two crank batteries ... two batteries in parallel for auxiliary use?

. . . . your single crank battery may not last quite as long as two sharing the current would.

The pajero 3.2 Diesel has two starting batteries in colder climates - one in Australia.

The engine you have doesnt need much to start it,as it is a direct injected.

Many of the other older diesels which are similar to yours only have one cranking battery.

On the other hand, the 100 series may use a lot more power than older models with extra lighting etc.

It also depends on how big your batteries are.

I have 3 batteries which are all isolated so when I stop so I will always have at least one battery for starting

There is no problem with going back to a single N70 cranking battery - thousands of people do it with your model LandCruiser. The same 1HD-FTE motor in the 78/79series had a single cranker anyway.

If you split the batteries, the passenger side battery becomes the starting battery. The only thing coming off the pos terminal of the drivers side battery is the preheat element ( and some people ditch this too!).

Having said all that, I have the same setup in my 79series as you currently run. I like having paralleled cranking batteries. The vehicle starts so easily, the batteries last for ages. I run my fridge mostly off the 3rd battery (AGM) but if staying put for longer, will draw down on the twin crankers. Only downside of twin cranking batteries is if one battery suddenly dies, it will pull the other one down and you'll be left with one dead and one flat battery.

Myles,
With a 130 watt Kyocera solar panel connected daily when camped, or attached to the roof when travelling, I don't think you will have any problems at all with just one good DC battery for the fridge.
The Alternator will be maintaining the charge in the 3rd (DC) battery while your travelling anyway!

Leave the two Cranking batteries as the vehicle manufacturer fitted them, they did it for a reason, to save money was not the reason, so it may have something to do with starting the vehicle :-)

Maîneÿ . . .

If you pm me I will give u a how to do it and some pics With all bits including a relay so that both batteries still start it.
Easy as.

I now run Three batteries in my V8 100series, two crankers wired in parralel with a solenoid between them and a deep cycle as my third for the fridge, if your running gear like a winch, spotties,UHF, CD player and leave the doors open like i do having the second cranker is a bit of piece of mind, i have the solenoid wired with a switch in the cab so if one goes flat first the other will kick in when i press the button and turn the key at the same time, if i had of known about this system i wouldn't have gone and got the expensive ARB setup