Battery Relocation Advice

[Peanut74]

Ok, I'm working on the chassis some and I'm planning on relocating the battery. (Doing one fender repair from battery acid is enough) So I have been doing some research and found the images below. The information I am looking for is the pros and cons of the various options and your experience with them. Also, if you have another alternate options please let me know. Thanks

[Getter-Done]

Wherever your final location for your battery will be,
I use these battery mats pictured below.

They really help.

Disclosure: I am not a Paid spokes person
















.

[truckster]

You could do what Mercedes/Fiat/Chrysler did with my daughter's Sebring. I just recently changed her battery. To get to it, you have to remove the LF tire, remove the inner fender, and then there's a little box you have to get the battery out of in the lower corner of the front fender. The designers sure must have had a laugh when they came up with that one.

[Ironhorse]

Or do like I have done with a lot of vehicles. Just buy a plastic battery box and place on top of the battery tray area. At times a bit of trimming on the box has been required but has solved the battery acid leakage for me.

[LS short box]

I put mine battery in front of right rear wheel close to the front of the box. I made a couple of "L" brackets to hold the battery mount. Kind of a bit pain disconnect the battery cables but very doable.

[Hatzman]

The second picture from the top left is how I have my battery set up. So far so good!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Peanut74]

Well my current thought is to put it on right side frame rail just behind the bed front. The box will be a drop type to make battery access easier, in theory. Mount a disconnect/remote jump post on the firewall. Just not sure is this is the best plan/location for the battery.

Truckster, I know what you mean on the new cars battery locations. Each time I change a battery it's like a treasure hunt to find it. Even more fun changing it.

[firedemon]

I dont know if I like the idea of putting the battery back near the gas tank like that . what about gel batteries I know theyre more expensive but not as much as moving it

[Richard2112]

I've been kicking this idea around also. I do not like the idea that my Battery is is on the passenger side while alternator, fuse block is on the drivers side. In my view, electrical should be consolidated with the shortest runs. However, the starter is on the passenger side but that's a brief period operating device. I had considered putting it (the battery) on the frame rail behind the cab but I like having easy access to the posts. If it was just the acid that concerned me, I'd get a mat or a plastic bottom pan or something like that.

My interest in moving my battery is more to clean up the engine bay, consolidating equipment and short clean wire runs.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by Peanut74

Well my current thought is to put it on right side frame rail just behind the bed front. The box will be a drop type to make battery access easier, in theory. Mount a disconnect/remote jump post on the firewall. Just not sure is this is the best plan/location for the battery.

Truckster, I know what you mean on the new cars battery locations. Each time I change a battery it's like a treasure hunt to find it. Even more fun changing it.

Here is a nice battery box for sale
Link:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=806821

This item is sold









.

[ImNoSpaz]

I have my gel battery dead center in cab behind seat. Tanks been relocated so no issues. It also makes it a hole lot easier to add stuff in the cab without finding spots to run the wiring. Jump starting will blow.

[LS short box]

I looked at the drop down battery holders but I wasn't convinced it would give much better access. I am running a Optima battery so its a bit smaller than a normal 12 volt battery. In the winter I just disconnect the negative cable and hook up the battery tender. No battery in the engine compartment really cleans up the look of engine bay.

[Peanut74]

Nice looking engine bay LS. That is one of the side benefits of moving the battery I am looking at, cleaning up the engine bay. I've relocated the gas tank so I do have room behind the seat. But I was wanting that area for speakers, electronics and extra leg room.

It is looking like my best option is the passenger frame rail at the front of the truck bed. The advantages as I see it is:
-No more fender repairs from acid
-Shorter power run to starter
-Clean up the engine bay
-Ease of installing the battery box to frame

Cons:
-Getting to the battery after the box in on the frame rail
-Road trash getting thrown up on it

[LS short box]

I didn't think about road trash but I just looked at mine and there isn't any build up. Having said that my truck will never see any gravel or muddy roads. Last summer we drove thru a really heavy rain storm for about 60 miles with no ill affects.
They battery holder bolts together in two pieces so unbolt the holder and the battery can moved out fairly easy. I didn't trust the battery holder just bolting it to the frame so I made two L brackets, bolted those to the frame and then the battery bolted to the L brackets. I had my box off when I did this so access was easy. I will try to get a pic.

[Richard2112]

Originally Posted by Peanut74

Nice looking engine bay LS. That is one of the side benefits of moving the battery I am looking at, cleaning up the engine bay. I've relocated the gas tank so I do have room behind the seat. But I was wanting that area for speakers, electronics and extra leg room.

It is looking like my best option is the passenger frame rail at the front of the truck bed. The advantages as I see it is:
-No more fender repairs from acid
-Shorter power run to starter
-Clean up the engine bay
-Ease of installing the battery box to frame

Cons:
-Getting to the battery after the box in on the frame rail
-Road trash getting thrown up on it

Speakers/electronics behind the seat. Good idea.

[LS short box]

Here's a pic although not so good as I noticed the positive cover wasn't all the way on. I fixed it.

[Peanut74]

Thanks for the pics LS. It help confirm that my line of thinking on battery placement and how to utilize the area behind the seat. Did you build you speaker boxes or buy them?