Has anyone done a duel battery setup in their ranger. I was loking under the hood of my 2000 ranger with a 3.0, and don't see to much room for a second battery. Thinking I might be able to do some trimming and pounding to the current location and turn the present battery sideways, then add a second directly behind the first. So has anyone tried this before???


Richard

 

Why would you need a second battery?

but either way Ive seen it done and placed in the bed...

 

n3elz has one

 

The only thing dual batteries are good for is winching or if you show and have a high end stereo system that you want one battery to supply so you can use the primary battery to start the truck.

If you run dual batteries make sure you put in a battery isolator. They isolate the primary battery so that if the secondary battery is run dead, the primary will not be drawn off of so you can start the truck/car.

You also have to make sure your alternator can handle charging 2 batteries.


n3elz has one for winching.

 

Winches, air compressors, backup starting etc... I spend a fair amount of time in the back country huntin and fishin, and don't like getting stranded.
The wirin isn't a problem, my biggest issue is of where to put the battery.


Richard

 

you have a winch and a compressor?

 

Ive seen one stuck under a aftermarket cone air filter

 

I actually asked this same question a while ago. N3ELZ was nice enough to show some pictures (which I cant find at the moment) of a setup someone did. He took out the stock airbox, put on a cone filter, and put an Optima turned on its side in the space left. I've also seen a setup where both resevoirs were replaced with smaller ones to make some room in there. I'm probably going with removing the airbox idea.

Ha! found it!
https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ttery+location

 

The airbox area should work. One of the plans in the back of my mind is to shorten the air tube, install a cone, then use the airbox to store a strap. Same could apply with a battery.

I also see 2 of the real small batteries installed in the place of one big one. There is switching in the aftermarket to allow you to run off of both batts or your choice of one or the other. That would solve the problem of starting if one battery dies on you.

 

only problem your gonna have is that you will need to shorten the tube alot and that will make you move the mass air meter. and that will mess up your engine running

 

Moving the MAF will not mess up how the engine runs unless you cross wires up. The MAF doesn't care how far from the throttle body it is.


I like the PowerMaster battery isolators myself. They are SUPER easy to wire up and they will NOT allow your primary battery to die if you are using electronics with the truck not running. I have one that I am considering putting a second battery in the BII and using it.

 

As long as the MAF is still a straight shot and not at the bend it should be fine. The wiring is long enough to move it also so no cutting/splicing would be needed. The only issue I see is extra heat since it will be next to the radiator.

 

The extra heat would only be present under long periods of stopped engine running.

 

A sealed battery can be placed in the cab if you have an extended cab ranger. In the bed, otherwise. If the two batteries are the same they can be wired in parallel with no isolator with out any worries.

 

You should NEVER install a battery in a cab; extended cab or not. Batteries can explode, do you want to be in a cab with a battery when it explodes?



You shouldn't wire in batteries parallel unless they are both brand new; the older battery will kill the life of the newer battery.

Not to mention that you NEVER want to run dual batteries in a vehicle in parallel. If you do and you run accessories with the truck not running, you WILL drain both batteries and be stuck where ever you are not being able to start the truck.

 

Some vehicles came stock with a battery inside the cab/car

 

The 3rd gen RX7 guys would run a Odyssey battery into the storage bin behind the driver's seat so they can run a bigger underhood intercooler. No one ever had a problem.

 

80's VW vans.

 

I have never seen a vehicle that had the battery inside the cab.


And look how good those did...



The only way I would consider running a battery inside the cab is if it was in a 100% sealed box.

 

My Aunt had one for 23 years with no problems. Original motor and trans.

 

Some examples of NON-Sealed batteries inside the vehicle are Buicks, which have them under the back seat. Also Chrysler 300's, Magnums, and Chargers have them mounted in the trunk by the spare tire.

 

some Land Rovers came with a battery under the front seat


the orignal beetles and things (type 181) had them under the rear seat

 

I can unerstand why someone would think they need a second battery, but they shouldn't need one if their charging system is on par. I don't think your gonna need a winch when your truck is turned off.

 

Its not so much as the charging system is off par, but it just can't keep up with the demand. When using a winch, they use lots of amps, if you use lots of amps, while still having to power the truck, the alternator can't keep up with it, so it is going to start sucking power from wherever it can: the battery. If you put in a 2nd battery, mainly a deep cycle to avoid damaging it from extended discharges, you can avoid the chance of shutting the truck off and not being able to start it again.

 

First I'm suprised to see so many nay-sayers on the subject, second my primary reason for a second battery is redundency (been stuck in the desert with a dead battery before). A winch is next on the list, then possibley other goodies down the road. But my number one reason is peace of mind.

Well I did some some lookin and found that if I did some trimming and moved some things around I can get 2 group 34 batteries to fit side by side.

First I moved and reworked the bracket for the EVAP thingy.

That allowed me to move the porportioning valve closer to the cab. Only had to put a very slight bend in the brake lines.

The batteries will fit in sideways rather than front to back


still need to finnish the new battery tray/holddown and do the wiring.
If any are intrested I will try to keep progress updated.

Richard