Simplest dual battery tray

[WES1977]

It has so far been real easy and cheap. I've never seen this yet but i'm sure it has been done. I thought about usein 7" channel but could not find it in a smaller piece under 20feet which cost over $100

I bought 20 feet of 1" 1/8 angle bracket for $11.50 at the local metal yard. All i've used so far is 57".

10" of 6inch flat bar 1/4 thick.
'
all I did was cut 2, 20" angle bracket and 7" drilled to the factory holes of the support and weld them all together after sizing them up with the batteries.

All I need to do now is hold downs which i'm going to by from advance auto, and wiring.

 

[BELMONT148]

Why not fabricate a clamp system that utilizes the bottom of the optima batteries? Should be pretty easy since you already have the metal. Just two ss bolts and your done.

Jeremy

 

[WES1977]

Why not fabricate a clamp system that utilizes the bottom of the optima batteries? Should be pretty easy since you already have the metal. Just two ss bolts and your done.

Jeremy

I've thought of doing that but just can't figure it all out. I saw one on something like stainless steel trays.com or something that looks good. If any one has pictures helping bolt those optimas in would be appreciated.

 

[mr_manny]

thought mine was pretty simple

 

[WES1977]

thought mine was pretty simple

That is pretty cool but you had to do it twice.

 

[WES1977]

I'm thinking about running another alternator off where the old smog pump was and having two independent electrical systems.

 

[mr_manny]

utilizes existing holes in the frame = good thing

Really happy with location of these, air compressor rests on original battery location...

Make sure to double check before you weld
drivers side had to be redone once

a few more pics:

 

[Trollhole]

Good Stuff. This needs to go in the FAQ. Steve?

My setup.

Will be ditching it and moving the batteries under my seat. The big gay 2f needs room to breath. And 80lbs that high up is just another reason for me to roll over.

 

[WES1977]

Will be ditching it and moving the batteries under my seat. The big gay 2f needs room to breath. And 80lbs that high up is just another reason for me to roll over.

I'm sure someone on this site would buy it from you. It looks professionally made.

 

[Coolerman]

Good Stuff. This needs to go in the FAQ. Steve?

The big gay 2F needs room to breath. And 80 lbs that high up is just another reason for me to roll over.

Yeah, wouldn't want that big gay 2F to be 'bottoms up' now would we?

That was good work welding that up!


Here is my rusted MAF battery tray. Bolts to the existing battery pedestal. It's now serving as the battery tray for my pop-up camper. Two Trojan 6 volt golf cart batteries in series.

 

[BELMONT148]

This is the one I use. Should be super easy to take what you built already and add the same clamping system.

 

[WES1977]

There is a slight flaw in my design. The bolt heads could vibrate into the battery. The rear set is between the 2 batteries so that isn't a problem but the most fwd set of bolt heads is a problem. My solution is going to be seperate my 1/4" plate off the bottem and put some shims in it to make a small downward angle the front being the hight point.

 

[too tall]

There is a slight flaw in my design. The bolt heads could vibrate into the battery. The rear set is between the 2 batteries so that isn't a problem but the most fwd set of bolt heads is a problem. My solution is going to be seperate my 1/4" plate off the bottem and put some shims in it to make a small downward angle the front being the hight point.

Why not just line the bottom of the tray witha piece of rubber .Drill the holes out where the bolt heads are?

 

[WES1977]

I've got some problem with my new blue top optima(deep cycle). I charged my battery with a 15watt solar panel I also have the charger controller. I only got the battery up to 11.9 volts and it wouldn't go any higher. I disconnected everything from the battery and in about 8hours time I lost a volt. The battery store is running test on the battery. Any thoughts? something wrong with the battery or solar panel?

 

[Fast Eddy]

I disconnected everything from the battery and in about 8hours time I lost a volt. The battery store is running test on the battery. Any thoughts? something wrong with the battery or solar panel?

If you "disconnected everything", and lost a volt in an hour, how could that be a problem with the panel? That battery has an internal short. I'd get a diehard instead. I've got a 10+yo diehard that I leave out in the rain, and I fill it and charge it when I need it. It works great.

 

[cpmarcani]

I don't think those Optima's are all that!

I had a set, the first one lasted 18 months, the second one died the following season.

I switched to commercial grade truck batteries, alot less money, has lasted twice as long and still going...

 

[WES1977]

If you "disconnected everything", and lost a volt in an hour, how could that be a problem with the panel? That battery has an internal short. I'd get a diehard instead. I've got a 10+yo diehard that I leave out in the rain, and I fill it and charge it when I need it. It works great.

I just got it back from the battery store and they didn't see anything wrong with it. I'll probably end up taking it back today. I think it still has problems. The battery when I got it from them has 13.25 volts on it and now it's down to around 13.13 in around an hour.

 

[Felix]

My dual battery tray is setup like this, built by a PO. It's simple, but it makes it a PITA to get to the dizzy, timing inspection window, starter, etc without taking out the rear battery. It works just fine the way it is, but if I had to rebuild mine, I'd got with a side-to-side design like Trollhole's rather than the end-to-end design.

 

[inkpot]

There is a slight flaw in my design. The bolt heads could vibrate into the battery. The rear set is between the 2 batteries so that isn't a problem but the most fwd set of bolt heads is a problem. My solution is going to be seperate my 1/4" plate off the bottem and put some shims in it to make a small downward angle the front being the hight point.

Howdy! I use 0.085" printing press blanket material to cut mats, and other things, out of. It is 35" X 40" when we take it off of the presses. It is vulcanized rubber. Smooth and dark green on one side, and fabric backed on the other. It is bullet proof, similar to sidewalls on tires. Cuts to any size and shape with razor or tin snips. You could use multiple layers and do a cutout in the bottom one for the bolt heads. Give me some dimensions and I can send you a chunk big enough to fit. I have no idea what it would cost for a mailer tube and postage, but I can check it out. John

 

[WES1977]

Howdy! I use 0.085" printing press blanket material to cut matshttp://computers.search.ebay.com/fiber_Computers-Networking_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQcatrefZC12QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfromZR10QQfrtsZ100QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsabfmtsZ1QQsacatZ58058QQsaobfmtsZinsif
fiber, Networking, Drives, Controllers Storage items on eBay.com, and other things, out of. It is 35" X 40" when we take it off of the presses. It is vulcanized rubber. Smooth and dark green on one side, and fabric backed on the other. It is bullet proof, similar to sidewalls on tires. Cuts to any size and shape with razor or tin snips. You could use multiple layers and do a cutout in the bottom one for the bolt heads. Give me some dimensions and I can send you a chunk big enough to fit. I have no idea what it would cost for a mailer tube and postage, but I can check it out. John

Thanks for the offer but I have resolved the problem. I put in some scrap 1/4" plate to make the battery stand higher above the bolts. I'll take some pictures for everyone to see.

Kind of getto