battery location? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

85 GMC · 04-16-2003, 02:08 PM

anyone installed there battery in the bed? if so were and how did you do it , cable length(aprox) etc. any pics would help out to ,

thanks 85

Ol' Grey · 04-16-2003, 03:13 PM

I imagine the cable length wouldn't be too much longer. It only needs to reach the starter. So the best placement would be in corner of the bed at the passenger side.

EDIT: Find the place where you want to mount your battery box then drill your holes in the bed. Take a piece of rope and run it like you want to run your battery cable along the inside of the frame rail to the starter. Measure the rope to get your cable length and get a new one at the parts store. If they don't have an exact size that matches then always get the next longest size.

slammedLT1 · 04-16-2003, 03:30 PM

I have mine installed in a marine battery holder on the passenger side at the front of the bed... The way my set up was was that i had 1/0 gauge for both ground and positive. Gounded right at the frame and I brought the positive right to the front of the truck where I had a lightning audio distribution block to go to my starter and to any other various supply. This year i am gonna run a 4 gauge ground from the frame to the engine block instead of the chincy braided wire because I had very slow starts. Kinda scares you to do it right. Other than that I'd mount the box directly to the bed, don't just use the straps cause with enough acceleration you'll be picking up the battery on its side no matter how tight those straps are.. (if you use the same thing.) As for running 1/0 gauge you dont have to but I like it because you have no chance for large resistance plus I will be running electric fans and stereo...

As for one thing I could never mount that rad fluid resevoir right with the battery tray out... probably get something aftermarket

Hope I helped...

PHOENIX · 04-16-2003, 03:35 PM

I would mount it under the bed in a box or in the bed in a box. You want to keep the battery away from the elements (put it in a box!!!). What is your reason for relocation? I would secure the battery very well, something steel that can not wear or bend. Dont go cheap on battery support, thats not something to skimp on.

I would also recommend that you go with an Optima battery. They cost a little more, but they are worth it. I have had one for awhile now and it works fine (knock on wood). Dont have to worry about water or anything. Best battery I ever owned, I will buy again.

slammedLT1 · 04-16-2003, 03:50 PM

good advice, if i wasnt a 17 year old on minimum wage i would have done that! those yellow tops are amazing. my friend had 2 ppi analog amps running 4 12" vegas, we were at a sound off and the jeep was running them at a modeate level for about 2 hours... it was slow cranking but it fired right up after , any other battery would have been toast.
as for optimas... they're the best in the category almost all around and thats in comparison between competition stereo battery (like stinger)... im sure theyll do exceptional for standard usage.

mike

85 GMC · 04-16-2003, 07:12 PM

I want to clean up the engine compartment allittle plus get some weight towards the rear of the truck.
I've got two optima redtops in the backroom ready for something , might as well run one.
I have some freinds that run two , and run a cutoff switch to there alternater , at the strip they switch it off and run with the batteries , for alittle extra horse i geuss.
When the truck goes in to the bodyshop in a couple weeks they are going to pull the bed , then i can run those wires , and put in a fuelcell. just tryin to relocate some weight.
thanks for the replies
85 gmc

*1FaastC10* · 04-16-2003, 07:52 PM

if you're looking to move some weight to the back of the truck, move them as far back as possible. i would think that the corner behind the rear wheel well would be the best for this, and of course on the passenger side. makes for a little longer cables, but the weight transfer will be more than worth it.

04-16-2003, 02:08 PM	#1
85 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: michigan Posts: 121	battery location? anyone installed there battery in the bed? if so were and how did you do it , cable length(aprox) etc. any pics would help out to , thanks 85

04-16-2003, 03:13 PM	#2
Ol' Grey A work in progress Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Marion, NC Posts: 104	I imagine the cable length wouldn't be too much longer. It only needs to reach the starter. So the best placement would be in corner of the bed at the passenger side. EDIT: Find the place where you want to mount your battery box then drill your holes in the bed. Take a piece of rope and run it like you want to run your battery cable along the inside of the frame rail to the starter. Measure the rope to get your cable length and get a new one at the parts store. If they don't have an exact size that matches then always get the next longest size. __________________ Marc Cook 1986 Chevy Silverado C-10 LWB Gunmetal Grey Metallic 5.0L HO, 700-R4, '73 12-bolt rear Long tube headers, 2.5" dual exhaust dumped before the axle. 1988 GMC Sierra SLE 4WD 5.7L, 700-R4, stock everything 6000LB winch Last edited by Ol' Grey; 04-16-2003 at 03:29 PM.

