Ritar AGM battery

[Mundy]

I need to get a new 80Ah AGM battery and like the shape of the Ritar (long and low) to fit into the rear storage bin. Anyone know anything about these? Good news or bad?

[simonmelb]

Hi Mundy,

No experience with these but for just 45mm extra height you could fit a 120 AH battery in the bin. I made a plywood shelf above the battery (leaves about 1/3 of the bin free above the battery) I went with the Neuton Power AGM and it worked great over 9 Months around OZ.

[Mundy]

Hi Mundy,

No experience with these but for just 45mm extra height you could fit a 120 AH battery in the bin. I made a plywood shelf above the battery (leaves about 1/3 of the bin free above the battery) I went with the Neuton Power AGM and it worked great over 9 Months around OZ.

Any chance of a photo? I've been thinking of a shelf myself as I didn't want to lose all that storage space.

Mundy

[simonmelb]

Hi Mundy,

Will try and take a photo tomorrow. In the mean time here's the link to my truck - http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-2/80040-show-us-your-d2-post1495890.html#post1495890

A few pics down you'll see the start of the install process where Ive roughed in the wires to where the battery sits in the RH rear bin. You'll notice I cut part of the carpet foam underlay away and replaced these sections with some wooden strips, so the 40Kg battery has a firm base to sit on. I then put the rear bin back in (minus the cover) then installed the battery in the bin, then sat a plywood shelf directly on the battery. More pics soon.

Cheers
Simon

[Mundy]

Hi Mundy,

Will try and take a photo tomorrow. In the mean time here's the link to my truck - http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-2/80040-show-us-your-d2-post1495890.html#post1495890

A few pics down you'll see the start of the install process where Ive roughed in the wires to where the battery sits in the RH rear bin. You'll notice I cut part of the carpet foam underlay away and replaced these sections with some wooden strips, so the 40Kg battery has a firm base to sit on. I then put the rear bin back in (minus the cover) then installed the battery in the bin, then sat a plywood shelf directly on the battery. More pics soon.

Cheers
Simon

Simon,
Great set up and similar in many respects to mine. I had thought I'd need to put something under the base of the storage box so the battery didn't fall through but had hoped to avoid completely removing the storage box (I've only taken off the cover). Use of strips is good idea and I think I might locate with couple of self tapping screws through base of the storage box.

My electrics seem to be a little more complicated than most as I've put a controller isolator, bypass switch, large fuse, and positive and negative bus bars into the box. So its going to be a little more tricky getting a shelf in there, with a cover, that still allows me to access the electrics when I need to.
Mundy

[Franz]

Here's a few pics of my installation.

[Fluids]

That is thinking outside the box Franz!

... so doing it that way a 250A/Hr would just fall in ? :p

[Franz]

That is thinking outside the box Franz!

... so doing it that way a 250A/Hr would just fall in ? :p
I settled for a 75AH battery due to the weight and size factor. The 75AH battery weighs about 23kg - more than I would like behind the axle. I'd like the larger capacity of a bigger battery but not the weight or extra loss of bin space.

Cheers,

Franz

[Mundy]

Must say I hadn't thought of doing that - and its a bit too destructive for me! I'd try to do things that aren't irrecoverable and to minimise cutting holes into my vehicle.

[Franz]

Must say I hadn't thought of doing that - and its a bit too destructive for me! I'd try to do things that aren't irrecoverable and to minimise cutting holes into my vehicle.
I agonised for ages because I thought like that too - even thought of buying another bin but then came to the conclusion that a neatly fitted, well made cover would go virtually un-noticed.

[Mundy]

I agonised for ages because I thought like that too - even thought of buying another bin but then came to the conclusion that a neatly fitted, well made cover would go virtually un-noticed.

Can't argue with that.

Well, I've finally decided to take a little of Simon's advice and stepped up to a Fullriver 105Ah, which I got for a tad under $300, and which I will be working out how to secure in the bin this weekend.