Battery relocation

[Oberloh]

Forgive me if his has be discussed before, I am not very versed in looking up archives yet.
I am trying to install another aux. battery in my 03 1500. All the deep cell
batteries that I can find with 100 amp hours are taller than the group 78 with a 7-1/4 “ height.
The passenger side secondary location is rather tight and won’t support a taller battery however the original drivers side tray will.
So.... has anyone experienced the procedure for switching the original drivers side battery to the passenger side location?
Or is laying a taller AGM battery on it’s side in the passenger location a better idea?

Thanks

 

[Vaeagleav]

There are many older threads about adding an auxiliary battery and some have uses the "Painless Battery setup". You may get the answers to your questions in those threads.
My question for you would be what is the reasons you have for using a second battery? That may help some of the site electrical gurus to answer your questions too.

 

[Oberloh]

There are many older threads about adding an auxiliary battery and some have uses the "Painless Battery setup". You may get the answers to your questions in those threads.
My question for you would be what is the reasons you have for using a second battery? That may help some of the site electrical gurus to answer your questions too.

Thanks for your help. I am adding an extra battery (100ah deep cycle, hopefully) to power things while camping and generally outdoors. A shower pump for the beach days especially, also to access the 36 gal water tank where the spare tire used to be. I am adding lights to illuminate the rear corners and straight back as I have never had a dealer that could fix my back up lights. Eventually lights in the front, cameras in different places, and maybe a small fridge occasionally. A heater if I ever get back to ice fishing.
Powering and inverter to run some electric tools occasionally. I would rather not have to keep my truck running all the time to use different accessories off the starter battery.

thanks again.

Don

 

[Randy]

One of the things to remember when running two batteries that are charged from one alternator is that they need/should be the same type and age otherwise you will run into charging problems.

If you have one larger battery than the other you will need to add a battery isolator that isolates and monitors each battery and charges them accordingly. They only con to this is that you can't flip a switch as with the common type of dual/aux battery set ups that allows you to jump yourself if the starting battery is discharged. This can can be remedied by just carrying jumper cables and connecting in the typical manner or adding a manual battery switch and only connecting the batteries if a jump start is needed, the other is by adding the solenoid type (Painless most common) and leaving the switch in the off/batteries always disconnected mode..

A larger battery will fit in the aux battery area (passenger side against the fire wall) if you make your own or modify the battery tray to use a different hold down set up. The bracket that connects the fender to the firewall is not used (that's how the factory does it) so you have a little more height or lie you said you can mount a AGM on it's side..


Good luck

 

[Oberloh]

I was remiss in not thanking you for sharing your wisdom.

Don

 

[Randy]

No problem did you ever add a second battery

 

[Durwin]

Hi,
I would say that if you haven't bought the Painless system yet, instead buy RedArc. It's a company from Australia. Pretty much everything is contained in one 6x6" module that mounts behind the grill. Well, I should say, except for the batteries and the cabling. I haven't looked at the Painless Wiring setup since I installed mine, but the RedArc actually uses a gauge so you can see the voltage on each battery.

 

[Randy]

I've seen the RedArc, it's a good product except it cost 3 times as much, not worth it IMHO..

 

[Durwin]

I've bought cheap before. I ended up having to spend more. Plus the truck is paid off. Then again, everyone's budget is different.

 

[Oberloh]

No problem did you ever add a second battery

Sadly, not yet. It's still sitting on a charge in my garage. Seems like life gets busy when you least expect or want it too. Soon In hope.

I'll keep you informed.

Take care.

Don

 

[Durwin]

My Optima deep cycle no longer takes a charge. I'm waiting for a sale at Auto Zone to buy an Odyssey 34/78

 

[avbermudablue]

Sadly, not yet. It's still sitting on a charge in my garage. Seems like life gets busy when you least expect or want it too. Soon In hope.

I'll keep you informed.

Take care.

Don

I've had good luck with the Duralast batteries. I used Duralast Golds size 78 in my 2005 LT Z71. I used the OEM tray with the standard GM hold down block but had to modify the fender brace. I used the KeyLine isolator from Amazon. It's been working well for the last 3 years. I use the second battery for additional interior light, bed lighting, saddlebag lighting, bed inverter, etc. I guess you could fit a larger battery in that space if you are good with metal fabrication, but it is a tight space in the 05 especially to the A/C lines. I believe the newer models with the battery there, the fender has a dimple underneath the battery. Could modify the fender underneath for a larger battery.