Hey guys,

I want to add a second battery to my truck to power my fog lights, offroad lights, and my sound system. I have seen mnay guys put their 2nd battery in their bed, but where to I drill the hole to get the wires trough, or is their a hole already there( i couldn't find one). Any information on this subject would be greatly appricated. Thanks in advance.

-Matt

 

I'd like to know more about where you'll mount the battery, and what kind of wiring you're doing. Personally, if I was going to do it, I would put in a battery isolator. A battery isolator charges the batteries independently, and allows you to run seperate accessories off of seperate batteries. Installation is fairly easy, there is a .5 volt drop usually with an isolator, but it's my preferred way.
You could also just wire them directly together, just to have more battery capacity for everything. Either way, make sure you use very heavy duty wire, run it through wireloom underneath the truck, and make sure that you use good grommets anywhere the wire goes through metal so it doesn't short out. People will also probably tell you to use 2 new identical batteries. I didn't find that to be a problem when I used a battery isolator, but might be a problem if you wire them directly together. If you wire them together, you also need to make sure that you wire them in parallel (positive to positive, negative to negative). If you wired them in series, you'd have 24 volts. Sorry if any of this is obvious to you, just trying to help.
You may even be able to get the second battery underneath the bed. I'm not positive, but I've looked around and it seems like you could fit one up there somewhere out of the way.
Someday when I have the money, I'll probably put in a battery isolator and a deep cycle battery mounted under the bed. I did this in my VW van and was very happy with it. Sorry for another long post...

Brian J Wilson

 

Thanks Brian,

I plan to place it in a isolated container in the top left(towards the window) of the bed, it will be part of a box that i'm making. Thanks for all the info, i appricate it. I'll let you know how it goes.

-Matt

 

You might also consider swapping out your alternator for a higher-amp unit.

 

Ya i thought about that, but I'd rather to a second battery. I think it would be easier. Thanks for the info.

-Matt

 

I think they have 150 amp alternators for 99 dollars on ebay.
vs the stock 90? amp unit.

If you need 2 batteries you might need a higher amp alternator to keep them charged while your running all that stuff.

Rand