HJ47 Dual Battery Tray setup

[Sounder]

G'day fellas.

I just got my dual battery tray for my HJ47 Troopy (2H diesel, Aussie). It's the Piranha BT40D tray. Piranha BT40D Battery Tray Link

It looks like I'll need to relocate my window washer reservoir to squeeze the tray in.

I thought this would be a pretty common mod, but I can't find any info on where people have moved the reservoir to. Has anyone here installed a dual battery tray in their HJ47? Any pics would be great.

 

[Sounder]

I think I've come up with a plan.

In the next couple of months I'll probably fit a Safari snorkel which will eliminate the current little air intake exposing the left hand side wheel arch. I could install an aftermarket horizontal washer bottle there and get rid of the stock one.

 

[Travis22]

Hey Sounder,

Id look forward to your photos once the installation is underway.

Personally, ive avoided mounting two large batteries on the one side of the vehicle simply because of the weight.

My Aux battery is installed in my tray, on the passenger side and the Starting battery is in the factory location on the drivers side in the engine bay.

Along with the weight, i also just didnt like the idea of having ie. a giant 'wall' of batteries (600mm in length, two batteries end to end?) right along side the motor. The batteries are thereby exposed to more heat, and the airflow is also reduced).

Im in the process of rearranging my tray right now having just built a hardtop canopy for my tray. I was really hoping to remove the Aux battery from inside my tray but it really is the most convenient spot given the wiring etc. was already in place and with the Aux fuel tank under the tray there is no 'easy' place to mount it under the tray either.

If i wasnt in such a hurry to get everything back in i may have considered some sort of custom mount up the front passenger side, or again under the tray... one day i think ill do something under there. Would be the way to go if i ever end up running two Aux batteries, but for now again, mine is back in the tray, passenger side up against the headboard. Slightly relocated due to the canopy frame that is in the tray now also.

Travis.

 

[flx]

Digging up this thread from the bottom of this forum, but it seems Piranha is the last company that still produce a dual tray for 40 series. But can't find anyone talking about it or showing, except this thread.
@Sounder would you still be around by any chance and have picture or feedback on it?

Does it interferes with the radiator support rod?

If anyone ever saw one in flesh...
Seems it sits higher and forward compared to the US made dual carrier of back in the day. Maybe similar to a stock 24V HJ45 setup actually.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Way back in the day I think man-a-fre sold a duel battery bolt in rack for the 40. I was going to build my own - its not rocket surgery.

I was going to make a nice big knife blade (3) switch or the ground. One battery ground complete, then both grounded and finally the other battery grounded. I would mostly just switch between batteries every other week or so. However when its 30 below zero the middle position pulling from both batteries would help

 

[flx]

Way back in the day I think man-a-fre sold a duel battery bolt in rack for the 40. I was going to build my own - its not rocket surgery.

I was going to make a nice big knife blade (3) switch or the ground. One battery ground complete, then both grounded and finally the other battery grounded. I would mostly just switch between batteries every other week or so. However when its 30 below zero the middle position pulling from both batteries would help

Yes I found traces of the Man-A-Fre / SOR ones in the archives of the forum, it would be good for me but it stopped being produced an eternity ago and last classified for one I could find was like 10 years old...
If the Australian one can't work for me I may try to locate one, but if whatever is available new works that would be simpler (and importing from Australia or from the US doesn't change much for me, actually shipping is quite cheaper in Australia).

There is also one made by Stainlesstray that was produced for longer but also NLA now. This one is really nice but battery model specific which I'm not a fan.

My usage would be to have a secondary battery to power the accessories I use to travel and not use the little space there is in the back. I would use an automatic battery separator to manage the charge.

 

[plink01]

I have a BJ42 and bought the Piranah tray for my car.

It was an absoloute piece of s***. The holes don't line up with anything, so i had to drill my own which wasnt as easy as it sounds.
The metal is super thin and broke at the shock mount.

I rewelded it but it broke again in the same spot and at the support.

I bought a brand new one and the exact same thing happened and broke in the same spots.
I repaired it and welded extra supports but there is no way to beef up the steel where it mounts to the shock.
So it broke again and I ditched it completly.

I relocated the battery to behind the passengers seat on the wheel arch. I put it in an ammo box. It works a billion times better and I no longer worry about the battery flying out and catching fire.

I put the aircompressor where the second battery went and it fits perfect.

Im not sure what the HJ47 Piranah tray is like but if its anything like the BJ42 then its a lemon.

The troopy would have tons of room to mount one in the back and not have to worry about heat, vibrations etc.

Just a thought.

 

[flx]

I have a BJ42 and bought the Piranah tray for my car.

It was an absoloute piece of s***. The holes don't line up with anything, so i had to drill my own which wasnt as easy as it sounds.
The metal is super thin and broke at the shock mount.

I rewelded it but it broke again in the same spot and at the support.

I bought a brand new one and the exact same thing happened and broke in the same spots.
I repaired it and welded extra supports but there is no way to beef up the steel where it mounts to the shock.
So it broke again and I ditched it completly.

I relocated the battery to behind the passengers seat on the wheel arch. I put it in an ammo box. It works a billion times better and I no longer worry about the battery flying out and catching fire.

I put the aircompressor where the second battery went and it fits perfect.

Im not sure what the HJ47 Piranah tray is like but if its anything like the BJ42 then its a lemon.

The troopy would have tons of room to mount one in the back and not have to worry about heat, vibrations etc.

Just a thought.

Thank you for giving a feedback on a Piranah tray! Even if it's not good to hear
I'm in a shorty FJ so not more space than a BJ42 in the rear (but I need to carry more fuel ).

For reference from manufacturer doc, the BJ4* tray:

I can see how those tabs going to the chassis and shock mounts can be fragile


The HJ47 / FJ4* tray:

It re-uses the original single battery mount of the HJ/FJ, so probably less sensible to a tab breaking but still this tray needs to holds in the air 2 300mm batteries, 20kg each, so better not be too thin...

 

[charliemeyer007]

That long narrow tray looks like the man-a-fre ones I remember. Got any local fabricators that can copy the design in some flat strap and angle iron. I would think somebody would weld it up on their lunch break for a good price. I would put it right on top of the OEM box.

Years back I made a 90# roof jack for my wood stove chimney after the third flimsy 5# factory unit was ripped off by the snow load. Its still there. I drilled and tapped it together with grade 8 bolts, then welded it up with a borrowed stick welder. Overkill R Us.