DIY 2nd battery mount for accessories

[streetdoctor]

Here's something I've had in the works that I finally got finished this afternoon. I do a lot of camping in the back of my truck and I wanted to rig up a 2nd battery that runs accessories in the bed. What I bought:

Optima Yellow Top
Summit Racing universal battery tray
Yandina Combiner 160
12v Oscillating fan
LED light strips
Heat shielding
Blue Sea fused distribution block

I mounted the battery to a cross brace for the bed using existing holes. I wrapped the tray and exhaust in heat shielding, best I can tell (sitting in traffic in 99F day here in Colorado) the battery will stay plenty cool. I mounted a yandina battery combiner under the hood that will charge the 2nd battery when the vehicle is running. I ran the main power wire for the 2nd battery through the frame with some conduit I found at lowes. I already had a sleeping platform assembled, so I built a little panel on one side to mount all the switches to. As you can see the only thing I have hooked up right now are the LEDs. I'm planning on mounting some more lights, an oscillating fan, a charger for a streamlight vulcan hand lantern, and an inverter to run a laptop/music.

 

[chuck]

Looks awesome! Very cool DIY project.

 

[BAILEY1]

That rig is ready for the outdoors! Nice write up.

 

[HolyRamBatman]

Sweet setup. I need to get something like that put together.

 

[audio1der]

Very well thought out.
Do you use a foamy (tenting) mattress for cushioning on top of the platform?

 

[streetdoctor]

Very well thought out.
Do you use a foamy (tenting) mattress for cushioning on top of the platform?

depends on if I'm solo or with my wife. I have a plush bedroll if solo, otherwise a futon mattress covers the whole area perfectly

 

[Divi]

sweet, i was looking for some ideas on a second battery setup. im planning to put a few outlets in the bed to run tools from though, Tents are for camping IMO.