Tofer

as i talked about in this thead https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f131/4runner-eating-redtops-118347/ my red top died again, sears replaced it with a DieHard Platinum and allowed me to keep my redtop... so my thought is i take my dead redtop to Costco and return it and then get a Yellow top and get a dual battery set up.. but, where should i mount the 2nd battery there isnt much (if any) under the hood as now, and i dont want a battery box mounted in the rear since i use the back of the runner when camping, and i dont wanna cuddle wiht a yellowtop. any creative suggestions on where to run a 2nd battery?

yotasavg

i'm trying to run duals also, for my subs/amp setup. while i have no suggestion for you since i'll be running mine in the back, do you like the optima's?

Tofer

check the link in the first post... my redtop has been replaced twice in year and half... i'm hoping the yellow tops wont have a problem. other then them dieing, they seemed to be good battery, i could run my stereo for quite a while before needing to start the truck

yotasavg

huh, it helps if i read the links eh? thanks tofer.

Tofer

anyone else?

frodin1

You do need to change to a marine grade battery. Especially with the redtop Optimas, they are not designed to be discharged and charged repeatedly. That is what's killing them and you will continue to have issues if you don't switch to a marine. I'm actually suprised that Sears would warranty it. They seem way overly anal with there warranty program. I've heard of people on here complaining of that specificly. As fas as a dual setup, I have no clue. Toyota didn't seem to leave enough room for playing card let alone another battery. I'd love to do it too, but where?

Bill

We use Optima Yellow and Blue tops at work to power out RTK GPS base stations, and they work awesome.

As for places to mount, how about under the truck? Weld up a nice box, and bolt it to the frame? You might be able to tuck it away neatly opposite the gas tank, or possibly(this would be really tight), mount it behind the t-case on the passenger side. If you could get it out of the way or the rear drive shaft, it would be protected by the tranny cross member

Chief_Yota

id say talk to bumpinyota he knows about this,i got a great batterie too its 770 amp cold crackin,and it keeps diying ,cause i added a good electric fan getting alot of juice when its hot outside,i changed my alternator for a rebuild but just figured out it just dont do crap,so i tough well i should get a 2 batt setup,thats not the awser to your problem ,the awser is here mralternator.com
High Output alternator. thats the bomb right there,just a tought..

EWAYota

heres Rogers write up: http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...atteries.shtml and heres the DUAL BATTERY FAQ thread, lol. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...al+battery+FAQ

AkitaDog

iTrader: (1)

I would not recommended Optima, I would actually say stay away from them. The latest ones are crap!

I have been through three of them in the last 3 1/2 years. Every one would not hold a full charge after about 10 months. And I am not a hard user by no means. And tese are the yellow tops.

Our Suburban had the Interstate battery in it and it lasted us 5 years until we sold it.

Knuckles

odd, Interstate makes Optima batteries.

4runnerguy

all i got is a volkswagen bat and it runs awsome i can have my sub sterio head lights running for a hour i havent tried longer and it does not have eny problems starting and the bat is used

Albert.G

vdub batterys (Y)

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

My old Optima red top lasted about 8 years or so (bought in '97). They don't take to deep discharges, that is what finally got mine.

The Odyssey AGM batteries are great, I finally replaced a pair in my '85 after 10 years of use. Have drained them dead many times and they charge right back to full like new. My 10 yr. old batteries still seem to be fine, maybe a little down on capacity, but I am using them now with some solar panels to run some ventilation fans in my house. You can get the Odyssey batts. in various sizes, smaller ones are easier to find room for:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...l#Installation

As for where to put them, get a tape measure and start poking around in back and under the truck.

4runnerguy

cuz they are awsome its a good bat