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Two batteries?

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by ZekeR7, Feb 9, 2018.

  1. Feb 9, 2018 at 5:18 PM
    #1
    ZekeR7

    ZekeR7 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    My last off-roading vehicle had two batteries. Need some input on whether I should run two on a Tacoma too.

    All I am going to have on it is six LED pod lights total, a winch, and use the bed outlet for a small compressor when I need to get back on the road after I’m done I playing in the sand.

    I don’t think I would need another battery since I won’t be running a fridge, but curious on what y’all think.
     
  2. Feb 9, 2018 at 5:25 PM
    #2
    OnHartung'sRoad

    OnHartung'sRoad -So glad I didn't take the other...

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    Somewhere in the Mojave Desert...
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    Ive been stuck with an AT bronco on a remote beach solo camping in Baja California for two days due to a dead battery - it was no big deal until the blender stopped working and the tequila ran out :) I wouldnt go solo camping somewhere remote without a spare battery again. I also carry one of those emergency lithium battery starters
     
  3. Feb 9, 2018 at 5:42 PM
    #3
    ZekeR7

    ZekeR7 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Lol!
    I’ll probably just take an emergency battery starter too. Most of my camping trips is just me, my significant other, and our dogs. On top of that, I only camp out for a night or 2.
     
  4. Feb 9, 2018 at 5:42 PM
    #4
    johntoyota

    johntoyota "I'm higher than you'll ever be." -Treetop

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    Solo camping with a dead battery and no jumper bucks does suck.

    I am adding my thoughts to see where this goes. I know there are a bunch of search options for this as there are other posts but more times than not, searching for anything on here is a gigantic pain in the @ss and rarely yields good useful results.

    I would love to run a dual set up on my truck but Im just not prepared to pay the $1000 that most of the prepackaged setups cost. I hope this post may shed some new light on it. Here hoping! :cheers:
     
    ZekeR7[OP] likes this.
  5. Feb 9, 2018 at 5:45 PM
    #5
    Jaque8

    Jaque8 Well-Known Member

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    For your case I think just carrying a quality lithium jumper is fine just in case you do kill your battery.

    I work at a car dealership and I use mine all the time, it'll jump start 10+ vehicles between charges, its a pretty powerful little tool.
     
    ZekeR7[OP], shakerhood and TACOVRD like this.
  6. Feb 9, 2018 at 6:14 PM
    #6
    shakerhood

    shakerhood Well-Known Member

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    I have a small booster pack, surprised by the power it has, plus it sits in the truck for months at a time without losing much.
     
    Jaque8[QUOTED] and ZekeR7[OP] like this.
  7. Feb 9, 2018 at 6:18 PM
    #7
    Jaque8

    Jaque8 Well-Known Member

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    Seriously it holds a charge better than the cars themselves! I mean I understand the cars will draw a very light amount of current which will eventually drain the battery. But still if I park a brand new Accord for a month the battery is DONE. But like you said if I can leave my tiny little battery jumper sitting somewhere for MONTHS and it will STILL jumpstart a dozen cars.

    I'm really loving the technology, it was kind of unfathomable to have something like this 15 years ago you had to carry around one of those massive R2D2 style jumper boxes.
     
  8. Feb 9, 2018 at 6:25 PM
    #8
    ZekeR7

    ZekeR7 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks! I’ll probably go that route. I haven’t really thought of getting a starter since I thought they are still bulky and take up a lot of room which I don’t have when I’m camping.

    Any recommendations?

    Ya I don’t want to spend that much if I don’t have to which was why I turned to TW =]
     
  9. Feb 9, 2018 at 6:27 PM
    #9
    johntoyota

    johntoyota "I'm higher than you'll ever be." -Treetop

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    There was somebody on here I saw once that had pieced together a set up that seemed to work well. Good luck finding it.
     
  10. Feb 9, 2018 at 6:32 PM
    #10
    Jaque8

    Jaque8 Well-Known Member

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    I had whatever generic one they sell at costco for $60 and it worked great.... but then I realized it wasn't powerful enough to jump start my buddy's 6.4L diesel Ford, so I left it for work duty and now have a this:
    https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GB40-Ul...27&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=battery+jumper&psc=1

    its surprisingly compact it fits in my glovebox but I keep it in the rear seat storage with a bunch of other gear. I can attest the 1,000amp version above WILL jumpstart a totally dead F250 diesel. I've also charged multiple phones and still jump started multiple cars so it has some capacity.
     
