Reasonably easy way of adding a deep cycle battery to a Series 100 LX470?

[CSG]

I'm interested in getting a small 12v compressor fridge for my rig but am terrified of only having the one starter battery and getting stuck somewhere. I know there are supposed to be shut-off protections in the various fridges but I don't want to rely on them. I also know there are portable jump starters but my experience with them is spotty at best.

What do you experienced guys do to power a fridge when camped overnight for a few days?

 

[SWITAWI]

Not sure if you're looking to add an additional battery and go with a dual battery setup, or just want a better power source to handle the load.

For the money (and simplicity of setup) I'd say pop a Sears Platinum Group 31M under the hood with the kit from Slee Off-Road.

Slee P/N SOF1264 - $87.00 - http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/products_battery.htm

Sears Diehard Model # 50131 - $310 (less on sale a couple times during the year) - http://www.sears.com/diehard-platinum-marine-battery-group-size-31m-price/p-02850131000P

Battery has dual top posts and '1150 CCA and 205min of reserve time'. Not sure what load that reserve time is based on. Basically it is the same as a $400 Odyssey Group 31M since it is made by Odyssey - http://shop.odysseybattery.com/p/31m-pc2150st-m

And don't forget the mil-spec battery connectors and boots so you can add whatever lines you want straight to the battery terminals.

http://www.prime4x4.com/shop/OffRoa...-Terminal-and-Boot-Sets-sku-MilTermKit001.htm

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

I like those terminals. It would be a toss up between those and the standard marine type terminals.

 

[CSG]

SWITAWI, is your suggestion to replace the engine start battery with this one? I'd wondered about simply getting a deep cycle battery and putting it a box that could power a fridge for a few hours when the vehicle was stopped for the night and then plugging it into a 12v outlet to recharge while underway. I don't think I have room under the hood for a second battery set-up as I have the AHC system in my rig.

My goal is not to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a dead engine starter battery with no way to jump it.

 

[SWITAWI]

SWITAWI, is your suggestion to replace the engine start battery with this one? I'd wondered about simply getting a deep cycle battery and putting it a box that could power a fridge for a few hours when the vehicle was stopped for the night and then plugging it into a 12v outlet to recharge while underway. I don't think I have room under the hood for a second battery set-up as I have the AHC system in my rig.

My goal is not to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a dead engine started battery with no way to jump it.

[COLOR="#FF000"]YES[/COLOR]. Unless you really have a need for the redundancy and options that come with having two separate batteries in your truck, I'd say go with the deep-cycle Group 31M as the only battery if you're looking for a stronger, more stable power source.

Check out this from montypower's build - http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...13-Toyota-Tacoma-DC-TRD?p=1402022#post1402022

And also this thread from uscg2008 - http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/118262-Single-battery-setups

In that second post you'll see where montypower said this back in Nov 2013...

So far my record is running the 63qt ARB fridge for 5 consecutive days without starting the truck; it had no trouble starting after 5 days. The fridge has been running non-stop in the truck since July. I see no advantage of a dual battery setup for my uses. For emergency I carry a HD jump box. I've used it to jump stranded people; much more useful than dual batteries (to me).

 

[SWITAWI]

I would feel remiss if I did not mention that another option would be something like the ArkPak with the same Group 31M battery inside it as a portable power source - https://www.arkportablepower.com/

That would give you a lot of flexibility with AC Outlets, 12VDC Outlets, USB Charging Ports, having the power source in the back with the fridge, being able to remove the extra weight for the daily drive, etc.

But that's also about $375 on top of the cost of whatever deep-cycle battery you'll still need to purchase to put inside it. If it is within your budget, then this might work for you.

The best 'reasonably easy way' would be to just replace your existing battery with that better (bigger) battery.

 

[CSG]

Boy, that's great info (and links). Thank you! I was heading over to Sears later so will look into that battery. I was thinking of the ARB 37qt model but that may be bigger than I really need for my short trips with the Land Cruiser so have also looked at smaller units like the Dometics here: http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Dometic-Portable-Refrigerators_c_1671.html.

I talked to a tech guy at ARB and he said I probably didn't need to worry so much.

I looked at those Ark boxes but they seem wildly overpriced when you have to add in another $200-300 for a battery. By that point I might as well haul my Honda EU2000 gen.

 

[CSG]

I called Odyssey and spoke to them about this battery and one thing the gal said was that most alternators don't have enough capacity to recharge the 31m properly and that you needed a high output alternator. The ones that come on the LC are 95 amps but 200+ amp alternators are easily available and fairly easy to install. Have any of you guys addressed that?

 

[Bretthn]

Dual batteries with AHC

I did dual batteries with AHC and it was pretty easy. There is enough room between the airfilter and the AHC reservoir if you move the power steering fluid reservoir. You can fit a DHP group 31m but I just have a group 65 for now since I had it laying around. This was simple and you only need to extend one line.http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/106194-100-Series-Family-Adventure-Rig?p=1356951#post1356951

 

[CSG]

After doing some more thinking, I'm wondering about buying a group 27 or 31 deep cycle battery and stowing it in an inexpensive battery box. Make sure it's topped off before a trip and using it to run the fridge when parked. I could plug it into the 12v outlet in back to recharge when underway.

What am I missing?

I like the idea of the two battery set-up above but it's more effort than I want to put into it. I also like the original proposal with the Platinum Marine DC battery replacing the standard vehicle battery but I think a DC battery in a box would be even easier, no?

 

[SmoothLC]

When my current group 35 DHP starts to die, I plan on upgrading to a marine group 31 DHP.

The primary reason is space savings. Instead of adding another box in the back or second row, it just makes more sense to place it where there is already a place for it. In its stock location using Slee's tray.

2 cents...

 

[montypower]

I sold the 13 Taco in March/April 2014. Never had an issue with the 31M Die Hard Platinum. Now, I'm running the same battery in my 03 Montero (120 amp alternator). It's been running the battery since June 2014. It powered the 63qt ARB fridge. Haven't had a dead battery yet. I do carry a jump box for emergency; it has been helpful for saving other stranded motorists.

I highly recommend the simplicity of a large single battery vs dual batteries. Previously, I had a smaller 1400 Odyssey battery and my ARB fridge would kill it overnight. The battery would be so dead that the fridge would cut off and the truck wouldn't start. My original plan was to run dual 1400 batteries. Obviously, this is far inferior as the fridge would kill one battery in less than 12 hrs.

 

[CSG]

But isn't the ARB supposed to shut down if the battery drops below a certain point?

 

[texascrane]

I called Odyssey and spoke to them about this battery and one thing the gal said was that most alternators don't have enough capacity to recharge the 31m properly and that you needed a high output alternator. The ones that come on the LC are 95 amps but 200+ amp alternators are easily available and fairly easy to install. Have any of you guys addressed that?

I'm not a battery expert (although my wife does work for a battery manufacturer so maybe I should ask her) but I can't see how a car alternator wouldn't have enough amps to charge a group 31 battery.

 

[CSG]

I want to call Odyssey tomorrow and talk to this gal again. The guy at Sears pointed out their straight up vehicle starter batteries in the same Platinum line as the 31M marine battery are regularly used in all sorts of vehicles without issue.