Dual battery install in LC200

[brussum]

Hello all,

I'd like to install a secondary battery in my engine compartment to power accessories (HAM radio, fridge, etc) without depleting the starting battery. I'm good with the battery isolator and general concept, but I'm having difficulty finding a battery tray or kit to mount the battery. If I had a 70 series, then life would be grand, but nobody seems to make parts for the 200. Has anyone had any luck with a dual battery install or have any good sources for parts? FYI, mine is a 2008 200 series with a 5.7L gas engine.

Thanks for the help,
John

[Skrewball]

when i did a dual battery setup on a 200, i ended up putting the second battery behind the ARB bumper. I had to make a custom bracket and the location is not ideal(especially if you don't have a bumper).

the truck didn't have many miles on it and i didn't want the owner to have problems with getting work done, so i didn't relocate the P/S reservoir.

I'm sure someone has done it differently and you might find some more info on Ih8mud

[brussum]

At least I know it can be done. An ARB bumper would be a tough sell to the wife though (I need to sneak purchases like that into the garage). I was really hoping there'd be some way of using one of the many diesel battery trays in my gasoline engine compartment. There seems to be plenty of options in Australia for diesel 200 series rigs.

[sbly]

brussum,

I have the 200 series with the dual battery setup that screwball was talking about. This summer I will be up in your neck of the woods driving the Dalton Highway. I can stop by if you want to see the setup that he built.

sbly

[brussum]

I'm always up for checking out another LC, especially when I've only seen a handful of 200 series since owning mine. Shoot me a PM as spring approaches and we can work something out.

On the batty topic, I did find a battery tray made by an Australian company (of course) called Piranha. They're made for the 200 series with a 4.7L V8, but the setup looks the same as the 5.7L V8 engine compartment. I've found a few Aussie distributors, but the shipping for a A$185 tray is A$120. They mount on the passenger (right) side of the engine compartment and require a slight move for the power steering reservoir. It looks easy and I might give it a go...just not easy swallowing that A$120 charge. Ouch! Anybody want to order a tray with me to split the cost?

[Witchdoctor Oz]

Have a look here.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dual-Batt...ht_1408wt_1141

Freight to north America is expensive, we sent a small box weighing 600grams to northern Cal cost $30.00

Cheers
David

[sbly]

brussum,

You might ask the guys over at the 200 series forum on IH8MUD.

sbly

[brussum]

Thanks for link, David. I contact the company and they quoted me a much better shipping price. I think getting the tray is the easy (and cheap) part, but I should be able to get a good battery isolation setup here in the USA.

By the way, I spent the summer in beautiful Rockhampton hanging out with the Army and RAAF. I had a great time. I just wish I'd bought more gadgets for my LC while I was there.

Cheers,
John

[Equipt]

I saw a very nice install of a dual battery system in a 200 when visiting Safari Ltd. in Grand Junction. No photos, but you might get some insight on what the did. Contact Hugh Philips. They used the National Luna set up. I bet he might have a photo or two.

Cheers,

[brussum]

It's been awhile since I've posted anything to this thread, primarily because I had to collect all of the pieces and parts for the dual battery setup. I ended up ordering a Piranha battery tray from Australia and an IBS battery isolator setup from Adventure Trailers. The battery tray is made for the Aussie 200-series, which of course has a smaller V8 engine (adapting the unit to fit the 5.7 liter may prove to be an install challenge).

I started the install this evening simply by assessing what I have to start with: a battery tray, a battery isolator system, and a Land Cruiser.

battery3.jpg
battery4.jpg

I unbolted the electrical doohicky (not very technical, I know) and the power steering reservoir and will need to find these both a new home. The shortfall in the Piranha unti is that the install instructions stink...but then, it's not made for my exact vehicle. It states something akin to 'cut the power steering reservoir bracket to fit the battery tray and mount.' My problem is that I have several hoses running where Piranha proposes to mount the reservoir. This may be a problem, but I think I can overcome it with some creativity (maybe some longer power steering hoses and a modified bracket. I just don't look forward to disconnecting the reservoir. Other than a little spilled oil, is there anything else I should be concerned with when disconnecting and installing longer hoses? Anybody out there ever install one of these Piranha battery trays?

battery1.jpg
battery5.jpg

The electrical doohicky (which I assume is a power unit for the headlamps as it's marked "HOT") has enough slack in the wiring that I should be able to move it without issues.

Nothing like a little project to pass the winter hours...