Deep cycle batteries, dual batteries, solar and battery packs

Hey all, I've had some electrical ideas rattling around in my brain for a few days now and was looking for some advice.

The plan is to camp in my truck this summer and a need for 12V access in the bed arose. For a mattress inflator, for lighting, for electronics charging, a camp fridge/freezer, maybe even a mini pellet smoker. I will be mounting a Blue Sea panel:

And to prevent killing my battery, a Blue Sea m-LVD (low voltage disconnect):


I'm not worried about draining my battery with the m-LVD hooked up, but it would be a bummer to need to run the truck often to keep the battery charged.

So I'm looking at four options to avoid running the truck for 2-3 days max:

- Dual battery
Probably the least interested due to the expense of dual battery kits and whether or not they'll fit (2020 Sport, so I don't think a passenger side battery would work). Over $1000 by my estimation.

- Deep cycle starter battery
A battery upgrade is not a bad idea anyway...I've never trusted OEM batteries. I'm looking at a 90AH AGM. CCA *might* be an issue, but I think 580-640 should be just fine. About $220

- Solar
Off the grid goodness, but only when the sun is out. Should trickle charge the battery during the day while also powering the fridge, smoker or other devices. Weather and night time makes this useless. A 100W kit with regulator is about $200.

- DIY battery pack
Using a trolling motor power center, I could put the above deep cycle in it's own portable box. I can keep it trickle charged in the garage or charge it via the 12V panel while driving. The m-LVD should act as a battery isolator and prevent the pack from draining the truck battery if left connected (it should be disconnected while the truck is off). Could also be used as a jump pack if the main battery dies or is drained by some other means. About $300

What am I missing here? Is a deep cycle as a single battery a bad idea? Am I overthinking this and don't need anything extra?

 

You’ve got so many options available to you. I’m running a group 31 battery in a battery cage keep my fridge on 24/7 granted I’ve only had the fridge 2 weeks but left truck off for 2 days no starting issues.
Imho a agm 27f I really like northstar or x2 a rebranded northstar and a 2nd gen 27f battery tray will fit your oem spot just fine. Perhaps get a good suitcase solar setup when you setup camp or a roofrack mounted one.
They trolling motor box is a great idea also since it’s somewhat portable a good deep cycle for that would be sweet hell you can throw the solar panels on that to. Just make sure you have a quality mppt charge controller.

 

Yeah, so many options. I think the best thing will be a combination. The annoying thing is it's much easier to find a rebranded Northstar in 27M configuration for significantly less. Like a Cabela's rebranded 27M is $220 vs. the same in 27F, cheapest I found is about $360.

I have considered getting a generic battery box and building my own power station, and could use a group 31 battery and have over 100Ah to play with. The Minn Kota box only fits 24-27, but is all ready to go.

 

Nice I lucked out got my northstar 2nd hand.

 

It's good to have a rough estimate of your expected amp usage (i.e. average amps with everything running), and expected ah usage over your trip (i.e. avg amp * expected hours out). Then you can get an idea of what your system needs to provide and whether you can achieve that without solar or running the truck.

Keep in mind agms and lead acid batteries give you effectively half their rated ah before damage occurs.

Fridge manufacturers should post avg amp numbers for their products.

 

I'm in the same situation and still researching. I'm going dual battery, because of the accessories. I'm sure I can do it for less than $200 but that does not include the battery. $1000 is just fricken stupid. This Tacoma community is getting ripped off every second and I'm not joining in. All I'm trying to do with mine is prevent the truck battery from discharging into the alternate. That's easy. Charging the alternate is the key. Film at 11.
Zim

 

I now have a full dual battery system, with a blue sea ML battery-tie, with battery mounted on the passenger side in the engine compartment. (With 00 winch wires run forward and aft).

Until then, I used a stand-alone trolling motor battery in a box strapped down in the bed when camping. I charged it while driving using a 120v battery charger powered off the bed outlet, just make sure charger is not too many watts.
Worked fine. I would suggest playing with something cheap and easy like a battery in the bed until you decide what you really want and put all that effort in. Not a bad idea to keep it cheap, I dont think the pay-once philosophy is always ideal

 

Solar and the large battery power generators is the route I am going. Can charge the power generator while driving and use solar when there is sun. The portability of it is really nice, and you can charge essentially anything you want. Dual battery was appealing, but like you stated, way to much money to get the system up and running (and I put a ARB compressor there anyway).

Keep checking Amazon, you can get a heal of a deal on the power generators every once in a while.