dual battery kit

[L.E. Sniper]

I wanted to install a dual battery kit on our H2s, but don't know where the second battery will sit, any suggestions?

[L.E. Sniper]

I wanted to install a dual battery kit on our H2s, but don't know where the second battery will sit, any suggestions?

[VTSTOMPER]

Are the batteries the stock large size, or smaller?

[shipbldr]

I just bought a dual battery kit from Northwest, via Teakatoys.

So I'll share my thoughts on this.

The kit from Teaka toys can be found here:

http://www.teakatoys.com/products/showproduct.php/1309.html

I have the kit sitting here on the floor at my feet, and so I'll make some comments about it:

1) Very complete and as close to totally bolt in as possible.

2) I paid $455 + shipping for this? And now I gotta spend another $400 to buy a pair of batteries for it? WOW...

3) It lets you mount a pair of Odyssey 18-PC1200T batteries where the stock battery used to be.

4) This is a good setup in that if I don't watch the inverter use carefully, I have a backup battery, I can flip a switch, and have a fresh battery.

5) A pair of Odyssey 18-PC1200T batteries is the only thing that will fit in this location. These are an excellent, honest to gosh deep cycle and starting battery hybrid. They will last about forever.

6) These are a couple of TINY batteries. They don't store many amp-hours.

7) I have a 1000 Watt inverter which can draw 120amps when the microwave is running. (Yes, our H2 now has a microwave. On the other had, Hong always comes camping with me now. Go figure...)

8) My 1000 watt inverter can drain an optima PC1200 in 20-35 minutes.

9) Solution? I have a wireless remote ignition for the H2. If running th microwave for more than 10 minutes, I start the engine and run it while the microwave is on.

10) Most of our inverter use now is to power a pair of 8 watt florescent work lights (mechanics work lights, you know, on the end of a cord). By my math the stock battery can power these lights for about 80 hours on the stock (not dual replacment) battery setup.

If I had to do it again:

If the above sounds good for your use... Do it.

If I planned really heavy inverter use... I would call Northwest. They will give you a custom kit that lets you mount one monster battery under the hood and a second monster battery over the passenger side rear wheel well. The rear battery connects to the engine bay components with 00 gauge cables.

This custom kit I decribe costs about the same as I paid for my dual optima setup and for the hard core electric user is probably a good idea.

I thought about doing it myself... but my winch is hydraulic and we're doing OK with the stock setup. So just adding dual batteries and idling the truck during heavy extended microwave use is good enough for me.

My cents worth... Feel free to ask questions...

Charles

[L.E. Sniper]

Right now they just have the stock batterys in them. I don't plan on needing a large inverter
on eather of them, I do have a 400 watt that I would like to install on one soon. And no I dont think we will be running a microwave any time soon. I just wont a spair battery in them.
thanks

[DRTYFN]

I've got this. It's the best.http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
http://www.wranglernw.com/commerce/ItemDetail.asp?ItemNo=100%2D605

[shipbldr]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DRTYFN:
I've got this. It's the best.http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
http://www.wranglernw.com/commerce/ItemDetail.asp?ItemNo=100%2D605 </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

DRTYFN has exactly the same part that I'm describing in my post... Thanks for the pic!

[Efrain]

shipblr, where did you get your settup? The price you mention is way below the one on the website provided by drtyfn of $1,200.

[Q8TH2]

Sniper, I've had these for a good 4 months now, I swear by them. Bought the bracket and the batteries from Teaka Toys. Shippping to Kuwait was ridiculously high, but overall im very pleased.