[David-mohr122]

Does anyone know of a site that sell a bracket or where do they go as the best spot has a snorkle pipe running threw it

[headwerkn]

Try giving Pirana Offroad/Serious Suzi a call. There's a video on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEbWg0SkVHg - where they install a second aux/winch assist battery where the coolant expansion tank usually sits... as far as I can tell, that gets relocated alongside the washer fluid tank.

The 'Pimp That Zook' series of videos make for good watching, even if they're a little too much talking about products and not enough detail on installing them. Apparently they spent $25K modifying that JLX LWB. Crazy...

Cheers, Ben.

[David-mohr122]

Yeah just pretty sure they have a g16b on if which is a pain
Due to the air intake going in a diffrent direction just want to
Make sure before I buy a 200 dollar bracket

[headwerkn]

Ah sorry, figured it was a 16V like my own '93. For the benefit of anyone else reading....

8V G16A



16V G16B


I'm figuring the space in front of the airbox is too shallow to take any standard 12V lead-acid battery. You could probably find a LiPo type battery they retrofit into racecars, etc. to save weight, but they're not cheap.

Not really any other obvious spots, is there? You could try and relocate the airbox down to the front of the vehicle to clear the space in front of the firewall, but would be very fiddly.

I'd still give Piranha a call, they might have have a solution... alternatively consider locating the 2nd battery in a box somewhere in the cabin. I actually plan on doing both; 2nd smallish SLA under bonnet and larger Deep Cycle under the false floor created by a rear drawer system I hope to have completed this year. Should be more than enough power for a winch, fridge etc.

[DarkHorse]

Alternative would be a solid/gel cell type battery like the optimas which you can install on their side.

[David-mohr122]

Yeah like one of my friends has a yellow top optima under his seat
But currently have my tool set under one and a first aid kit
Like I was looking at it more today I only have I think a 330 cca ( cold cranking amps)
And just saw if my friends larher battery would fit , and my motor has a diffrent
Air box like , the filter is on top of the carby , rather then before so I have a bit if flexibility like I could get a
Small battery eg my current starter battery should fit there if not I'm ripping out
The back seats for a draw system so I can hide a battery there it's just up
In the air at the moment , but thanks for the advice guys

[zoukshin]

If you can fit a tray (15$ for a small one at SCA) and quickly fab some brackets to support it, optimas d34 on their side are a great setup. Just finished mine, tight fit in the GV2 after moving stuff around a bit, but works great.

[Built4thrashing]

There is actually more room in a GV for a second battery. Vitara have a very shallow and tight engine bay and there is not a lot you can easily relocate to fit a normal 2nd battery.

Oh and note the 2 engine bays in the pics above are left hand drive vitara's

[David-mohr122]

It's highly cramped in the engine bay helps not
Having an Aircon pump thought I was thinking
Of just seeing what I could fit in there it's mainly going to
Be for extra grunt running a winch get one of the link things
Sorry I don't know the name but might even fit a deep cycle
In the Space of a draw system as long as it works
And looks some what legal it will be just fine

[DarkHorse]

For a winch you want a high-output cranking battery, not a deep cycle.

I think batteries inside the cabin need to be vented to the outside to be legal... could be wrong on that though.

Oh, and the "link thing" is generally called an isolator.

[headwerkn]

Built4thrashing wrote:

Oh and note the 2 engine bays in the pics above are left hand drive vitara's

Well spotted... I was wondering why the brake booster wasn't in its usual position behind the factory battery.

[David-mohr122]

That's the thing , we I measured it / trail fitted it I can just fit a discovery battery
In the factory battery spot ( friend had one laying around) like I
Know this is a stupid question but a triple battery system
How much of a nightmare would that be to set up

[zoukshin]

triple batteries require dual isolators I guess. but that can be done.
Lots of wiring
Also if you run meters of 2-gauge wire, you'll experience voltage drop and significant loss of power. The shorter the cables the better.

[got_bar_work]

If u have a winch u will want 35mm cable if batt is up front and 50 or 70mm2 if it's in the boot.
If u are only running winch and not a fridge I wouldn't bother with any isolators.

[zoukshin]

Not using isolators means the lower-charged batteries will constantly drain the higher charged one. Pretty sure it's not a good plan.
Some people have recommended using cheap 20$ solenoids without much worries.

[got_bar_work]

If u r using it only for a winch then they will share the load and both charge and discharge together.
If u r running a fridge off one yes it will if u connect them together with the car not running. The alt will charge 2 batt at once no worries. If u r winching u want a faclon alt anyway.