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https://www.offgrid4x4.com/products/2005-2017-toyota-tacoma-dual-battery-tray-side-by-side
This is the battery tray that I am using. You will need a Redarc BCDC charger to keep the spare battery charged correctly.
I spent alot of time researching this and then spent a bunch of money I didnt need to in order to get it to do what I needed it to do.
I could literally write a story about stuff that I researched and learned about this. Do you really want to go into that kind of detail or do you just want the
cliffnotes?
I went the lazy route and bought the full off grid system. they weren't offering Redarc when I bought (been running it awhile now). interested in VF tuner after he releases 2.0 for it.
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I am very interested in this. Do you have any info on it? This would make it so my main battery charges at 14.7 also.Ive been running a dual battery setup for a few months now. Currently im just using the odyssey battery as my aux battery, I do have plans to replace the starter battery later this fall to match the aux battery, but so far no issues with the current battery setup.
OffGrid makes a great mount, I had some challenges getting it to fit for some reason but it worked out in the end! I also am using their mount for the redarc bcdc1225 system underneath the starter battery. I do have plans to change the charge from the alternator to get up to 14.7V with OVtune's new VFtuner (currently running 2.0), which will allow me to fully charge the aux battery instead of the normal oem 13.4V (not really a full charge on the aux battery).
I am very interested in this. Do you have any info on it? This would make it so my main battery charges at 14.7 also.
Did OVTune make a difference?
This is what I plan on going with as well! I can't mount by the airbox anymore because I've filled that with a arb twin compressorThe Genesis setup is what I will get eventually: https://www.genesisoffroad.com/2016-2020-Toyota-Tacoma-Dual-Battery-Kit_p_46.html
This is what I plan on going with as well! I can't mount by the airbox anymore because I've filled that with a arb twin compressor
For what it's worth, OGE offers the complete REDARC set up you're trying to write up. I purchased the set up from them you described earlier - AGM aux battery, factory start battery, REDARC DC-DC charger, and a cable harness that you can even pay them to prep and label so all you have to do is terminate the points.Sorry its taking so long for the write up. I started it and some stupid shit came up. I gotta deal with this because I cant think straight right now. I will get to it as soon as I can guys. I apologize.
Your not the only cheapo out there. I like your setup. Quick question how many amps does your alternator put out?I'm a cheapo so I installed a "Battery Doctor" isolator. I used a SDHQ Aux Battery Tray assembly with SDHQ battery hold downs for both batteries......included with tray assembly. Then pieced the rest of it together using circuit breakers, terminals, and wire that I had on hand. Going on a year and a half, running this setup. So far, so good.View attachment 23733View attachment 23734View attachment 23735
I run a dual battery, but my second battery is on the passenger side. I haven’t heard any bad things about it yet and hope not too.I put a Genesis Dual Battery kit (with Dual Odyssey batteries) in my Taco a few years back. I would recommend NOT doing this. The location where this setup is mounted is not robust enough to handle the added weight. Their kit blew through the sheetmetal, knocked off my oil-filler spout, and knocked a hole in the top of my radiator. Oil was spraying everywhere and radiator fluid was flowing. This happened on the Mojave trail and after a few years of offroad abuse. Don't go dual battery...bring a small jump-start battery if you feel the need.
I put a Genesis Dual Battery kit (with Dual Odyssey batteries) in my Taco a few years back. I would recommend NOT doing this. The location where this setup is mounted is not robust enough to handle the added weight. Their kit blew through the sheetmetal, knocked off my oil-filler spout, and knocked a hole in the top of my radiator. Oil was spraying everywhere and radiator fluid was flowing. This happened on the Mojave trail and after a few years of offroad abuse. Don't go dual battery...bring a small jump-start battery if you feel the need.
So I also have an odyssey group 34R battery. Just one in the truck right now. With the red arc setup the auxiliary battery would be charged correctly but without the tune I would still have to charge the main with an external charger like I have been correct? Or does the redarc charge both?Not a dumb question.
So I have the Off-Grid dual battery set up as well as the Redarc BC-DC charger. You need the Redarc BC-DC charger if you are running AGM batteries because they need the 14+ volts to correctly charge the batteries. I am running 2 Odyssey Group 34R batteries. I linked them with 2 gauge oxygen free car audio wire. Literally have almost as much in wiring as I do in 1 battery. You can also accomplish the 14+ volts by purchasing the OV Tuner from Orange Virus and using a map set up that ups the voltage from the alternator. Yes, you can isolate the batteries which I have done with the Blue Sea ML-ACR. I usually have my batteries isolated unless I am charging the secondary battery.
Ive done so much research on this, if you have any questions, hit me up. I can send pics of my set up if you need. People on this forum are awesome and most can help. I started a write-up on my battery setup, but then life happened and I had to put it on pause. I will probably finish it in the next few weeks and then post it here.
If you want the Redarc BC-DC charger, let me know as I am not going to need it now due to the fact I am going to order the VFTuner probably tonight.
thats actually a really good point, anything we can do to avoid the taco lean hahaI prefer passenger side battery set up . That way the weight is distributed evenly