Dual battery kit 5th gen

[harper7]

The 1200 amps is NOT CCA, it's a marketing gimmick number and useless when comparing batteries. Here is the specs for both the Optima yellow top D34/78 and the Odyssey PC1200 (taken from each manufactures technical specs.)

Optima/Odyssey
CCA 750/550
CA 870/725
Res. Capacity 55/44
Reserve min. 120/78
Weight 43.5/38
Volume cu. in. 537/381

The Optima Red top has even better starting specs but for dual battery systems the Yellow top makes more sense.

As to reliability and size, I've had an Optima sitting in the garage that after almost 2yrs still had almost 12V and when installed, started the car like brand new. Of course the Odyssey is small, it doesn't have the power of the Optima.

In short, using Optima yellow tops I can have a better (more power, just as reliable) dual battery system at nearly half the cost of the Kodiak which is charging you extra for nothing.
Give me a Optima any day over Odyssey and their gimmick numbers .

Where the Zodiac kit really shines though is the ability to just "plug n play" because there isn't any custom work involved with the tray and isolator. Everything fits in the stock location and comes with everything needed for installation.They made it easy with the Kodiak kit and kudos to them for thinking outside the box!
Can you make your own tray and brackets to re locate stuff? Most can't!

Yes, it would take 3 Odyssey pc1200's to equal two Optima 34's, which fit our truck, in CCA and RC.Those are the main 2 specs batteries go by.
While all this is true ,the reported quality of the Optima batteries has gone down hill since Johnson Controls bought them in 2000 and moved the manufacturing from Denver to Mexico shortly after. Although,alot of those that I read are with red tops that people are deep cycling or letting the charge go way down which will kill a starting battery. I have used Optima's for 20+ years with no problems.

Odyssey's reputation on the other hand is the best in the business for reliability and is still made in the USA ,and the high price reflects that. I can get brand new Optima 34's here locally for $100 where the Odyssey's in size 34 or 35 cost $250.

Probably the best buy for the money is a Sears Diehard Platinum Marine which is made by Odyssey for Sears and is right around $200 and even cheaper when they go on sale.Same exact specs in the matching size Odyssey puts out. Same battery insides ,different color.

Putting one on the other side took alot of custom work with fabbing the tray and the reservoir re-location bracket ,not to mention the extra wiring involved.The isolator I recently switched to is a 200amp Cole Hersee "Smart Isolator" for it's automatic operation and reported superior quality by friends who work big rigs.It's what they use. http://www.colehersee.com/pdf/hot_feed/D-617_SmartBatteryIso.pdf

 

[Dlak]

In short, using Optima yellow tops I can have a better (more power, just as reliable) dual battery system at nearly half the cost of the Kodiak which is charging you extra for nothing.
Give me a Optima any day over Odyssey and their gimmick numbers .

We can go back and forth with numbers, you show yellow top I show pc1500/1700 numbers which are comparable in size. Blah blah blah Metal jacket vs plastic, virgin copper vs recycled, exide vs interstate. Your opinion is just that, your opinion. But IMHO Odyssey>optima and yes once again some people do not mind spending a bit more for some products they believe in.

 

[SeattleMike]

We can go back and forth with numbers, you show yellow top I show pc1500/1700 numbers which are comparable in size. Blah blah blah Metal jacket vs plastic, virgin copper vs recycled, exide vs interstate. Your opinion is just that, your opinion. But IMHO Odyssey>optima and yes once again some people do not mind spending a bit more for some products they believe in.

And some people don't like spending money (or seeing others spending money) for what is essentially hype and advertising. The purpose of forums like these is to examine all options, not just cheerlead your own choices.

 

[SeattleMike]

Putting one on the other side took alot of custom work with fabbing the tray and the reservoir re-location bracket ,not to mention the extra wiring involved.The isolator I recently switched to is a 200amp Cole Hersee "Smart Isolator" for it's automatic operation and reported superior quality by friends who work big rigs.It's what they use. http://www.colehersee.com/pdf/hot_feed/D-617_SmartBatteryIso.pdf

Excellent find!

 

[LMT556]

I was wondering with the space issues under the hood, has anybody done a typical double battery setup with relocating a battery in a sealed box into the back cargo area? Wouldnt this help with weight distribution and allow for a slightly larger batter as well?

 

[IceNomad]

Dirty parts has a group buy going on for the fjcruiser forum, very similar to the 4runner under the hood.
DIRTY PARTS DUAL BATTERY KIT GROUP BUY - Round 3 !!! - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

The DIRTY PARTS Dual Battery Kit for the FJ Cruiser is the only kit specifically made for your FJ. The kit comes complete with a powder-painted steel battery tray, hold down, and mounting hardware, mil-spec switching solenoid, mil-spec battery terminals, 2-gauge welding-grade battery cables, control switch with integrated mounting bracket an LED mode indicator, wiring harness with connectors, cable boots, wire ties, step-by-step written instructions, and a CD with installation pictures. The kit is designed to fit an Optima 34/78 Red or Yellow Top battery, or the Odyssey PC1500DT battery (battery is NOT included – but available to ship with your kit. Call / E-mail / PM for details).

