The way they are designed they both open to the rear, so I needed a decent space between them to access the front one. Besides that, I have 50+ feet of battery cable installed in my setup as is. I have cables from both + to the starter, cable from the negative side of one to the alternator, cables to the front bumper for my remote terminals, etc. I also at the time was going to put the air tanks I have in the picture above in that space. Now, I have a bigger tank and its going in the box so that idea is scrapped. I also didn't care about tucking them up high, this is not an off road vehicle. They are as high as they could be where they are though. They only hang an inch or so below my chrome step.

 

Here is a picture of the brace I put on.

 

makes sense. i think i may go for that spot under the bed, but you're right, yours don't hang down too terribly far anyway...

were you noticing too much sway in the box or werethere other issues that brace solved?

and thanks again for the quick responses on an old thread!

 

No, I wasn't noticing any sway. When I'd hit a bump or flexed the truck, or something like that, the rubber pieces I had on top of them between the body and box would get loose and fall out. Then I'd hear the boxes hitting the cab. With the angle supports no more problems.

 

Darin thanks for sharing all the photos and info on this project I learned alot from reading your thread.
I was told of this thread by Chris/ F350-6 I'm glad he knew of thread. I am actually leaving my batteries in the stock position and am adding a 3rd battery or should I say a 2nd battery bank and am planning on putting them down on the frame rail on the Rt side also. So for now I am just getting ideas from others like yourself that have already done this mod.

Reps to you on doing such a great job and sharing what you have learned with us.

 

Thanks for the comments and reps Ed.

 

quick question Darin - hopefully i'll be doing my frame mount batteries this weekend...

what guage cable did you use from the batteries to the starter? you mention 4 guage to your starter relay, but i didnt see a guage reference on the thick ones... i was hoping to repurpose much of my stock battery cable, but will need a new run from the batteries to the starter, i believe. i'm thinking 2/0 is the gauge i want, but wanted to check with you.

from the table in the bottom left of page 2 in this link (http://www.generalcable.com/NR/rdonl...tterySS_FA.pdf), it looks like 2/0 will allow for 17 feet of run at 900 cranking amps on our systems. i'll be well under that distance and i doubt our starters draw that much current, even considering the nominal 1500 cranking amp rating of our 2 batteries...

 

JP here a tool I use to figure out what size wire to use. Mind you marine rated tinned wire is actually 10% bigger than SAE wire but it does help to take into account other factors.
Circuit Wizard - Blue Sea Systems

 

JP, I went with 1/0 cable everywhere except the relay wire.

 

cool - thanks, i'll have to try it out. anyone know what the current draw of our starters is?

great, thanks - a few bucks cheaper/foot than the 2/0 stuff :-)

 

I guess 2/0 is overboard, but It might come in handy for a couple 1100CCA batteries.
Like these

 

Wow. Those things are steep. I always got commercial batteries at our local freightshaker dealership. 2 1100cca batts for 200 bucks. And they last extremely well. The ones I the original MOOSE MACHINE are 7 years old now. She still fires up

 

Wow. Those things are steep. I always got commercial batteries at our local freightshaker dealership. 2 1100cca batts for 200 bucks. And they last extremely well. The ones I the original MOOSE MACHINE are 7 years old now. She still fires up

 

Do you have a name or PN on those? I paid that for the 2 850CCA bats I got now, and the last time I tested them, they weren't doing so good!

 

That's a good question and I would like to also know "What is the amp draw on starters on a 7.3 diesel ? "

So you are saying 2 1100 CCA batteries for $200 ?!? That is a great deal !! What brand & size are they ?
Them fancy batteries are nice but I could never afford them.