Dual Battery Write-Up

[Off-Grid Engineering]

This write-up is in response to the many PM's I have received over the last year. Some folks want to know how to set-up a dual battery system and other just want to know how I built my tray and made it fit in my 03 Taco. Well, for the folks inquiring about the former... search, research, and then research some more. That's what I did and that's the only way you will learn enough to know which dual battery setup is right for you. For the other folks, here is the most-detailed pictorial I could put-together with the pics I had on my computer.

For those that are familiar with Overland Journal Magazine, this setup was featured in last winter's edition. They provided a wonderful breakdown of the different companies that offer isolator kits to finish off your project (although my particular system is mislabeled as a Hellroaring kit in the article).

Anyways, here it is:

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e...Projects/Dual Battery Project/?albumview=grid

Any questions, feel free to ask. I may have left a few things out.

 

[4x4mike]

Album is password protected.

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

Fixed!

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

By the way, you have to click on each picture to read the caption. If the caption is too long, you may have to move your cursor over it to read the entire thing.

 

[BajaTaco]

This write-up is in response to the many PM's I have received over the last year. Some folks want to know how to set-up a dual battery system and other just want to know how I built my tray and made it fit in my 03 Taco. Well, for the folks inquiring about the former... search, research, and then research some more. That's what I did and that's the only way you will learn enough to know which dual battery setup is right for you. For the other folks, here is the most-detailed pictorial I could put-together with the pics I had on my computer.

For those that are familiar with Overland Journal Magazine, this setup was featured in last winter's edition. They provided a wonderful breakdown of the different companies that offer isolator kits to finish off your project (although my particular system is mislabeled as a Hellroaring kit in the article).

Anyways, here it is:

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e...Projects/Dual Battery Project/?albumview=grid

Any questions, feel free to ask. I may have left a few things out.

Nice job, Matt. And thanks again for contributing to the Overland Journal article. I double-checked that issue and your installation was indeed labeled as the Wrangler NW Power product (not Hellroaring). Brian DeArmon (Goodtimes) had the Hellroaring system featured. Maybe I missed something? Anyway, nice setup! You don't see too many side-by-side batteries in that location on the earlier Tacomas.

 

[TangoBlue]

Thanks for fixing the link. Inspired to do the same in the near future.

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

Chris, I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the Journal! and thanks to everyone else for the compliments!

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

Looks great! Question- how is the battery holder frame attached to the truck?

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

That's the part of the project where I got so wrapped up that I stopped taking photos. It's kinda hard to explain, but it's bolted directly to the fender where the old battery tray was. I drilled a few more holes and used overkill hardware with rubber bushings in between the tray and the fender. It works really well. I would love to take it apart and take pics for everyone. Unfortunately, we just got two feet of snow, here in Durango, and it's about 1* F as I type... maybe a little later

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

That's the part of the project where I got so wrapped up that I stopped taking photos. It's kinda hard to explain, but it's bolted directly to the fender where the old battery tray was. I drilled a few more holes and used overkill hardware with rubber bushings in between the tray and the fender. It works really well. I would love to take it apart and take pics for everyone. Unfortunately, we just got two feet of snow, here in Durango, and it's about 1* F as I type... maybe a little later

I'm in the process of relocating the battery in my truck ('02 Tacoma DC) to create space between the fender and the battery, where I will place my axillary electronics system. I fabbed up a tray today, but am having a bit of difficulty securing the tray to a point that I feel confident that it will not come in contact with other components within the engine compartment (I'm looking for a way to make a rock solid mount... maybe I should just weld it in?). As soon as the temp got in to the single digits though, I called it a day. Perhaps tomorrow will offer me another chance to work on it a bit, and hopefully figure out a good mounting option without simply welding the tray in place.

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

There are ways, my friend Just keep looking, this was a looong project for me. I will seriously look for a break in the weather to disassemble my system, so I can take pics for ya.