Dual Battery Setup problem/ query

[Timmay Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Timmay]

Hi Gents,
This is my first post here so please be gentle and if need be please point me in the right direction.

I have got a 2007 Petrol GXL Prado and it is simply the best car i have ever had. A large wishlist over the next few months prior to taking it up the hills for the first time. Recently got a Waeco CF 50 and will be installing some rear drawers to mount it on.
My question comes in here. I am looking to install a Dual Battery system, i will be purchasing it and installing it myself, rang the guys at ARB to get a quote on thier system, they said they dont install dual batteries on Petrol Prados??? After further invesitgation they then said it is ok to install providing i dont have a steel bullbar on the car. Apparently the firewalls on the petrol prados have been cracking due to the extra weight that the dual batteries and bar provide?
I questioned this and wanted to get feedback here as to see if anyone else has heard of this and how to overcome this problem? I obviously want dual batteries for the fridge and camp accessories and later in the year i will be doing the ARB bar and suspension, but this comment now has me concerned.
Can anyone provide me some advice on my problem.
Much appreciated guys and what an awesome Forum you have here.

Thanks
Timmay.

[DarkHorse Member Find all posts View Profile Close DarkHorse]

Hey Timmay,

Welcome to the forums. I think if you search on the forums it will reveal some previous posts to yours.

As far as I know, you/ARB are correct in that there have been reports of cracking due to the excess weight of the second battery and bullbar.

Funny thing is that the dual battery is standard/option on overseas models and it already has a designated space for it!

Not too sure of any fixes etc. I take it toyota will know "nothing".

Regards,


Rob

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

G'day Tim and welcome.

My ARB bloke didn't mention it when I enquired about dual batteries last week - just after getting the ARB bar fitted.

I must ask further.

BTW, can you bowl spin at all?

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

Timmay,
Welcome to forum .
I am about to install a battery in cargo area , which can be removed when not required.
The battery I have is a 120amp AGM which can be mounted upside down, sideways or whatever. There was some doubt about having an AGM under bonnet , so I chose the cargo area.
Details of installation on this threadhttp://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?t=483&start=30

Good luck and I fully agree with your assessment of the awesome forum.

Pedro

[craig Member Find all posts View Profile Close craig]

Timmay
Becareful of where and how you put your second battery in.
I have just had to remove mine due to the inner gaurd cracking and 1 of the mounting holes breaking.
[/img]

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

Hi timmay and craig.

I have only heard the story but never seen it.

Craig, you said yours let go. Do you have a pic?

Jeff.

[Squeaky Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Squeaky]

Timmay
Becareful of where and how you put your second battery in.
I have just had to remove mine due to the inner gaurd cracking and 1 of the mounting holes breaking.
[/img]

I think this is the first time a PradoPoint member has encountered this problem althought it has been dicussed many times. We would all be interested in the details of your setup. From what I have been reading, the cracking only occurs when the front suspension is to rigid or bottoms out too much on the bump stops over rough ground - both due to too much weight on the front end re: batteries, bullbar, winches etc. Could you give us a run down on your setup and offroad experiences?

[siukalo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close siukalo]

I think what the problem here is the fact that the battery tray is flat and where it sits on the guard is not. Effectively that means it does not mater how many bolt you use, only 3 corner is supporting the tray. I have recently bought a tray from ARB Northside and they know of the problem so there is a new tray out for 120.

The new tray has a u or rectangular shaped matal at the bottom of the tray, so it sorta contours to the guard which it sits on. Also it has extended pieces for the tray to bolt onto the side guard is well.

Don't understand what I am talking about? Me either......bad english for yellowman.

Maybe this is easier...

This is my setup:


Here is the battery:


Look at the bottom of the tray, that is the u shape or rectangle thingy I am talking about:


Here is the extending thingy to bolt on to the side:


Hope this helps.
BTW The tray was $180 if you were wondering. Stuart Mcdougall from 120scool told me to get it. He is a great man! Thanks Stuart

[craig Member Find all posts View Profile Close craig]

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z146 ... 81/016.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z146 ... 81/015.jpg


Timmay
The side guard has got a nice hole it it from where they attached the batttery box too.

Siukalo
You might want to look at bracing the side guard where the battery box fits on to as it is weak.[/img]

[Prado04 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado04]

I was told ARB are not using there tray any more and are using the piranha one due to guard cracking.

This is the new one that I have installed.

[Timmay Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Timmay]

Thanks for the help with your advice guys. That is what i really love about this forum, you can get some advice immediatly.
Obviously i need a second battery to effectivly run the fridge so i will be doing as much research as i can prior to an install. I might go and speak with a few other suppliers and gather all opinions. I think a customised battery tray may be the way to go.
I will take plenty of photos and post them when done.
Thanks

Timmay.

[speedcomm Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close speedcomm]

Bugger, I guess the metal in that area is not very substantial. I was only looking under the bonnet of my petrol on the weekend wandering if I could get the second battery up against the firewall on the passenger side, looks like you can on a diesel ! the petrol has the carbon canistor thingy in the road but that is about all, easily moved over a bit. Is a lot easier if the batteries are both on the passenger side for me.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

Well there you go.

I might pull mine out on the weekend and have a look.
I dont want my thingy looking like that thingy, Might need to adjust or modify my tray by putting on one of those thingies.
:P :P

Is that the fire wall cracking that we have all heard about?
Or just the tray ripping out.
There might still be more to this story.

Jeff.

[Timmay Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Timmay]

The other point to add to my first query is that the guy are ARB said that only the Petrol's are effected? Is this consistent with what other have heard and does anyone know why this is the case?

Thansk again

[craig Member Find all posts View Profile Close craig]

Timmay
I own a diesel