Dual Battery Cradles

[Hazza Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hazza]

I'm looking at getting a dual battery for my 120 diesel Prado. There are a number of brands and styles that fit behind the drivers side head light. There is also the ARB unit that's between the passenger side firewall and fuse box. This set-up limits the battery to a 10" only and ARB's reasoning placing it there is cracking with the inner guard behind the head light. Has anyone used the ARB cradle and do you feel it's been the best for your needs and has the smaller battery been adequate for winching. More so running a fridge and general accessories? I am happy to place it behind the head light but not too impressed with the trays available on the market in particular having to drill holes in the guard. Anyone have a ripper set-up they would like to share?

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

G'day Hazza,

... I am happy to place it behind the head light but not too impressed with the trays available on the market in particular having to drill holes in the guard. Anyone have a ripper set-up they would like to share?

I have a 120 D4D and found the Offroad Downunder Battery Tray required no drilling. I was very impressed with its build quality and the way it so smoothly fitted. More info in the thread:

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...r-Battery-Tray

LFaR.

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

The ARB tray worked wonders at being a mount for my inboard compressor!!! Never used it for a battery though...

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

I haven't seen anything written about guard cracks since around 2007,
maybe Toyota addressed this issue with the Prado update that occurred
around then. I and a friend both have a 2008 models with Piranha mount
behind the head light and no problems with cracking.

Cheers
LeighW

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

Howdy Hazza
I have the same as LeighW with no probs

Regards Adam

[JohnMartyn Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close JohnMartyn]

I have made some good progress on the battery cradle for the car - it's almost finished.I am Very happy with the Pirahna gear. They manufacture everything themselves apparently, so that's maybe why they are so helpful etc.. they trust their stuff.

[Axewell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Axewell]

Yep, I was happy with them too JM.
Very helpful despite me asking them questions after they told me not to try and install the cradle myself.

[Hazza Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hazza]

Two good trays from what I can see.

LFaR,

You mention that the Down under tray requires no drilling yet the instructions say two holes up top need to be drilled. Am I looking at the same tray you have?

Adam,

With the Pirahna can you advise how it’s actually mounted? I can see the use of the two captive nuts in the raised factory bracket being used but what is used to mount the opposite side being the driver’s side if the bracket? Is there a tube between the tray and the inner guard using an existing hole? Also can see a bracket disappearing from under the tray off to the left (driver’s side). Is this secured using the earth captive nut or does a hole have to be drilled here?
http://postimage.org/image/zdzm0xedb/

Hazza

[Axewell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Axewell]

Hope you don't mind me chipping in.
With the Piranha the bracket on the left goes onto the earth captive nut, then the earth wires are replaced over the bracket.

[sparksy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sparksy]

Be careful when drilling the hole for the bracket that goes onto the radiator support above headlight. Normally mentioned as "drill where 4 is stamped". The steel is wafer thin and the drill bit WILL bite in and pull itself through. This usuall means a drill bit through the headlight housing, I know because I did exactly that. Was lucky and didnt drill through reflector but came close.
Put a piece of sheet metal between support and headlight.
I had to remove headlight and seal up hole with sicaflex.

[Hazza Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hazza]

Axewell,

Thanks for the info. I have also had advise that if you place a 50 x 50 mm box section over existing holes to the left of the factory bracket (drivers side) you can support the cradle without drilling any holes in the vehicle. The Piranha (as you advised) bolts to the earth cable so this will also stabilise it. Once I will get all this made I will post photos. Anyone like myself who's opposed to drilling holes when possible can copy my design.

sparksy,

Thanks for the advice but I'm attempting to do all this without drilling any holes. I spent 16 years in n the motor industry and in the early days fitted more accessories than I care to remember and all to new vehicles. I truly understand what your talking about and the best thing in that situation is as you said place metal between the drill bit and what needs protecting. Just a tip, if you use a used or partly blunt drill this will prevent the drill bit violently pulling through the metal and damaging what your drilling through.

Hazza

[kevinbloomfield Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kevinbloomfield]

I went for the tray from TJM, very strong and well made. I have a big battery sitting in it and I'm very happy

[Hazza Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hazza]

kevinbloomfield,

As it turned out yesterday I called TJM and ordered the Piranha battery tray. When I turned up this afternoon to collect it they mistakenly ordered the TJM tray. I was disappointed this mistake was made until the staff showed me the tray. I soon become elated as the TJM tray was very well made (personally more so than the Piranha), fitted with ease and cheaper by $50 +.

The tray requires one hole only to be drilled but I will get around this by supporting it underneath.

Tick that one off the list.

Hazza

[kevinbloomfield Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kevinbloomfield]

Yep, I was really happy with it. Picked up a great battery deal (Full River) from Wynum Batteries down near Brissy and now I don't worry about my fridge draining the battery.
Got Projecta dual battery isolator off Ebay ($100+ cheaper than Batterywise)
Really pays to shop around, not all of us have deep pockets!

[Hazza Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hazza]

kevinbloomfield,

Hope to fit the tray tomorrow. Can you advise what battery you went for? I don't quite understand what you mean by Full River.

Hazza