues. It works as claimed but its disappointing to hear that the instructions are still not up to par...that was my beef with the kit as well. Looks good” -Robert Yates-

That is a great write up and helped me a lot, thanks for posting it.

The instructions were in my opinion written by someone that knew the components and system very well. I would not consider them sub par so much, just written for someone familiar with the components. When I called Kodiak they were extremely helpful in explaining what I needed to do to be up and running.
 

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