The one night I forgot to plug in the '93 and it got down to -5 deg. : When I went out to start it, it would barley crank over. The '02 does pretty good. Is this because it has two batteries ???. So that brings me to my question, is there anybody who has a two battery setup if so, any pics, also does it make a big enough of a diffrence for the hassle of puting in an extra??? Thanks in advance.

 

how old is your battery or what condition are the battery cables in. I have a 92 and have never had a problem with slow cranking. I only have 1 battery and I live in Nebraska and yes it does get cold here. I use an Interstate Battery I believe its approx 950 CCA and has like a 124 min reserve

 

My single basttery was new a year ago last fall, but I think last winter took it's toll. I can't always plug in. This year, it's giving me headaches, without pre-heating. It's one thing, trying to run the gris heaters, then crank at 35deg. Takes a hurting when trying to pre heat, then have enuff amps to turn a 12 deg engine over. It's going back under warranty, and I'm gonna look for a dual battery tray.

 

I don't know if this applies to anyone's situation out there, but I have found that a lot of people run into battery problems in the winter because they make short trips. I figure that it takes 20 min at a MINIMUM to charge my battery back up after a cold start, and that is after the grid heaters quit cycling, without heater motor or headlights on. I have had very good luck in the past putting a trickle charger on the battery for a couple of days. I have had batteries that I thought I would have to scrap until I really brought them up to a full charge, after which they lasted for years. I know there are a lot of variables, but making sure the battery gets charged back up really makes a difference.

 

Its worth the effort to go get your battery from a big truck dealer. They have the full amperage needed for these pigs and aren't that expensive. I purchase the 1125 CCA batteries. Yup I have two of those suckers parallel in the tray. So thats about 2200 CCA on those cold mornings, works pretty good too. You have lots of juice left after firing those preheaters.

I should go take some pics of it. The guy who had the truck before me made a tray out of angle iron right next to the existing battery.

J-eh

 

I put a NAPS 1225 single in my 89 and never had any more problems. The dual set up can be a pain.

 

Lil dog, If you had some pic's, that would be verry helpful. Thanks for input from everyone.

 

I'll see what I can muster.. Gotta push a skiff of snow off the hood and take a peak.. May not get the battery out of the tray but it looks like the guy just measured up the battery and made the iron to fit. There are 2 brackets at the front and back of the inside facing the engine, where they go down to the frame for support. The other side is bolted to the existing tray.

I have seen other double installs on the old tray, just with the batteries turned 90° lengthways towards the engine with smaller batteries.

J-eh

 

I put dual batteries in my truck. I did not do it for starting. the batteries are seperated when the engine is off. one powers my service bed lights and starts my compressor. The other is for starting and the usual stuff. I did buy an 1100 amp battery for starting and it has worked perfectly with the temperatures in the teens.
I built a tray out of angle iron. I would have to go and measure it. I have forgotten the size. the batteries are turned parrallel to the radiator. A front one and a back one. the rear one is the normal starting and truck battery and the front one is for my accessories ;D

 

If it gets cold, its worth having the second battery. Two group 34/75 Optima red tops will fit just right front-to-back on the single existing battery tray. Give your existing battery tray some "sides" that extend up about 2" or so from the flat tray to keep the two batterys from sliding around, buy some universal J-bolt hold downs and spend about and hour in the garage. Yes, the batteries are $100 a piece, but in the end you get 1600 cca's that last much longer than a conventional battery