Relocating Battery to Cab

The rod that secures my battery kept ripping the sheet metal mount, causing my battery to get thrown around on the trails. I bought a Camburg tray with an Odyssey PC1500 & welded some nuts to the bottom of the mounting plate. I wasn't expecting it to last due to how thin the metal is, and it's finally failed. Going to relocate my battery and I'm unsure if I want to just throw it in the bed, or maybe remove the rear seating and add some storage.



I was hoping to get some feedback or pics from folks who have removed their seats for storage or have their battery in the cab. I'm about to go pull the seats and take a look at some mounting options. Figured I could move my compressor to the passenger side and consolidate all the mounted items there, then make a platform for my dog to lay behind the drivers seat. This would also be a good opportunity to get rid of the carpet for the all weather floor as well.

 

I don't think you can do that. Isn't there some law that prevents you placing that toxic box in the cab?

 

AGM's are toxic? They have no hazmat restrictions. They're also a sealed battery.

EDIT: Just looked them up on the Odyssey website.

US Department of Transportation classified as a ‘non-spillable’ battery. No acid spills, no escaping gases.

 

I'd be much more tempted to make a battery box or find a creative way to secure it in the engine bay. Gasoline and batteries are never great to have as passengers.

 

I'm honestly just tired of dicking with all the sheet metal. Pretty much anything with some weight that gets attached to it is going to need constant repairs with LT. As soon as I'm done relocating the rear shocks my next project is tubbing the wheel wells, so keeping it in the bay isn't an option. I just don't like the idea of it being in the bed where shitheels can steal it, or it'll get rained/snowed on all the time.

 

They are safe to transport from the DOT's perspective due to being non-spillable.

But they are still a lead-acid so while in use they can vent hydrogen if they overheat or overcharge. Since your cab is potentially an enclosed space it's still good practice to put them in a battery box that vents to the atmosphere.

Boats, for example, still do that.
http://www.boats.com/how-to/sealed-batteries-still-need-venting/

That said, it's certainly doable and not a bad idea. Just take time to be safe.

 

How about building a cradle and mounting it under the bed?

 

They make boxes for this purpose.

Look at buggies that are trail only rigs. They relocate batteries in all sorts of creative ways that stay out of the weather and are very secure.

 

I'm kind of surprised by everyone's perceived danger of this. Many AGM's are advertised as safe to mount in-cab, upside down, or however you want since it is a sealed unit. Folks don't think twice before buckling into a pressurized cabin on a commercial aircraft with hundreds of batteries capable of producing hydrogen, or putting a cell phone battery up to their ear. If there was this much danger involved, it seems like the manufacturers would avoid liability concerns by NOT making these statements. Just stumbled across this if anyone is interested. Looks like a pretty slick setup. Hopefully the owner is still alive, lol.

 

I seem to recall a certain oval shaped rear-engine car that had the battery under the rear seat. And that had a regular lead battery. Of course it had other issues with the bottom of the seat ...

 

I had an audi with the battery under the rear seat. As long as it is secured and vented properly you should be fine.

IIRC, the battery had a drain tube that went through the floor of the vehicle.

 

maybe forgo the sheet metal and fabricate something out of angle iron? Just a thought.

 

I was thinking the same thing...a metal fabricator should be able to set up something sturdy in there.

I have my 2nd battery on pass side wheel well, next to ABS brake thingy. I couldn't fit a grout 27 in there, but it might fit if your Taco don't have that brake stuff in the way.

 

Exactly. Accepting realities that you may not avoid forever isn't being afraid. I think an AGM is ideal for this and if you plan for the chance that any lead acid battery can vent while charging then you reduce your chance of being the one-in-million guy.

Every manufacturer says it right in their literature:
http://www.odysseybattery.com/documents/US-ODY-TM.pdf

Which just means if there's not a normal turn-over of air you need to make it so the battery can vent to the outside. The inside of aircraft cabins are sealed, as would your truck cab (or camper) if the windows are up.

This is what they use on aircraft:


FWIW, I've worked places where we built spacecraft power supplies and battery chargers, which were lithium long before you could buy them as consumers. For engineering and flight test on actual batteries (most development is actually done with battery simulators) there were explosion-proof cages or sometimes whole buildings. I appreciate what can happen if they get too hot.

 

All Cadillac DTS's have none AGM batteries located under the rear seat. They are vented under the car.

 

Same for Buick Rivera's.

 

Leave the battery where its at. You do NOT want the battery in the cab.

At least I don’t if by some chance it explodes or when it starts to leak. They also corrode and I don’t need that shit in my truck.

Sounds excessively complicated when they make bolt downs for batteries that cost virtually nothing.

 

My XC90 Volvo has the battery in the rear of the storage area under the floor and it's vented to the outside however the battery itself is enclosed in a metal box under the seat area.
TOMB

 

Looks like a really clean install, but there is no way in hell I would risk it.... sure they are sealed and can be mounted upside down and all over, until you get in a wreck and you get a battery acid shampoo and now you or a loved one looks like Sloth from Goonies...... Roooccccckkkyyy Roooaaad....

I have had a battery explode as I started a truck before, I thought I was a mob target at first..... but then I realized what had happened after the smoke cleared..... blew the top of the battery completely off, left a dent in the shape of the battery on the hood....

 

I'll be moving my battery soon, to an area behind the cab. Toyota put the weight of the battery in the worst possible place, where it gets the most possible abuse. Enclosing it in the cab is fine. It should be securely enclosed, well mounted and vented. That's all. I would only do this with AGMs though.