how to get 2 batts under the hood?

[Spartacus]

I would like to give my wago a second battery but am really not sure how to. I'm mounting a winch on it and I figure two is always better than one. Is there some way to install without cutting the wheel well? How do I hook up the second battery?

[Brown Bear]

If you're talking about regular old wet cell batteries....then i can't see a way to put a second batt under the hood without doing some well. Can't really even think of a way to put a gell cell like an Optima under there without cutting either....atleast not doing it and being safe. You could always put the batt in the pass. floor, or maybe even up under the dasy....don't know how feasible that is, since I've never personally been under that part of the dash. You can do some pretty effective modifications to the wheel well to fit a second batt in that doesn't compromise your wheel stuff too awful bad.

[gp_frk]

There's an article in one of this months 4x4 rags on how to put 2 optimas in the same space as one. They turneed them both on their sides and made a stack rack for the second one. Looked pretty easy to do. Corse I'm sure whoever came up with is will be charging 150.00 for it.

[Brown Bear]

Originally posted by gp_frk:
There's an article in one of this months 4x4 rags on how to put 2 optimas in the same space as one. They turneed them both on their sides and made a stack rack for the second one. Looked pretty easy to do. Corse I'm sure whoever came up with is will be charging 150.00 for it.Plus the what....$240 for the 2 matching optima batts? Think I'm sticking with d cells and 9v batts....

[River Beast]

You can cut out the inner well and make a steel tray to hold them both... FULMETAL did it... looks good too...

[River Beast]

I found an old thread..... here ya go the link is invalid.... (old photopoint) but I'm sure you can get a good idea...

http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=001516#000008

[irbob]

Hmmmm...seems like the lil ol "Woooooof" had a dual battery setup in it. U may want to check my web page for pix. No pix of the batteries installed though. Just the metal work. I put 2 of the Ever Ready Yellow Walmart batts in it. $65 bucks each and free 3 year replacement. Best warrenty around I believe.

[AMC258]

Originally posted by irbob:
Hmmmm...seems like the lil ol "Woooooof" had a dual battery setup in it. U may want to check my web page for pix. No pix of the batteries installed though. Just the metal work. I put 2 of the Ever Ready Yellow Walmart batts in it. $65 bucks each and free 3 year replacement. Best warrenty around I believe.The great thing about the Wal Mart batteries is they never make it to three years without crapping out, I haven't paid for a battery in years.

[irbob]

Well I will do u one better and give you the link: Dual Batts (http://fsjeep.homestead.com/Dual_Batteries.html)

Some notes: The AC hoses and cold air duct went between the batts. I did have to move the duct over about an inch.

When I do the tray in "Woooof II" it will be deeper. I was afraid of the tire hitting the bottom but there is no way it could happen with soooo much room in the wheel well.

[irbob]

Oh and one other note: I used 1/2" square to weld the 2 OEM trays together. If u notice the binding hold downs are at the outer sides and worked perfectly. They were then bolted down.

[irbob]

AMC258...great point. Mine are now about one year old. One is a marine and the other is a cranking batt. They are both in my boat right now. hehehehe

[Spartacus]

Well, I guess I'll call in a favour and have the well cut up a bit. I've been to your site IRBOB, the pics there will be very helpful as will the instructions for the ignition upgrade, even I can follow along...thanks

[irbob]

No problem. I really need to do some work on my web site but then again I really need to do some work on "Woooof II" also but life is getting in the way right now. Hope my site helps u out some. I do have some pix of the batts installed somewhere but may need the CSI team to help find them.

[J20 project]

Spart, If yo follow the link in my sig line it shows my dual set up. J20

[Don in Missouri]

I beat down the inner fender with a hammer to make room for two batteries. I didn't have to do any cutting. It doesn't look as good, but is functional. I used a $20 manual switch from a marine supplystore.