NEED HELP ASAP in desert: battery relocate/wheel well failure

Dearest Tacoma Peeps,

I am in desperate need of some skilled hands/mind to help me resolve this pressing issue of complete structural failure of the wheel well supporting my two Optima batteries. I am working in the Barstow area during the week and returning to Palm Springs for the weekend and am hoping some of you tech-savy desert runners might be able to give me a hand. I don't have any tools down here and could use an opinion from a more experienced mind. Any takers? I'll compensate fairly to the best of my ability...

So basically, the previous owner had plopped a second battery run in parallel into my truck (in theory for the stereo and auxiliary power), but did a novice job installing the setup. Basically, the dual-battery tray was screwed into the wheel well, but the corrosion had set in before I noticed in and proceeded to rhino-line the wheel well and add additional support to the battery tray. This temporary fix has now failed and I am at risk of catastrophic failure (Just the other day, the supporting bracket touched the positive terminal and grounded out on oil filter burning a whole through it and coating my engine with oil). I was lucky an caught it almost immediately before toasting my engine, but any day now the batteries might just fall through the wheel well (see photo). As of right now, the camburg UCA pushes up against the batteries during turns or small bumps. i don't want to baby this truck any more or else it might start crying on me...

I had been working with a shop up North, but funding ran dry and had to retreat to the desert for work before getting it fixed. I have some income now, but not trying to run myself dry if I can avoid it. However, I need to get this fixed asap and it will be much cheaper than what could result...

A few options exist: I don't believe i am running enough auxiliary to need the second deep cycle and would be okay just running one. Since they are just run in parallel with no isolator, I had wanted to install a monitoring system like IBS or National Luna, but for the sake of cost and lack of need, it is more practical to run just one, or keep the two in parallel.

So the question is: get some serious welding done to fabricate me a new bracket/ support system for the batteries under the hood, or relocate it (them) to the bed? If the latter, running wiring will be the cost and hassle. I got a JL Audio JX360 amp running two 10" subs in the doors, but no other extras as of now. Down the road, lights, winch, and mini-fridge are on the list, but I gotta get this fixed now before I think about that shit.

i don't know of any good techs or shops in the area, but am open to paying the price if someone has a good recommendation, but I'd prefer to chip one of yall some funds, and get to help out. I'm in Barstow/ Palm springs, but am open to travel within reason.

Let me know if anyone has advice or wants to help. Any send positive thoughts my way in the meantime. No more busted oil filters... or falling batteries for that matter.

Thanks Peeps,
Desert PineTaco
-Will

 

Run one battery for now and fab something better when everything else goes in. A properly functioning charging system should more than handle subs and an amp even if the ac, windsheild wipers and lights are on.

 

what did you end up doing?
pics?

 

This was OPs last post, he was never heard from again. At least not heard from on TacomaWorld after this post. In case you hadn't seen the time post this was 5 years ago.

 

yeah i know its been a while since last post...was just a shot in the dark for info