I am installing a 9000 lb warn winch in my 06 ranger. I am looking for ideas on where to install a second battery and isolator. Doesn't look like much room under the hood, thinking about putting one in the tool box or maybe under the box.
Has anyone installed a larger battery under the hood? Anybody know the ouput of the alternator on a ranger?

 

As for the output, i'm pretty sure it's 95 amps on all ranger except the Tremor that has a 130 amp alternator. I would suggest making a custom air intake system, with a pipe coming out of the throttle body and curves around pointing to the firewall on the passenger side, and put a flange on the mass airflow sensor and put on a K&N. You'll need to make a bracket to hold it up, but it will free up the huge air box area behind the passenger side headlight, and it will leave you a spot for a second battery.

Another option for the battery, would be under the front of the bed on the passenger side, with a bracket off the frame rail, that area is open. it will cost a lot of money to run the cable that far though.

 

How about mounting the second battery on the winch or the bracket. You might not need a second battery for the winch if you use it wisely. Like engine running, lights off, etc.

 

I like the idea of using two batteries for winch applications (with an isolator between them) but it isn't always necessary.

Most of the off-road guys I know use an Optima or similar battery, and just up-size it.

Wire size is more critical than battery output in most cases, and typically, you have the engine running while winching anyway. Just turn off all the accessories and you'll be good.

If you are still thinking about double batteries, AND a winch up front, you might want to consider moving both batteries to the bed. You are adding a lot of weight to the front end, and likely could use some out back to balance it. If you do that, use some good grade cables (not just how big they are -- but also how fine the wire is -- finer the better). Jegs, Summit, and others have battery re-location kits that are all set up. I'd probably recommend mounting the battery in a battery box, and then venting it to under the bed, if you mount them out back. Just sticking one in your tool box isn't a bad idea, except that the fumes need to escape somehow, and you need to make sure that you don't let stuff get onto the terminals -- hence the box...

With the Optima type dry-cell battery, you also don't have to worry about mounting position. You can stack two on top of each other, sideways, with the terminals sticking out the side. Many Jeep guys do that, to double the batteries.

I'm running the battery, radiator, coolers (oil and tranny) etc., behind the cab on my Ranger project truck. Nothing up front to get hit, and also a good weight shift rearward so it climbs better. Makes a huge difference if you are going extreme.

 

my buddy has a metal tool box in the back of his yota, he cut a hole in the corner of the tool box (on the side of it) mounted a battery box inside the tool box, still gets air and protection from rain, snaked the wires underneath the truck up to the front. he did a good job on it.