oes this set up look familiar to anyone? It's not factory is it?

 

Doesn't look like my factory setup. my driver tray matched my passenger on my old truck, just reversed. Those batt terminals aren't factory for sure, it's a top post screwed to a side post. Solenoid could be, can't remember what it looked like. Seems like mine was smaller though and mounted down under the brake booster further.

 

There is a dual battery option from the factory that would be found mostly in Camper Specials. It was designed to automatically connect to the charging system with the engine running and disconnect when the engine shut off to allow it to be used by the camper overnight, while still allowing the main battery to start the truck in the morning. There might be some images scattered through threads or galleries.

Does the wiring through the system look like it is factory with the tracers through out? There is also supposed to be a plug maybe in the bed or under the bed?

 

My 78 Snow Fighter had dual batteries and as Brian1080 mentioned the aux battery tray was a mirror image of the main battery tray complete with flange that bolted to the side of the inner fender.

 

Yeah, looks like a PO has been in there

Did you have that plug anywhere to get power to an aux port or camper?

 

That's not a factory tray.

I have only seen the continuous duty solenoid mounted on the inner fender midway behind the windshield washer bottle and the firewall... about where that vacuum canister is positioned. However, that solenoid appears to be correct.

 

Thanks for the feedback fellas. I am hoping to use the extra battery to run an inverter while camping

 

are you concerned about reproducing factory, or just working well?

I do a dual setup on all my trucks because I have a car trailer with a winch on it, I also run a 3rd battery on the trailer.

The simplist and most reliable setup I have found over the years is simply using a boat dual battery switch.

It's 100% reliable and never fails. In your case, when you stop to camp, switch to your aux battery and you are 100% seperated from the truck battery, after you restart your truck, switch back to "both".

I've never cared about convience so I always mount the switch under the hood, but You could mount it in the cab if you wanted it a little easier to access.

 

Here is some duel battery set up information:

Dual Battery System: You can connect the batteries with a heavy duty relay. Wrangler Power Products in Prescott, Arizona; sells a relay, three position switch and all wiring for about $100. Switch lets you connect both batteries when running (for normal use), all the time (jump start yourself), or not at all (If there is a problem with the batteries).

Also marine supply houses sell manual switch for use in boats, they will work fine in a car, but you have to turn off the car to turn the dial and switch modes, or else it can fry your alternator.

 

I just wired my dual batteries with the Painless 40103 kit. Works great.

Hope this helps.
Trilogymac

 

A pic below for general information.

One question I have whenever I see an aftermarket add-on is whether it was installed to "good workmanship" standards. There are lots of FTEers in here dealing with headaches of PO hack jobs using household wire nuts, duct tape, and bubble-gummed splices which can cause excessive loads and other components not to work.

 

Both my 78 F150 and my 78 Bronco had the dual battery option.

 

I'm running a JayCorp dual battery Isolator and Optima redtops for both primary and auxiliary batteries. The isolator solenoid remains 'open' until the primary is fully charged, and charges the aux battery only when the primary is full. It also isolates the auxiliary from the rest of the power system when the engine isn't running so there's always a fully charged battery; switchable via a second starter solenoid with a spst that combines amperage if the primary is drained. Works like a charm for -20 degree starts and when you forget to turn your lights off, just flip the switch on, turn the key, and flip the back switch off.

 

Sounds like a nice set-up.

 

I want to add a 2nd battery to my truck soon, but haven't yet found the right tray for it. so this thread helps a lot. wondering if it would be better to try and get the parts that were used for the factory dual battery set up, or are aftermarket trays just as good or better in the opinion of those who have dual battery set ups already ?