Dual Batteries

[2002TLCyes]

I'm not sure if this has been done yet, though I wouldn't be surprised if it has. But I just had an idea. I have a few spare car batteries laying around and I noticed that my 2002 LC has that big empty area where the hydraulic fluid tank is supposed to be on the lexus counterpart. Now I was wondering how difficult would it be to come up with a bracket to house a second battery in that area, and wire it up so that the aux battery would always be topped off when the car is running, but remain separate from the rest of the circuit in case the main battery dies. That way I could have my dashcam left on all night, recording and drawing power from the aux battery. Even if the aux dies, it wouldn't affect the starter battery, and would get recharged as soon as I started the engine.

Also, maybe on a separate note, that empty area under the hood seems like a good spot for one of those heavier duty power inverters. Has anybody posted a mod like that with pictures? I'd love to see what you guys have come up with. Why re-invent the wheel when someone else already made a pretty good one!

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

Slee - Battery Related Products

1998-07 Land Cruiser / LX470 Second Battery Tray with Compressor Mount

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

I'm sure there are others available too...

 

[Mike6158]

That's the one I installed. But I've seen some nice home brew solutions too

Slee Aux Battery tray install with ARB compressor

Slee Main Battery tray install

 

[2002TLCyes]

Looks sweet. How much did that setup run you? Pardon the ignorance, but what's the point of having the compressor?

 

[Mike6158]

When my tires don't have air in them I can put air in them ok... that's a wise ass answer. Running off road it's a good idea to air down to minimize punctures from rocks etc. I learned that the hard way. Nothing says "yippee" like changing a flat on the River Road in Big Bend NP when it's 108°

The compressor makes that easy

From the Slee website (link in previous post)
Main tray- 120
Aux tray with compressor bracket (I don't think it comes without but it's worth checking) - 120
IBS and relay - 379 + 79

 

[2002TLCyes]

Ahh I see. I have a regular plug in compressor, and don't do any rock climbing, so I don't think I have a need for that. But see how that could be useful.

It'd be nice to see some of the homebrew solutions to mounting a second battery.

 

[Madbodhi]

I have the Slee Aux battery tray same as has been shown. Torfab makes a dual battery tray that fits 2 batteries side by side in the stocl location. I use a Blue Sea 7622 to control them. The 7622 automatically charges both batteries and will automatically isolate the starting battery from the "house" battery as well as enable you to manually lock both batteries together for high draw situations like winching.

 

[2002TLCyes]

Cool. This community is freakin awesome. I put most of my miles in regular highway driving, but do occasionally have to take her out on the beach for work. With my previous vehicles (all of whose transmissions eventually failed on me), I used to turn off traction control for beach driving. Don't see that option with the cruiser. It's not a big deal for the most part, but occasionally the stability control will kick in and throttle the engine down. Has anyone figured out a mod button to disable stability and traction control for rough terrain conditions?

 

[Mike6158]

Ahh I see. I have a regular plug in compressor, and don't do any rock climbing, so I don't think I have a need for that. But see how that could be useful.

It'd be nice to see some of the homebrew solutions to mounting a second battery.

I don't rock climb but I do spend a bunch of time on the back roads of Big Bend. Think dirt road with little to no maintenance. It's been a while but I spent some time in the back country of Death Valley. Some of those roads are baby rock climbing / washboard / definitely need to air down kind of roads

 

[vman07]

Here's my battery tray and fuse box holder, full details on my dual setup are in my build thread...

 

[Madbodhi]

It's my understanding that putting it in low range disables VSC but not ATRAC. Believe me, in rough terrain you want the ATRAC working.

 

[r2m]

That's the one I installed. But I've seen some nice home brew solutions too

Slee Aux Battery tray install with ARB compressor

Slee Main Battery tray install

Mike, I have the same compressor and dual batteries and I always wondered where to put the compressor if the battery was in that corner. So I when got two Odyssey PC1200 and stuffed them in the factory corner so I could put my compressor back in the opposite rear corner.
In short, I really like they way you have yours set up!

 

[Bwood]

I went with the Slee 2nd battery tray, but the capacity of a bigger aux battery was more appealing than the compressor mount (already have a standalone compressor in the back). So, with a little modification to the slee tray (cutting the small compressor-mount tab, then adding material to level the 'floor'), you can run a bigger agm battery on its side.

 

[r2m]

I went with the Slee 2nd battery tray, but the capacity of a bigger aux battery was more appealing than the compressor mount (already have a standalone compressor in the back). So, with a little modification to the slee tray (cutting the small compressor-mount tab, then adding material to level the 'floor'), you can run a bigger agm battery on its side.

Just as a suggestion, take a look at how I strapped my batteries in. I used what some people call plumbers tape. It's metal strap that's used to hold down water heaters. I bought some heat shrink tubing and shrunk it around it and used a small turn-buckle to snug it all together. I have the strap going all around, under the tray and battery.
Works great, simple and cheap and I have had that on for several years now with both batteries!
Take a look at the photos I posted of my battery tray and you'll see what I mean.