Second aux battery - bed or in cab

[chorky]

So some previous discussion has been had here:
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ifferent-temperatures-a-problem-or-not.66658/

But since this is not really temperature/charging specific, making a new thread.

I am at a crossroads for mounting in bed vs in cab.

In cab

• Pro
  • out of the way
  • secured to floor so does not bounce (using genesis mount)
• Con
  • longer wire run needed
  • unable to easily switch out battery type to switch pro system
  • unequal charging temperatures
    • could result in over/under charge

In bed

• Pro
  • short wire run
  • can hook up to blue sea isolator to run switch pro off of this and under hood aux battery, or only under hood battery, or only this battery
    • allows option for future expansion to lithium
• Con
  • unsure of mounting style
    • battery boxes secure to bed but don't really secure battery inside the box - so it can bounce around
  • takes away space in bed - this space originally was going to be for 3 5gal water can

I think in the bed makes the most sense still - however, I haven't come up with a good solution for mounting. Obviously a battery box, but I'm disappointed that thus far I have not seen a battery box that actually secures the battery. Most boxes have a strap to tie down the lid and box as a whole, but leaves the battery loose inside. A tray is another option but then it leaves the battery exposed requiring building something over/around it.

Curious to see what others have done.

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[Beemer533]

I decided I wanted all my aux electronics/battery to be protected in the cab and I didn't want to have it in the bed taking up space when I wasn't camping.

If you aren't doing a seat delete the answer might be more difficult, but I have no use for the rear seat in my case.
You should also consider where the devices are that will be connected to the aux battery. Although in my case I wanted my fridge to be in the bed so I had to compromise there.

This is the temporary setup I did to test things out and I've been really happy with it. I'll be reorganizing it soon to take up less space but I'm not moving anything out of the cab.

I ran 6awg to the underhood battery for the renogy DC-DC charger and a 6awg into the bed for my fridge.

To be clear, I'm talking about my lifepo4 aux battery. I also have a genesis underhood dual system.

 

[chorky]

I decided I wanted all my aux electronics/battery to be protected in the cab and I didn't want to have it in the bed taking up space when I wasn't camping.

If you aren't doing a seat delete the answer might be more difficult, but I have no use for the rear seat in my case.
You should also consider where the devices are that will be connected to the aux battery. Although in my case I wanted my fridge to be in the bed so I had to compromise there.

This is the temporary setup I did to test things out and I've been really happy with it. I'll be reorganizing it soon to take up less space but I'm not moving anything out of the cab.

I ran 6awg to the underhood battery for the renogy DC-DC charger and a 6awg into the bed for my fridge.

To be clear, I'm talking about my lifepo4 aux battery. I also have a genesis underhood dual system.

I already have a full electrical distribution setup built and in the bed on the right side - in my build thread if anyone wants to read that. I also did the math calculations here.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/genesis-batteries-lets-do-some-math.62165/

And post # 32 here
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/destination-unknown-2022-jtr-journal.66430/page-3

I am sticking with AGM for now. The genesis should work fine for one night trips, and the factory battery removed added to it should work for 2 night trips. I don't really want to go with lithium at the moment.

It's a tossup because under the passenger rear seat leaves room in the bed for water and camping stuff, but it means that battery will be permanently connected and removes the ability for lithium expansion in the future and also means potential for unequal charging with under hood temps different than in cab.

But in the bed obviously takes away some storage space and I just haven't found a battery box I like yet and was hoping to not have to build something around it - that might be the only way though.

 

[Beemer533]

I forgot I read through that thread lol regarding your preference for Agm...

Either way, I'm not sure why in cab would preclude upgrading to Lithium? Obviously the charger would be different (the renogy I have can change between agm and Lithium for the aux battery with a push of a button, the charger for the underhood battery can only be agm as far as I know).

I don't camp in the winter so I just flip off my breakers and pull the Lithium Battery to keep it from freezing.

If I felt like it I suppose I could just replace it with an agm for the winter, but I don't need that currently, especially with the Genesis system.

When my Lithium is removed, I just jumper the #6 from the front to the #6 going to the bed so I always have power in the bed regardless of whether or not the lifepo4 battery is installed.

 

[chorky]

I forgot I read through that thread lol regarding your preference for Agm...

Either way, I'm not sure why in cab would preclude upgrading to Lithium? Obviously the charger would be different (the renogy I have can change between agm and Lithium for the aux battery with a push of a button, the charger for the underhood battery can only be agm as far as I know).

I don't camp in the winter so I just flip off my breakers and pull the Lithium Battery to keep it from freezing.