    remgu2000 and ZekeR7[QUOTED][OP] like this.
  11. Feb 9, 2018 at 6:50 PM
    #11
    shakerhood

    shakerhood Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Feb 9, 2018
    remgu2000 and ZekeR7[OP] like this.
  12. Feb 9, 2018 at 7:12 PM
    #12
    EagleUSMCRet

    EagleUSMCRet Well-Known Member

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    ESR Magnetic Mount MAGSafe charger for iPhone; AVS Vent Visors; Replaced Entune system with Kenwood Excelon Head unit, The Taco Garage DMM for Qi charger, Owl Dash Cam and Motorola GMRS; LED interior light upgrades, ARE Z Cap w/ Yakima Rack, Front Bed Rail, Bed Rug, Tuffy Bed Lock Box, Add a leaf, Pop and Lock, Blendmount and mirror tap for radar detector, AVS Hoodflector, Redline Hood Gas Spring mod. A/C drain mod, X2 Power Premium 27M battery, Debadged the tailgate, Compustar remote start, USB charger for the rear seats, Husky Mats, Lexus Credit Card Transponder Fob, MAG Light mount, twin Hella Sharptone horns, Bedslide, Gasshole, Meso Fuze cover, TRD Gas cap cover, Passenger side locking door handle, Mr. Produxn license place mount, Total Chaos Bed Stiffeners, Valley Runner Tune....help me I can't stop!!!
    great tip! brand? link? trying to plan my next purchase.
     
  13. Feb 9, 2018 at 7:14 PM
    #13
    ZekeR7

    ZekeR7 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I’ll probably get the generic ones since I don’t know anyone with a 250/2500+. I’m surprised at how small they are based on pictures!
     
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  14. Feb 9, 2018 at 7:38 PM
    #14
    EagleUSMCRet

    EagleUSMCRet Well-Known Member

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    Thanks
     
  15. Feb 9, 2018 at 9:59 PM
    #15
    aaronarakaki

    aaronarakaki Well-Known Member

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  16. Feb 9, 2018 at 10:08 PM
    #16
    IronPeak

    IronPeak PermaLurker

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  17. Feb 10, 2018 at 11:02 AM
    #17
    Jaque8

    Jaque8 Well-Known Member

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    Please post a build thread.... So I can shamelessly copy your setup :)

    I used to be really into the BMW scene and always love that they put their heavy big ass batteries out of the way in the rear, clears up so much room for activities under the hood!
     
  18. Feb 10, 2018 at 11:12 AM
    #18
    phsycle

    phsycle Well-Known Member

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    I saw the install video on youtube. Seems like a good product. Still costs $600. And that doesn't even include the batteries. If you need two batteries, do it, but seems like an unnecessary mod for the OP.
     
  19. Feb 10, 2018 at 11:15 AM
    #19
    Jaque8

    Jaque8 Well-Known Member

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    I've seen these and yes I think they're the smallest on the market, barely the size of an iphone and would work great as a general backup.

    But for a backcountry backup system be careful with the lower rated ones, they may still start big engines sometimes but they might let you down at the worst possible time. In cold weather they lose a lot of their punch, my generic costco one had started big V8s in boats and other trucks before... but it wasn't until we were on top of a peak in the middle of nowhere that I realized it wasn't powerful enough to jump the F250 (it was just below 40 degrees that morning so not even THAT cold). I still have a set of jumpers with me so we were fine I just used by truck, but if you're planning on using this as an emergency backup out there solo... definitely buy a more powerful one than you think you need as a totally dead 3.5L V6 in freezing weather might be too much for the smaller ones. For our Tacoma's I'd get at LEAST a 500Amp like the first one you posted... but even then for only a few $ more I'd just get a 600-1000A just to be safe. The second link is only 300A I would not fully trust that to start my truck if I was by myself out in the sticks, but thats a great value for using around the city.
     
    shakerhood likes this.
  20. Feb 10, 2018 at 11:25 AM
    #20
    GroupW

    GroupW Well-Known Member

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    3 inch lift with Toytec Boss and All Pro UCA's up front. AP expedition leafs with Bilstien 5100 shocks in the back. 255/85/16 Cooper S/T Max tires. All Pro skids, rear bumper and sliders, Hidden winch mount with XRC 8000 winch. Dual Optima batteries with IBS combiner/isolator and solar. CMC. Auto sliding rear window mod, hidden CB, CVJ axles and plenty of other little mods.
    I have to second the "at least 1000 amp" idea. I have a dual battery with isolator/combiner. Main battery runs all of the OEM needs, the second runs accessories like a fridge, camp lights etc. The NOCO Genius is really small, and though I've never needed it out in the real world, its a lot of peace of mind. I have used the NOCO several times at home just to test things out and it works great - even with a cold engine.

    My dual battery setup
     
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