I will be placing a dual battery setup in a 2004 F550 that has the V10 engine. I already have the tray and small pieces from a diesel donor truck. I'll have to do a little fab work here or there, adjusting how the battery sits in the tray, the exact position of the air cleaner housing and perhaps the power steering reservoir. Just depends. It looks like the battery will clear everything. But only by 1/4 inch etc.

For now however it appears I need to move the charcoal canister for the gasoline emissions system. It's a long tube like canister that sits right in the way.

My questions is, what are my options for the position of that? Can I move that down to the frame rail and extend the hose? I know I've owned some GM vehicles that had the canister on the frame rail. But I wasn't sure about the hose coming up into the engine compartment then having to travel back down to the frame rail. I believe the evaporation plumbing on the frame is steel tubing and I'd rather not cut it. I'd rather just extend the rubber hose.

Other than that, it should be a pretty simple procedure.

 

why dont you just put the second battery box under the passenger side attached to the chasis. there is plenty of room and thats how its done on the E series. Much easier and electrically the same result.

 

Just for a little background....the truck is a fire department service truck. One battery has done fairly well over the years (it has an upgraded alternator from day one). But I just want some additional reserve capacity. We've had to install some additional radio equipment and additional lighting on the truck. Amps really isn't an issue. I just know that the single battery has always had a tough life by itself and needs replaced about every three years. With dual batteries, our Kussmaul charger systems can keep those good for about 7 years in groups of two or more.

 

When you say under the passenger side...do you mean under the floor pan area? Or further back behind the cab? I'll consider this but I'll have to look what kind of room I have.

The only other reason I'd have to keep it under the hood is that since I may or may not always be the person working on it (or driving it)...no matter how many times I tell people that there is a battery on the frame down low...I know someone would forget about it down there. If there was a problem with that battery they'd only see the one under the hood and assume it's single battery setup.

We've got some good members. Don't get me wrong. But I have dealt with the carnage left behind from other fire fighters using and working on stuff. And it's not always pretty.

 

a second remote (out of site) battery is always dangerous for the ones that DID NOT install the second battery.

out of site, out of mind.. and tags or signs almost NEVER get read..

 

I installed and e-250 battery box under the front passenger area in an f-250 and about to do it again on an f-350. There's enough room on the side of the chasis frame for a couple of boxes so space is no problem. I ran the hot right to the alternator connection so it met the one from the main battery and the ground went to the nearest bolt hole on the chasis.

true some might not see the battery box , so a few tags near the main battery to indicate there is a second battery might be the answer.

 

I can get a E-Series battery box for the frame. It would simplify the whole job. But on a 550 chassis...what's the likelihood there are frame holes that would match the box. I'm not keen on drilling the frame on this truck. I suppose I could make brackets that adapt the box to existing frame holes. I'll have to look.

If I do chose the left side of the engine compartment, I will need to move the EVAP cannister. Does anyone see an issue with moving it down to the frame (lower) and simply extending the evap hose? Or does the EVAP cannister have to be higher than the fuel tank? I've seen them lower than the tank, but on Ford F series they always seem to be atop the inner fender liner in the engine compartment higher than the tank.

 

I'd be interested to hear the answer to this as well...

Did you ever science out where to put your vacuum canister...?

 

The e series battery box is the way to go if you want to add a battery.