04-16-2003, 03:30 PM	#3
slammedLT1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB Posts: 77	I have mine installed in a marine battery holder on the passenger side at the front of the bed... The way my set up was was that i had 1/0 gauge for both ground and positive. Gounded right at the frame and I brought the positive right to the front of the truck where I had a lightning audio distribution block to go to my starter and to any other various supply. This year i am gonna run a 4 gauge ground from the frame to the engine block instead of the chincy braided wire because I had very slow starts. Kinda scares you to do it right. Other than that I'd mount the box directly to the bed, don't just use the straps cause with enough acceleration you'll be picking up the battery on its side no matter how tight those straps are.. (if you use the same thing.) As for running 1/0 gauge you dont have to but I like it because you have no chance for large resistance plus I will be running electric fans and stereo... As for one thing I could never mount that rad fluid resevoir right with the battery tray out... probably get something aftermarket Hope I helped... __________________ DIGGER 1984 GMC Sierra 1500 LQ4 T56 12B Chopped 2 1/4, Dropped 6/7, Shaved, Yenko Stripes 2004.5 CCSB GMC 2500HD DMAX LLY, 6" Liftmaster, 6 Fox Resi 2.0 325/50/22" Kumho A/T on KMW's LBZ MP, 5"Ex, Bullydog GT 1996 ECSB GMC Sierra 1500 350/4L60E, FL Headers, 2450 Stall, 6" Pro Comp,3" BL, Shock Hoops, , TrXus STS 38's Last edited by slammedLT1; 04-16-2003 at 03:33 PM.

04-16-2003, 03:35 PM	#4
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	I would mount it under the bed in a box or in the bed in a box. You want to keep the battery away from the elements (put it in a box!!!). What is your reason for relocation? I would secure the battery very well, something steel that can not wear or bend. Dont go cheap on battery support, thats not something to skimp on. I would also recommend that you go with an Optima battery. They cost a little more, but they are worth it. I have had one for awhile now and it works fine (knock on wood). Dont have to worry about water or anything. Best battery I ever owned, I will buy again. __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION *

04-16-2003, 03:50 PM	#5
slammedLT1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB Posts: 77	good advice, if i wasnt a 17 year old on minimum wage i would have done that! those yellow tops are amazing. my friend had 2 ppi analog amps running 4 12" vegas, we were at a sound off and the jeep was running them at a modeate level for about 2 hours... it was slow cranking but it fired right up after , any other battery would have been toast. as for optimas... they're the best in the category almost all around and thats in comparison between competition stereo battery (like stinger)... im sure theyll do exceptional for standard usage. mike __________________ DIGGER 1984 GMC Sierra 1500 LQ4 T56 12B Chopped 2 1/4, Dropped 6/7, Shaved, Yenko Stripes 2004.5 CCSB GMC 2500HD DMAX LLY, 6" Liftmaster, 6 Fox Resi 2.0 325/50/22" Kumho A/T on KMW's LBZ MP, 5"Ex, Bullydog GT 1996 ECSB GMC Sierra 1500 350/4L60E, FL Headers, 2450 Stall, 6" Pro Comp,3" BL, Shock Hoops, , TrXus STS 38's

04-16-2003, 07:12 PM	#6
85 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: michigan Posts: 121	I want to clean up the engine compartment allittle plus get some weight towards the rear of the truck. I've got two optima redtops in the backroom ready for something , might as well run one. I have some freinds that run two , and run a cutoff switch to there alternater , at the strip they switch it off and run with the batteries , for alittle extra horse i geuss. When the truck goes in to the bodyshop in a couple weeks they are going to pull the bed , then i can run those wires , and put in a fuelcell. just tryin to relocate some weight. thanks for the replies 85 gmc

04-16-2003, 07:52 PM	#7
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	if you're looking to move some weight to the back of the truck, move them as far back as possible. i would think that the corner behind the rear wheel well would be the best for this, and of course on the passenger side. makes for a little longer cables, but the weight transfer will be more than worth it.



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