Battery between the bed and fender?

[robert]

So I've been thinking about this one for a while. It actually started out I was looking for a place to put my Viair and I noticed all of the free/wasted space between the fender/quarter panel and the poly bed (or whatever Toyota is calling it on the latest gen trucks). A couple of measurements and I realized that a full sized battery would fit in there too; you'd have to pull the metal support rod to get it up there but you could put it right back.

I'm wondering if I use a backing plate inside the bed if it would be strong enough? I doubt I'd want to put one of the Sears Platinum marine batteries up there but maybe one of the lighter ones?

The driver's side has the neck for the fuel filler so in the name of safety I don't think I'd mount one on that side, but the passenger side is free too. I'm thinking I may put my Viair on the driver's side towards the rear- I think one of their one gallon tanks should fit in there too.

Anyone tried this?

 

[southpier]

i have thought that to be a viable location for a number of things. i'm sure there's a "pod" made that could be scribed to fit between the bed & body.

my idea would be to have it sealed against bed (sleeping/ occupancy) use and accessed from the outside for maintenance via something like this:

http://www.aa-mfg.com/pdshop/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1065

 

[zolo]

Have not tried it. But it is a good idea for sure. The plastic bed is actually pretty strong so if you fabed a mount with say 4 or 6 bots it would be fine Im sure. A good mount and a marine battery box would be good in this application.
You are right it is a ton of wasted space.

One issue you could have is if you take body damage in that area it could cause a problem. I only say this cause I have injured that area on my Toyota.
The metal bed sides are total crap and that support rod is a joke.

My truck was attacked by a downed tree that snuck up into my fender well and wiped out the bed side.
A one and a million but stuff happens.

 

[keezer37]

I looked at that a few years back. Actually aft of the wheel well next to the outlet. I believe you're talking forward of the wheel well.

-If you're only support is a backing plate on a vertical surface, I'd worry about the composite fatiguing over time from all the jostling. It's plenty strong but I'd hate the guy behind me to find out I was wrong. I'd be inclined to look at horizontal support also.
-I do have a battery in the back and would say, think long and hard about all the cable you're gonna have to buy and route. Unless you plan on using zip ties, it's a process. I made fourteen brackets for routing it inside the c-channel, all in conduit, heat shield wrap by the muffler and cats. Oy!
-If you plan on having it as a back up to your primary battery, it should be at least equal to or larger than your primary.

If you're aft of the wheel well:
-Definitely use a enclosed box. Pretty dirty/wet back there and it's easy enough to get some support down to the frame if I recollect.

 

[robert]

I was under the truck again today looking at it and I think I could make a bracket to hold the battery then use a plate inside the bed as a backing plate. What really ticks me off is there's a great place for a second battery on the right fender but then Toyota had to go and put part of the ABS system right in the middle where you can't get anything else in there.

Yeah, I'm running a winch, lights, stereo, etc. When I figure out what I'm going to do it'll probably be the Diehard Platinum marine battery I put in the back when carrying the reefer. I've run that thing off it for several days without killing it. I really wish I could move that ABS stuff in the engine compartment.