With all the added lights and the wench I'm planning on installing on the truck. I was thinking I need a secondary battery to power everything. Beside I have a extra battery setting in my garage doing nothing. I'm going to wire everything to the secondary battery so it wont kill the start battery. Also I'll have it set to jump the start battery if needed. My own personal jump pack and I don't have to get out of the truck.

Material list:

3/16" x 2" x 10' $1.25 a foot (8' needed for box, 2' for front bumper build)
3/16" x1 1/2" x 1 1/2" ---- 2 ft $1.75 a foot ( extra for other side project)
3/16" x 1 1/2" x 4' $0.70 per pound DROPS (Look more extra)

Total: 19.37 tax included.

The guy I buy steel from is a mom and pop style shop. Doesn't charge for cuts and has drop AKA leftovers at great prices. He won't cut drop but steel at $0.70 per pound and aluminum $2.25 per pound, what a steal. I do think its funny that he deals in metal but doesn't know how to weld an inch.

Back on topic. Below is the design program pics and some progress pics. Still need to cut the angle braces.

 

Make sure you have a provision for a battery strap. I see it has a stout lip at the base, but I'd still want something holding the battery down.

 

So ..... what group size battery is this for .... and where are you hanging this extra battery and box anyway?

A good hold down would be an angle along the free top side of the battery with long threaded studs (J-bolts) hooked in the holes you show in the drawing's braces pulling inwards and down .... and using brass nuts that don't rust.

 

The design plan has the holes in the brace I still have to cut. Going to use J-bolts and leftovers of the 1 1/2" angle steel.

 

Going to be a group 65.

 

Cut the last 3 pieces for the battery mount. All that's left is some welding, drill 2 holes and get some J-bolts.

 

That certainly should do it ..... where are you thinking of hanging it?

I ask because I've thought of it for the '07 as just is no room under hood for a second 65.

I have a couple 65s in the basement, one is OEM MC out of our '01 Merc GM and I replaced it before a trip out west in 2005. It has been my spare ever since and I have it in a wooden battery cart I built (so no lugging) and I keep it charged (it still test as a good battery). I've also used it as a temp spare in a police car for a few days until I got one through department supply and it's served temporary duty in my '07 FX4 when OEM crapped out and my '95 T-Bird when it's Everlast died one day.

I also have a 4 year old NAPA Legend that test as a good battery a fellow just wanted to be rid of as it was in his way ..... he sat it in the bed of my '77 parked at work one day and said "It's yours". My '77 F-150 has a May 2003 Legend 75 still going in it, group 24. It has room for two under the hood.

I have been thinking of mounting the second Legend 75 in / under one of the trucks and using some heavy switching to switch between them.

 

I'm going to use a WirthCo 150A battery isolator.

 

Last of the welding and drilling done. Only thing left is to buy some J-bolts and POR-15 from work.

 

That should do it ..... though ..... maybe I shouldn't mention it?


Yeah, I will .... I'ld have blended those ends of the hold down angle back into long sides with a 45 degree cut and my grinder to make 1/4 round.

 

there's plenty of space between the frame, behind the bumper.
That's where I relocated mine.