AnswerID: 2768 Submitted: Friday, Apr 12, 2002 at 00:00
Rob P
replied:
Wayne,
There are quite a few threads on Dual Batterys in this
forum... simply do a
search for "Prado" and you find some good info. I have a petrol, so this is what I found.
In a nutshell if you go to most off road aftermarket retailers, they have standard dual battery systems for the Prado that will set you back roughly $650-$750 depending on the type of isolator etc. Now these standard systems are great because they are repeatable for the installer, thus giving the installer no suprises as they work off a standard layout. The issue I found was that none of these systems catered for a large 12" deep cycle battery, because of the limited space in the bonnet. So in effect you get a dual battery system, but with only a standard 8" deep cycle .... I believe if you go to the trouble of putting in a dual battery, put the largest one you can fit, to get the maximum amp/hour capacity.
After a few quotes I decided to use my trusty local 4wd
shop to do the install, I purchased a battery tray from Opposite Lock.
I had the standard cranking battery moved to the front passenger firewall position, then installed the 12" deep cycle where the original cranking battery was located.
I went for the Pirhana controller, with a battery tray from opposite lock for the cranking battery.
The cranking battery is relocated where the charcoal canister sits, the tray has mounting holes so the canister sits neatly on the tray... this is very neat. The tray for the deep cycle is just a normal heavy duty tray, which replaces the factory cranking tray.
Also make sure that the installer run at least two hot wires from the auxillary battery to the rear of the car. I opted for one dedicated to my Engel
fridge and another general purpose marine plug.
This did take a bit of mucking around, but in the long run I have a system which now provides more capacity than a standard ARB etc type solution.
Hope this helps
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