2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Ideas needed for battery relocation please

[Mundgyver]

Need some input ideas as to where to relocate both my batteries. I am looking at making it easier to service things under the hood and install a couple of more mods.



I would like to know and see what others have done, what works, what does not. In general the pro's and con's of moving the batteries.



Thanks for the help in advance.



-Wally-

 

[HAnderson]

Go to red tops and mount them upside down under driver. has work great for two years. Howard

 

[moparguy]

Funny you mention this subject. I just came in from the shop after spending a bit of time on the creeper looking at the underside of the truck trying to decide how to do the same thing.



My goal is to have a swing down assembly that will hold the batteries in plastic boat box's with the lids in place.



Looks like the best place is at the rear of the cab under the drivers butt. On my club cab there's a recessed area that might work without having anything hanging down to low, may still need to fab a skid plate to protect things though. At the moment I'm thinking about welding a couple of brackets to the frame for attachment/hinge points.



I think you'd have less distance to the starter than stock when you consider total cable length for both batteries (or at least no more) plus lots of room under the hood.

 

[nps]

Be careful where and how you weld on the frame. I know some of these new frames don't take too well to the heat - don't know if the Ram frame is one of them.

 

[BRobertson]

I relocated my batteries several years ago, and have been very happy with the setup.

I have a UTE bed (highly modified) on my truck. I fabricated an aluminum enclosure for the passenger side, just behind the cab and under the bed. It contains 3 bluetop Optimas. I installed a 1000 amp battery switch ( designed for a diesel marine application) on the back of the box. The switch is great for when you are working on projects that require disconnect of batteries.

I replaced the OEM cables with 00 welding cables throughout.

Bob

 

[ndurbin]

I relocated my passenger side battery underneath the front passenger corner of my flatbed along the frame. Used a platsic battery box and bolted it to an angle iron frame then bolted it to the frame of the truck. No problems so far and it's been about a year since I moved it back.



Nathan

 

[todt061458]

When I bought my new batteries they were too large for the battery tray so I mounted them in my In bed tool box no problems so far I could have mounted them of the frame but I just did not feel comfortable welding or drilling my frame. no problems so far and they are locked away and dry I even gave them a battery warmer blanket so they would be comfortable. :-laf

 

[Dennis Garrett]

It's something I've alwanted to do, but never did. My truck always felt a little nose heavy anyway, and I thought it would help if I got those big batteries off the front end, and put them on the outside of the frame behind the passenger side of the cab. The weight would partially off set the weight of the driver and the 35 gal fuel tank on the opposite side too. Batteries really don't need much service anymore, so really don't need to be under the hood anyway. Also, they could be connected with short cables instead of being 4' apart under the hood.

 

[Mundgyver]

The only problem with under the bed on the frame is getting at them when something goes wrong or they are collecting lots of mud, ice, and just general dirt. That is the only drawback that I can see. In the bed with 00 welding cable might be the way I go. I am still looking and seeing what I can find. I like being able to get at things easy.