Auxilliary Battery Question

lauriet1 · May 8, 2002

I installed an auxilliary battery tray. Bought the GM Tray from the GM Dealer. There is a "c" shaped bracket above the battery tray in the upper left corner under the hood. There's one on the right too. It looks to me like this bracket does not allow enough height clearance to put a battery on the tray. Do I remove it to accomodate a normal sized, deep cycle battery, or must I now purchase an astronomically priced, AC Delco, Genuine GM battery specially made to fit in there?

CMNTMXR81 · May 8, 2002

Actually, the Delco batteries are generally bigger than the aftermarket ones.

So I'd simply suggest removing it. It is nothing more than a brace.

lauriet1 · May 8, 2002

Thanks for the reply! I managed to get my mind working again and called the parts department this morning. I started my day without enough coffee I've been told that when you order the aux battery from the factory, the brace is taken off. When you install aftermarket, the battery tray actually serves the same purpose as the brace and the actual brace above can be removed. I was sure to ask if it was "safe to take remove it" and they told me yes. So....No more battery space issue!

CMNTMXR81 · May 8, 2002

Braces, we don't need no stinkin braces.

no problem, I figured the tray probably did the same as the brace above would've done considering Delco batteries tend to be on the large side.

lauriet1 · May 8, 2002

AH JEEZ!!! Just hung up the phone from the guy doing the install. Told him that gmc parts said I could take the brace off. Installer said he had to remove a lower brace to put the tray similar but smaller than the one above, but he said that the upper brace holds the corner of the quarter panel and the area above the firewall which it's bolted to together. He said he definetly would not recommend removing that brace. Below is link to wrangler products. If you have adobe, click on the "Dual Battery Tray for the Chevy Avalance" for a pic of their install under the hood.

....see the lip above the terminal connection with the two holes in it? The brace I'm talking about removing is bolted to there, bends in an arc to the outside of the truck and bolts to the quarter panel just about where the lower left side of the battery is. A fellow employee has an ava..., I guess I'll ask if I can peek under his hood to see if the brace is there. I guess I still need more coffee.... ???

Wrangler

TomEllis · May 9, 2002

I have installed an aftermarket aux. Battery on my 2002 HD CC and I took off the brace. I have NOT had any problems with the Quarter panel. It is also bolted to the cab a little farther back. Also, if you look at a truck with the Aux. battery option, you will notice that this bracket is not there.

Tom Ellis

CMNTMXR81 · May 10, 2002

I'll have to check it out at home Lauriet, Adobe doens't work here on my work PC.

lauriet1 · May 10, 2002

I had to go to the dealer this am cuz the "incredibly intellegent parts guy" that I bought the aux battery tray from neglected to sell me the additional Battery Holddown Part that goes with it. (I guess he thought the battery was going to balance itself and never fall off the tray).

I took the opportunity to ask my service tech to take a look and he told me that the brace can come off....so.....off it comes! Thanks to all for helping with this enormously silly issue.

Any recommendations on the best deep cycle battery out there?

MarkD · May 10, 2002

Optima Yellow top!

I currently have a red top as my starting battery and plan on a yellow aux.

TomEllis · May 13, 2002

Optima Yellow Top.

Tom Ellis

CMNTMXR81 · May 13, 2002

Optima's are great batteries especially if you have a lot of stereo equipment to power with the engine off, however, they do weigh a bit more than the Delco one, so make sure that tray can support it.

lauriet1 · May 15, 2002

I know that the Optima Yellow is a great choice, but right now, I have a tight budget and really can't swing the cost. However, I haven't been able to find another deep cycle battery that will fit in the space under the hood, aside from the really pricey ones (optima, odyssey, lifeline, etc). I'm limited to about 8" high and about 7" wide. I have found a couple deep cycles made by Interstate that will fit fine but they have L Female terminals as opposed to SAE Auto Type. Is it possible to use that type of terminal in this application? I will only need the aux power for lights and furnace fan when parked and for fridge when driving. Need to get this battery pretty quick. Leaving for my first camping trip this season in one week! Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated....Thanks!