Remove spare tire and add a battery bank for my goal zero unit?!

I am thinking about chaining more batteries to my Yeti 400 unit so I can run longer without the truck on. I need space in the truck bed for other gear and can't afford to have batteries taking up the real estate. I'm thinking of removing the spare tire and build a platform for the batteries and a skid plate to cover them. I plan to relocate the spare on a new bumper with a tiregate anyway.

Has anybody done something similar to their first gen? If so, please post pictures and/or advice.

Thanks!

 

Try utilizing that space under the bed between the side wells just in front of the rear wheels. Personally, the spare tire is best located in the factory position for proper balance of the truck so I’d keep it there. Just some ideas.

 

Yeah, if you need the need for overland gear, keeping weight towards the center may be best. Kinda how diesel guys put the fuel separators.

 

Following along..

 

Could probably be done but my 2 cents. You'll need to build a very secure platform, you'll need to securely mount the batteries so the don't contact the underside of the bed, it'll be a real bitch to lift it, secure it in place, and attached the cables.

I think 4 6V batteries lined up at the front of the bed would be a better setup. Make an 8" x 12" box to go over top of them and you're set to go. Easier to mount, easier to maintain, and you don't really lose a lot of space.

 

@papasmurf

 

This is a great idea. Thanks for the input!

 

I'll need to keep all the chainable batteries at 12V (to be compatible with the Yeti 400 - i believe). I currently have a single 100ah 12v battery chained, I was initially planning to add at least 2 more, depending on power needs.

I like to go out on backpacking excursions while overlanding (leaving the truck in one spot without turning on for 2 - 3 days). I think I'll need at least 3 100Ah batteris plus the internall 33Ah in the Yeti 400 to do this.

 

You can wire the 4 (or 2) 6v to 12 pretty easily. The advantage is the 6v are more tolerant to being deep cycled on a regular basis than 12v batteries.

If you did 4 GC2 batteries you'd end up with 400+AH of capacity.

http://www.everything-about-rving.c...es-to-my-12-volt-rv-house-battery-system.html