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Outlaw351
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Member # 17862
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Reged: 11/27/01
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Loc: Michigan
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Moving batterys to the bed?
#937850 - 11/24/02 09:24 PM
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Has anyone ever mounted the batterys in the front of the pick up bed behind the cab?. I want to free up some room in the engine compartment and take some weight off the front. I realize that the voltage/amperage drop could be a issue along with heat in the cables. The stock batterys are 750ccamps and thought that if I did move them, upgrading to 850 or 1000's would be a wise move. Before I go and invest time and money into new battery harnesses and etc, I figure that it would be wise to ask for some opinions on the subject.
Edited by BMcNab (11/25/02 01:21 AM)
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FleetMan
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#938224 - 11/25/02 07:49 AM
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Make sure you use heavy gauge cables, I don't remember the designation - O or double O. It is heavy gauge welding cable. Most truck shops use it to fabricate battery cables. Take your measurements and have some cables custom made. This would be a good time to upgrade to a pair of Group 31 top stud batteries and get away from the posts.
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RoyC
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#938264 - 11/25/02 08:54 AM
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The 2002 T-Birds have the battery located in the right rear about a foot from the rear bumper. The cable has to be at least 10 feet long. These might be a good reference to use for guage if your run in not much longer.
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powerboatr
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#938362 - 11/25/02 10:16 AM
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BMcNab
have you thought about some strong marine battery boxes and placing them under the bed on both sides, tons of room under there. wouldnt loose any precious bed space.
just a thought
rob
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Outlaw351
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Member # 17862
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Reged: 11/27/01
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Loc: Michigan
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#938399 - 11/25/02 10:59 AM
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I have a guy in the area that wires race cars, I can get the cables and ends from him and make my own cables, or have him make them. The battery upgrade is on my list, have any suggestions on a good battery to buy?.
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DENNY
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#938847 - 11/25/02 05:31 PM
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How about behind the rear seat? I have not done it yet but was thinking this would be a great spot for them. It is easy to get to and jumping would not be that hard. This would also keep the bed clear in case you need to haul something.
DENNY
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Larry M
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#938856 - 11/25/02 05:39 PM
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In reply to:
How about behind the rear seat? I have not done it yet but was thinking this would be a great spot for them.
I would be careful about putting them in an enclosed unvented space like the cab, since off gassing can be a problem when they start going bad and could become a safety/health issue.
JMHO,
Larry
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Phil G.
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#939081 - 11/25/02 08:24 PM
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I'm failing to see the point in this exercise on a diesel 3/4 or 1 ton truck. Shifting 100 lbs means nothing to a SD suspension,weight transfer is not an issue unless your racing and it, box space will be taken up, power loss when starting in cold will be more of an issue, and for what- some space under the hood  Unless you want to add twin roots  or something, I don't know what you would need all that space for. If you put tool boxes or something in the batteries place, then you have just put the weight back up front. If you proceed with it, please don't put your batteries in the cab, that could be really bad 
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Outlaw351
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#939115 - 11/25/02 08:48 PM
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Don't worry, the batterys WILL NOT go in the cab!. That was a suggestion, not my idea.
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MADDOG
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#939340 - 11/25/02 11:26 PM
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Jegs sells a Billet Aluminum battery holder that is made for the Optima battery. You can mount two of these on the passenger side frame under the bed. You mount them on the side of the frame and the battery sits on it's side which is fine for the Optima batteries. It sure cleans up the engine compartment. The part number is 555-10250.
Edited by MADDOG (11/25/02 11:28 PM)
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DENNY
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#940032 - 11/26/02 02:40 PM
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I was thinking gel batterys in the cab. However, my BMW has a regular battery under the rear seat from the factory. If I remember right a few other vechiles do this also. If you put it in a battery box it should not be much of a problem and a lot easyer to get to than under the cab.
DENNY
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MADVAN
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#940579 - 11/26/02 09:37 PM
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You can use the mount set up from the E-SERIES to mount on passanger side of chassis. I have done this on F-SERIES.
BILL--MADVAN
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LW555
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#944185 - 11/30/02 02:38 AM
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Mine are in the bed over the rear axle. I used about 15 feet of 4/0 cable for positive and the same for ground. It's best if you don't use the frame for ground. The cable runs through a polymer fire-resistant conduit mounted inside the frame rails. It probably would be fine without it, but it didn't add much weight and I wanted the cable to be protected. You can also get Marine grade cable from McMaster that's "armored" and is supposed to be great for exposure under your truck, but it's kinda expensive.
The batteries are in a custom made composite (plastic) box that's mounted to an accessory rail that's mounted to the bed bolts. I used all brass/copper components, a big fuse, silver soldered all connections, etc. Right now I've got the factory batteries since they are new, but I'll be replacing them with Optimas soon, and probably adding 2 more. With 4/0 cable there's almost no voltage drop, so the truck cranks great.
Maddogs's idea is good too, you can mount Optimas at any angle and stuff them under the bed. I chose inside the bed for easier access.
Every bit of weight that I can move toward the rear of the truck helps. The batteries are forward of the front axle, so they actually put more weight on them than what they weigh. Another benefit is that you can use a HUGE air filter. I have a giant Donaldson. If weight isn't an issue, there's space on the pass. side if you want to add some other goodies like an onboard welder, or mount your air compressor there, or ??
BTW from what I understand, Optima batteries don't outgas if charged correctly and would probably be ok in the cab, if you wanted to be extra safe you could put them in an airtight box and run a small vent tube to the exterior.
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Blue74
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#944375 - 11/30/02 12:05 PM
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VW used to mount them under the rear seat. Park Service had a battery "blow up" this week in a fire truck. Some one had left the cables loose in the battery box and with a small trickle charger on it built up gases in the box. When they turned the key, Boom!
Paul
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tomshep
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#946366 - 12/02/02 02:30 AM
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Denny,
I would not want a battery in a passenger compartment...in a box or not...period. Years ago I had a 79 Mustang and the battery just exploded one day when I tried to start the car. It was louder than a shotgun blast. It lifted the hood a few inches and dented the whole front corner upward. I could not believe that explosion was from a battery.
I am not trying to discredit your idea, just letting you know my experience.
Tom
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nickleinonen
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#946407 - 12/02/02 06:40 AM
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an optima type cell battery wouldn't be too bad to have in the passenger compartment
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dieseldrive
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#946446 - 12/02/02 08:11 AM
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Keep in mind that you do not have to use 2 batteries. If you relocate the batteries to an area with more room it may be a better option to go with one larger one (you will have to do some math). Just another option.
BA
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Outlaw351
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#946672 - 12/02/02 11:58 AM
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I have heard the series 31 batterys mentioned before, what are the advantages to these batterys?. I see that Optima has some series 31 truck batterys, but no one has any info on them.
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FleetMan
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Re: Moving batterys to the bed?
#946806 - 12/02/02 01:41 PM
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Use your search engine and go to any battery manufacturers site. Look up the specs on a group 31 battery and a group 65 battery (the size which is standard in most PSD's). A good Gp 31 is bigger, heavier and has more reserve capacity than the comparable grade Gp 65. Most commercial trucks use several Gp 31 batteries. The top stud version normally is preferred over the post type battery. For a custom installation, the top stud gives you cleaner, easier cable ends to work with. Recommend stainless nuts and washers be used with any top stud battery to ease corrosion problems.
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