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Cheap, simple, removable extra battery setup?

entoptics

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Looking to add 50% or so power to R2. I don't spend weeks at a time off grid, or have a pile of fancy overlanding accessories, but I do get out into some sketchy areas and would like to have a little insurance and some extra headroom.

Wants...

1) 50-100 AH lifepo4 (save some weight over Pb). Capable of jumping/starting the truck in a pinch (with cables, not necessary while in place).

2) Battery strapped/secured in bed, but easily removable. No need to have it jouncing around or taking up space day to day, and it's nice to have a battery that I can leave at base camp for everyone to top off their phones and lights and gadgets.

3) No need for full charging from the alternator, but needs to at least get some watts from the truck while driving about. Honestly, the 15A accessory ports would be plenty of power for my needs.

I had a similar setup in my 4Runner, where I added a Pb marine battery with a holder that I cobbled some cheap switches, usb ports, and cig plugs into the lid. I got a double ended 12v cig plug (fused), and plugged one end into the accessory port in the back of the Runner and the other end into one of the ports in lid. It fed power to the ACC circuit in the truck when it was off, and took power when the truck was on. Worked pretty well for me. In fact, the 12V accessory ports on the Runner were keyed, but with my battery plugged in, they were always live, so I could charge my phone/flashlight/laptop/etc from the marine battery, even when the truck was off.

Can I do the same thing with LiFePO and the more "modern" electrical system in the RR?
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joprato

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I am currently looking into the Same sort of thing, similar setup, and I’m Lea ing towards a Harkorr battery box at the moment.
Here the link in case you’d like to have a look, maybe it works for you.
Ciao !

Link to the battery box
 

harper7

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I had the dual battery setup in one of my old beloved 4Runners too(pic below) and it worked great. However ,modern portable battery tech is much easier, safer,more reliable and are multipurpose. Do some research on portable LiFePO4 batteries. There is a lot of competition.

I have a Bluetti AC180P and it's been great. You can get waterproof ones like the AC200 or AC240 if it's going to get wet. They make a alt/charger for them,called a Bluetti Charger 1 that I don't have yet. My AC180P runs my Viofo A329 4k dashcam when parked and last 2-3 weeks recording .

The Aussies have a battery setup for behind the pass rear seat that is ideal ,but real expensive. Bluetti makes 4 inch thick back pack batteries that would work there with some bracket relocation ingenuity and might do in the future. Much cheaper to DIY.

For battery jump chargers, Noco or Wolfbox are top tier . I have Noco Boost Plus for years and jumped many other cars and always works as advertised.
Here is my old 4runner battery set up pic...
Ford Ranger Cheap, simple, removable extra battery setup? Picture 016
 
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Mystic

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I think Dakota Lithium's Power Box 60/100 fits your criteria. I use it in place of a true dual battery setup when I go camping.

Can start your truck...don't believe there's a ton of options that can do that
 

Mike9816

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Offered the same solution to someone here and was ridiculed for a battery bouncing around in the bed! I have a deep cycle battery secured in the bed near the DC outlet. Works great.
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