Deep cycle batteries-where to start?

Hey everyone, I drive a first gen (03) and I'm looking into a deep cycle battery, as I live in an area that gets very cold and would occasionally like to run things off of the battery when the truck isn't on. I've never undertaken a project like this and have no idea where to start or which parts would need upgraded to accommodate such a project. If anyone could provide pointers or even link me a post that's already talk about just this, if appreciate it.

 

There's gotta be some threads around here..
The TW search function kinda sucks. Just try googling any question with tacomaworld in the title and im sure multiple threads will pop up

 

The only thing differnent I can see between a deep cycle battery (marine/rv) is that there is the possibilty that the deep cycle battery will have screw lug posts. There might be a battery out there with both top mount post and screw lug.

 

If you can fine a high quality AGM battery, it will give you what you're looking for....for a price.

This would do the trick.


https://www.autozone.com/batteries-...group-size-24f-odx-agm24f-840-cca/1335728_0_0

 

In school we were taught that marine batteries are designed to deliver a relatively small amount of current over a long period of time .. and automotive batteries are designed for high current over a short period of time - like cranking the engine.

Just food for thought. I'd be wary of the alternator being suitable for charging a deep cycle..

 

Tons of people use Deep Cycle batteries. A lot of the AGMs fall under that category. I used blue top deep cycle optimas for my house batteries, and they had both style posts which was pretty handy. I had a yellow top under the hood, and per Optima, they were exactly the same as the blue top, just without the secondary posts. All three kept charged off my alternator. Obviously I'm running a 2nd gen, but the OP is just talking about one deep cycle.




Currently I'm running an X2Power 27F deep cycle as my starting battery. Been that way for a few years now. I did need a voltage booster mod, but I'm not sure that's necessary on the 1st gen to properly charge an AGM like it is for 2nd and 3rd gens.

 

What kind of devices are you running for how long?

 

I ran an optima gold top for a while but I think I let it discharge too much winching someone out of a hole and it was never the same after. Seems like if I left it sitting off the trickle charger for more than a day or two is was down to 10v. I now have a X2power that I've been running for about a year without issues

 

How would I know if I need a voltage booster? And how could I find the right one for my truck?

 

Just a meshtastic router antenna setup, maybe 4-5hrs between starts, once a month or so. Relatively low draw, with some occasional phone charging when camping. I'm mostly interested to get some better starting power in low temps (down to -20f in the winters in Utah).

 

Would you happen to know if the stock alternator setup is sufficient to keep this charged without anything getting worn out?

 

The alternator won't see significantly more load by replacing your battery with a larger capacity battery.

Where I've personnally run into needing a higher capacity alternator is when I've added additional electrical load to the vehicle. Things like replacing the mechanical fan with an electric fan, replacing the mechanical fuel pump with an electric fuel pump, replacing 30W fog lights with 100 W landing lamps from a Cessna...those sorts of shenanigans are what get you crosswise with alternator capacity.

Think of it like this, if you put in a larger fuel tank, would you need a bigger filler neck? Nope.

 

I’d get a decent AGM battery and call it good. Meshtastic draw and to some extent phone charging is almost a rounding error on a car battery.

if you’re concerned, you might hook up a volt meter so you can keep an eye on it.

 

From my quick research, the Voltage boosters only started being needed with 2nd generation Tacomas when they moved to having a smart alternator. Your 1st gen wouldn't need one.

 

I camped in some temps down to -17F or so, and I was sure glad to have the extra oomph from my battery. My washer fluid looked like a slushy, but the truck started (slower than usual, but it started).

One anecdotal example I have for the difference between my previous battery and the AGM, when I'd run my ARB Single Compressor with the truck off, you could hear the struggle and how much better it sounded once you fired up the truck. With the AGM, I can't hear any difference between the Compressor's sound with the truck on or off.