Dual Battery Setups! Let's see them! Multiple Batteries Thread!

I won't be running a fridge or anything else, just planning on using my thule for cold storage during the winter while we're traveling. We'll be driving from colorado to BC down Cali and then back to NM from feb-march. Worried about subfreezing temps up in BC mid march, and looking for install a dual battery system solely to power a source of heat and possible light for the truck bed. Building a plywood box frame with under storage(things I do have experience in) but have never played around with car electronics. Just looking for the best possible solution to do exactly what we need and not spend an arm and a leg.

 

We've got good negative degree bags, and some down blankets to go with us. Our sleeping surface will be 6" of foam, and then sleeping bags/blankets. Just not sure if we'd be as comfortable as we'd like to be during those cold evenings.

 

Where are you planning on going in BC? Most of BC is fairly mild on average in the winter and starting to get fairly warm by mid March(above freezing in many places), unless you are heading further up north in BC. But it depends on what you conceder cold.

 

We'll be headed to Banff, Revelstoke, and Whistler. If you think it's alright to forego the heating system I think we'd be fine, my GF and others were just worried about sub zero temps during the night in higher elevations.

 

Banff would(should) be the coldest out of those three, followed by Revelstoke and then Whistler and even then the last few years Banff has been warm come March(like some nights barely getting bellow freezing at nights). Right now it is a balmy -23degC in Banff, -11degC in Revelstoke, and -11degC in Whistler. Those are usually what I'd say to expect for those areas throughout the real winter months, though Banff usually isn't quite that cold. Come March when the sun has a little more strength these places usually are quite nice, though you can never be too sure what the weather will do, but I'd say you can ditch the heater if you have decent sleeping bags. And if it is colder then expected get a Nalgene water bottle full of boiling water and throw that in your sleeping bag with you, it makes an awesome heater.

By sub-zero what are we talking freezing or -20degC? Right now it is a balmy -23degC in Banff, -11degC in Revelstoke, and -11degC in Whistler.

 

below 0F, so -17C and below!

 

On their scale it was -22 here (Ft. Collins) yesterday morning. BTW, where in Colorado are you? Shoot me a PM if you need a hand electrically.

 

Y'all keep talking about these group 34 group 31.. My group 27f true deep cycle is 100 Ah

 

National Luna dual battery setup with one oydessy extreme and one performance. On 17 Trd Pro

 

What size battery do you have on the passenger-side

 

On the passenger size I believe it's the recommmened one for the the Tacoma (Extreme), but I'll
Double check for you later. I'm not in the same country as my truck right now lol

 

Mine is nearly complete! Here are a few in process shots

 

I had to relocate the ABS module and remove the snorkel to make everything fit, but the group 31 odyssey battery fits!



You can see the ABS module has been scooted over about an inch

 

I thought about that spot. How are you running the air intake?

 

Probably just leaving it as is. Someone else previously added a flex hose to pull in some colder air. I might do that. Look at these:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-batterys-thread.295653/page-58#post-12632228
and there was another one, I think Chuy. Only reason for removing the intake hose was because the ABS module was in the way of where most dual batteries go.

Fixed, had to use a different host.

 

With the battery, ML-ACR, and power supply breaker installed! The switch for the ML-ACR is in the center console, I still need to make a little bracket to hold it in place.








I ran power all the way to the back of the truck and mounted a 12 circuit blue sea fuse panel in one of the side utility boxes. I added some cheap Amazon LED string lights with a wireless remote and strung them up inside the flippac

 

I found this 3 amp 4 stage charger at costco on sale for 30$, I ran the plug into the cab of the truck. Cut the grommet and sealed it back up with silicon.

 

Hey pulling up an old post.. I was just curious is there a bunch of broom back there? Could you fit three switches if you wanted?

 

Yea a third switch can fit to the right of the"Bed Speakers" switch. However the little hole to the right of the "Bed Lights" switch is where I had an old switch - and there's barely any room behind that.