If I felt like it I suppose I could just replace it with an agm for the winter, but I don't need that currently, especially with the Genesis system.

When my Lithium is removed, I just jumper the #6 from the front to the #6 going to the bed so I always have power in the bed regardless of whether or not the lifepo4 battery is installed.

Well I suppose it wouldn't totally prevent putting lithium in the cab - but lithium in the cab later on would mean either totally re-doing wiring from the AGM setup or running an additional set of wires to the bed - not that doing so is impossible but that just means more wire. As for a charger - since it is currently AGM a DC/DC is not needed. It would only be necessary for a lithium setup since the factory batteries are AGM and the charging system is designed as such.

I don't really camp in winter either - even now with temps today in the low 40's theres too much snow to really go very far. But I don't really want to have to remember to remove batteries. Besides, I still use my electrical stuff. For example, 2 days ago I went to town to get groceries. Outside ambient temps were in the 40's. Since it's more than an hour drive back home, I threw my frozen and refrigerated goods in the fridge to keep them cool. If I had a lithium setup and the battery was removed then that wouldn't have been an option.

Similar to your own setup of jumping the #6 wire to the bed when your battery is pulled, then using a blue sea switch I could switch over the battery to run off of the Genesis aux underwood if/when the lithium was pulled. I already have that blue sea battery selector (not installed) and that was sorta my idea. with it, to allow option of running off of the under hood aux, or running off a in bed aux, or combine them (if both AGM).

So in the bed is kinda my preference honestly just trying to find a way to mount it and keep it covered seems the difficult part kinda. I might have to just get a battery box and make some adjustments - but was hoping there would be a plug and play option.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I put the battery in a box attached to the frame behind the rear wheel on the passenger side. There is a Smart Isolator next to the battery. I used a Warn winch extension cable set to run from the Isolator to the battery.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/diy-dual-battery-setup.23232/

 

[sarguy1941]

You can get good battery boxes if you search. Drag racers use them. I got one for my car trailer from Summit racing. Think it was $100. It has a tie down inside and the cover bolts on. The battery does not move at all. Also depending on the battery a standard ammo can will hold a 12V35ah battery about perfect. I had one in our JK that our radio gear ran off of. There was a little room on the end but put a block on the bottom. and had fuses and stuff on the top.

 

[chorky]

I put the battery in a box attached to the frame behind the rear wheel on the passenger side. There is a Smart Isolator next to the battery. I used a Warn winch extension cable set to run from the Isolator to the battery.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/diy-dual-battery-setup.23232/

I remember looking at this a while back. That's a pretty sweet idea and location. But it would require removing my Rubi bed sliders - not really something I want to do and kinda risky for rocks I think. It would be cool if there was more space there to push it up higher. Its interesting that that box keeps showing up in my amazon searches

the cover bolts on. The battery does not move at all. Also depending on the battery a standard ammo can will hold a 12V35ah battery about perfect. I had one in our JK that our radio gear ran off of. There was a little room on the end but put a block on the bottom. and had fuses and stuff on the top.

Can you post a link? I have been looking for several weeks and have not seen any battery boxes that have a lid and a tie down internal to the box to secure the battery.

Not sure that an ammo can is the right way to go, then I would have to fab up some straps inside to keep it secure. This is just a batter for my existing systems so I dont need any sort of fuses or connections - just a box that will bolt to the bed, and will tie the battery down in the box.

 

[sarguy1941]

Here is the link to summit. First one in list has a hold down.

https://www.summitracing.com/search...ry Boxes and Trays&kr=Battery Boxes and Trays

As for the ammo can thing. I'll grab a picture in the AM. I have one on my otehr trailer for my winch. Its bolted to the tounge of the trailer and as said the 35ah battery is tight in the box. Its not going anyplace. I just laid a piece of rubber mud flap on the top of battery to protect the connections. The battery is as wide as the box. Its not going anyplace.

 

[Newlife]

Just as an add to this I am running two 100ah batteries in the bed inside a front runner wolf pack. The box itself has no tie downs but that was easily sorted with two tie downs and a cam strap. I use a high lid and rubber covers over the posts. The plus side is that my blue sea safety hub and victron monitor all fit in the same box and allows me to only have the wire from accessories and redarc bcdc1250 d going in and out of the box.

 

[Newlife]

The good is the batteries are protected from the elements and have enough venting to allow them to stay cool in the warmer months. And takes up less room than two battery boxes in my instance. The other added benefit in my instance is my fridge is full time in my bed. So that Soave behind the fridge is useless for me

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