 

[GrantK]

And some people don't like spending money (or seeing others spending money) for what is essentially hype and advertising. The purpose of forums like these is to examine all options, not just cheerlead your own choices.

This was the purpose of my original post.
1) The Kodiak system is over priced in my opinion and I explained why. Roll your own with a top quality Stinger or PAC relay, add some minor parts and save about $300. Want an all-in-one system, check out the Hellroaring system with remote and save about $200.
2) The Odyssey PC1200 is not the high current (1200CCA) that many think it is. This is do to what I consider deceptive advertising on their part and doesn't give me any warm-fuzzy feeling about dealing with them.

As a final note, if all you want is high CCA and don't care about dual battery (which is a very nice backup idea), check out the highly rated Deka 1024DT which has 1000CCA and I've recently seen on the Web for $120.

 

[I AM SAM]

Thanks to BFLAN, my Kodiak dual batteries are installed and absolutely awesome!!! It turned out really well and is a very clean set-up.

Because of all of my lights, winch, CB and etc. he also hooked me up with a distribution block that you can see in the background, it makes everything look so much nicer!

Thanks BFLAN, you're the best!!!!!!!!!!!! :cheers:

 

[Dlak]

Thanks to BFLAN, my Kodiak dual batteries are installed and absolutely awesome!!! It turned out really well and is a very clean set-up.

Because of all of my lights, winch, CB and etc. he also hooked me up with a distribution block that you can see in the background, it makes everything look so much nicer!

Thanks BFLAN, you're the best!!!!!!!!!!!! :cheers:

Congrats and welcome to the dual battery club!:thumb3:

 

[ladywolf]

looks good Sam, i'm still working on troubleshooting mine. If I hadnt already paid for it and everything, i'd be seriously tempted to chuck the whole damn system as far as possible.

 

[dRGNpHNX]

I would be happy to give these guys a call today if anyone would be interested in doing a group buy???

Group buy? Let's do it. Common people let's get together. You know you don't want to try and relocate everything needed to get the "cheaper" dual battery setup. Like Harper said, plug and play. This setup is easy... that and I want to get it a little cheaper than $850.

 

[dRGNpHNX]

Just spoke to Sam. He did a 'group' buy with just himself and another member. If I can get a couple people with serious interest I will call Kodiac and see what we can get. They have given a discount to military in the past and as I am military you might be able to piggy back that discount with me.
PM if you are ready to get the Kodiac setup. I will give it a couple of days until I call.

 

[Mr.T]

I ordered one. I'll post some picks of it tomorrow when it gets here.

Hey Kingpin,

Is there a Kodiak dealer in Canada? Did you get these shipped from the States? I'm interested in info regarding this set up. Thanks in advance.

 

[kingpin748]

Hey Kingpin,

Is there a Kodiak dealer in Canada? Did you get these shipped from the States? I'm interested in info regarding this set up. Thanks in advance.

Nope, you need to order from them but considering the weight the shipping isn't that unreasonable.

 

[dRGNpHNX]

Always on outlets

Okay, I figured this would be a good place for this as well since those with this mod would most benefit. Who has completed a mod to have the outlets "always on"? Anyone? If so, can you provide some details.

On a side note, the Kodiac setup is awesome. It was a breeze... actually fun installing. I have zero skills when it comes to this type of stuff, but enjoy learning. The coolness factor alone is awesome. The looks some of my friends have given me when I pop my hood and they see the bright red/orange batteries wired in all their glory is worth it. The outlet mod will just send me over the edge.

Thanks to Kingpin for his patience with all my questions about wiring... I finally figured out what to do with the "red/green" wire... throw it away. LOL!

 

[avantgarde]

Question, how long can an extra battery provide power for electronic devices? I plan to charge my iphone/ipad, be able to watch movies off my head unit, power a LED lamp. I'm reading I need to figure out the amp output of each device, add them up, and then multiple it by how many hrs I plan to use all devices. Is that correct? I have plans to go car camping and figure I need something to do once the sun sets (so 4hrs?).

Is the dual battery setup extremely taxing on the alternator?

Anyone know how to calculate what's the max inverter I would need to purchase if I wanted to connect multiple 100-120watt devices to it?

 

[avantgarde]

Who has completed a mod to have the outlets "always on"? Anyone? If so, can you provide some details.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/accessories/11038-constant-12v-power-outlets.html

 

[ladywolf]

Hey guys, who is having issues with their dual battery kit? I've now found that if i let the runner sit for more than a day or two, that i have to switch over to the aux battery to start it. Wondering if I got a bad batch of batteries or something else.

 

[Cytronus]

Hey guys, if anyone here has run the Kodiak Odyssey dual battery kit in their 5th gen for a year or more and powering one or more accessories (LED light bars, winch, CB, air compressor, etc.), would love to see photos of the set up and here your experience.