I'm getting close to finally installing a dual-battery system in my 100-series and I could use some input. I currently have a group 27 optima yellow-top installed. Because I have (and want to keep) my ARB twin air compressor, which takes up the space where Slee's dual battery tray would go, installing a second battery in my vehicle is a bit more complicated than normal.
I'm considering 2 options. The first is to have a bracket fabricated that will hold both a second battery as well as my air compressor. I think that a group 31 battery will fit horizontally in my application along with the compressor if I relocate my power steering fluid reservoir to in front of the air box.
The second option is to get Torfab's dual battery bracket, which puts 2 group 34's in the stock battery location. This approach does require cutting some of the fuse box bracket out of the way, but nothing major.
The advantage I see of the first approach is having a nice big group 31 battery to run my accessories. The primary accessory that I'll have on the second battery is my ARB 50qt fridge. I may hook up some additional LED lights as well. I'm not going to be running the Odyssey battery so I won't have some of the charging issues that battery has, but I am worried about keeping a battery that large charged enough to prevent sulfation.
The benefits of the second approach as I see it, is that it will be cheaper due to not having to custom fab anything and it will require far less battery cable to hook everything up. I'm not sure if there's any benefit to having both batteries be 34 vs having a group 27F and a group 31. I suspect my charging system will have far less trouble keeping up with two group 34's. However, I'm not sure how long a group 34 can reasonably be expected to run an ARB fridge.
Regardless of the approach, I'll be installing Interstate MT7 AGM batteries. Their group 31 is a 96 AH battery and the group 34 is a 62 AH battery. I might eventually add a solar panel to supplement this setup and provide additional power for other accessories/gadgets when camped for longer periods of time.
I'm hoping to learn from the collective wisdom here. Is one approach preferable to another? I suppose a third option would be to go with the Slee dual battery tray and ditch the dual compressor for a high-output single compressor. I'm leaning towards Torfab's solution right now because I think it would probably be easier to get set up.
Thanks for your input.
Here's some pics of my engine bay as-is:
Here's an example from another member here of a battery oriented like I'm picturing. My application would add the compressor mounted to the side of the battery on a bracket facing the firewall. I obviously don't have the AHC reservoir in the way:
Here's a picture of Torfab's dual battery layout:
It does require removing some of the bracket so that the batteries actually fit:
I'm considering 2 options. The first is to have a bracket fabricated that will hold both a second battery as well as my air compressor. I think that a group 31 battery will fit horizontally in my application along with the compressor if I relocate my power steering fluid reservoir to in front of the air box.
The second option is to get Torfab's dual battery bracket, which puts 2 group 34's in the stock battery location. This approach does require cutting some of the fuse box bracket out of the way, but nothing major.
The advantage I see of the first approach is having a nice big group 31 battery to run my accessories. The primary accessory that I'll have on the second battery is my ARB 50qt fridge. I may hook up some additional LED lights as well. I'm not going to be running the Odyssey battery so I won't have some of the charging issues that battery has, but I am worried about keeping a battery that large charged enough to prevent sulfation.
The benefits of the second approach as I see it, is that it will be cheaper due to not having to custom fab anything and it will require far less battery cable to hook everything up. I'm not sure if there's any benefit to having both batteries be 34 vs having a group 27F and a group 31. I suspect my charging system will have far less trouble keeping up with two group 34's. However, I'm not sure how long a group 34 can reasonably be expected to run an ARB fridge.
Regardless of the approach, I'll be installing Interstate MT7 AGM batteries. Their group 31 is a 96 AH battery and the group 34 is a 62 AH battery. I might eventually add a solar panel to supplement this setup and provide additional power for other accessories/gadgets when camped for longer periods of time.
I'm hoping to learn from the collective wisdom here. Is one approach preferable to another? I suppose a third option would be to go with the Slee dual battery tray and ditch the dual compressor for a high-output single compressor. I'm leaning towards Torfab's solution right now because I think it would probably be easier to get set up.
Thanks for your input.
Here's some pics of my engine bay as-is:
Here's an example from another member here of a battery oriented like I'm picturing. My application would add the compressor mounted to the side of the battery on a bracket facing the firewall. I obviously don't have the AHC reservoir in the way:
Here's a picture of Torfab's dual battery layout:
It does require removing some of the bracket so that the batteries actually fit:
