Battery in the Back?

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sandcruiser

sandcruiser

....back in the saddle again....
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Anyone running a larger-than-normal battery in the back of the truck?
I've been considering the idea of in getting a larger batter and running #0 cables to the back- mounting the whole thing next to my rollout drawer behind the wheel well.

other than the cost of the cables, what are the down sides to doing this?

Why a bigger battery? Because I don't want to screw with a dual battery system, but I'd like a little more reserve capacity. I think my battery is on the downhill anyway, so when i replace it, I figure I might as well upgrade.

Also- moving the weight from the front to the rear would be good as the front suspension is near limit whereas the back isn't.

Think and opine!
 
As a reflex, I might be concerned about gasses being emitted from the battery into the cab. Even though gel's are better sealed than lead acid, it's something I'd look into to satisfy myself.

Then I might think about securing it in case of an accident or rollover. Especially if you're thinking about a lead-acid battery. I wouldn't want that broken open and spilling out inside.

.
 
The only things I have ever relocated the batteries on were racecars, and that was into the trunk, not the cab. Like the above post said, I'd be concerned about the battery venting inside the cab. Even the Optimas have vents on the tops.

Im no authority when it comes to batteries or anything else electrical, just voicing my opinion.

Hodag
 
Steve

Maybe not useful, but I found that the Optima Yellowtop group 31 battery fits in the standard FJ60 battery tray, and provides huge cranking power and a lot of reserve, plus it's deep draw - designed to be cycled down and recharged many times. Might be a good option. These are not cheap - about $200 here in the States.

Mike
 
Last edited:
haven't seen optimas down here yet.

The gassing is a worthwhile consideration... I guess I'd have to create an enclosure that vents to outside. Probably more work than it is worth.
 
sandcruiser said:
haven't seen optimas down here yet.

The gassing is a worthwhile consideration... I guess I'd have to create an enclosure that vents to outside. Probably more work than it is worth.
Click to expand...

If you really want good tech for this, check out drag racing and hot rods and even ricers. Its a mod I plan to do to my 1964 GTO. You can get battery boxes that have the proper ventilation:

http://www.rpmoutlet.com/musv6batt.htm

The only downside I see is the loss of cargo space.
 
A battery in the rear is a good idea I checked this out once if you got to a interstate battery dealer they have sealed boxes and can make the cables to the length you need. To save some money go to a wrecking yard find a bmw and get the power point from under the hood that way you don't have to run the alt wires or anything else you have hooked up to thr rear and you have a good jump point. Let me know how it turns out..Ben
 
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