Traxside duel battery set up

[borderdas]

Hi all, I got my all time dream car last October. Ordered fresh from the factory a Range Rover Sport 3.0 Diesel. I want to install a duel battery in it. My dealer, from Melbourne recommended the same sytem that I found too. Traxside. Has anybody installed one of these systems themselves? The dealer quoted me $1200.00, saying that it would take at least 4 hours to install, I've been told, I can do it in about an hour.

[smwilk]

1hour might be pushing it but 3 hrs no probs. Tim from traxide is a member on this forum, the fitting instructions are first class. Easy job for anyone with basic ability.

[borderdas]

hmmm, yes, 3 hours for a trained professional or for me, with some idea of how things work :) I just got the feeling from the dealer that they were having a bit of a gouging time. thank you for your quick reply

[jon3950]

Don't pay $1200, that is robbery. Buy the kit direct from Traxide and install it yourself, 3 hours is more than enough time.

Tim's kit is very good. Very easy to install and comes with comprehensive instructions, plus phone support if needed.

Highly recommended. Would buy again.

Cheers,
Jon

[Tombie]

Don't pay $1200, that is robbery. Buy the kit direct from Traxide and install it yourself, 3 hours is more than enough time.

Tim's kit is very good. Very easy to install and comes with comprehensive instructions, plus phone support if needed.

Highly recommended. Would buy again.

Cheers,
Jon

Really? Is it robbery?

Which kit is being fitted? How many sockets, Anderson plugs to rear?
What are you exactly looking to fit?

Hourly rate x 4hrs + kit....

Did the quote include the 2nd battery?

[Tombie]

Assume wiring the full 'bits and ****s' setup with the rear plug etc...

Kit $425.00 + freight

Battery (D34) $300.00 approx. + freight.

Sub total so far: $750.00 allowing for a bit of freight.

$1200 - $750 = $450.00 left

Allowing 4 hours to fit *everything* - new plugs, Anderson at rear for camper, multiple aux sockets. And test (yes the dealer has to warrant their work) before handing the vehicle back...

I'd say $1200.00 DIDO is pretty good Value. :D

If YOU don't want to pay work rates then quit complaining and install it yourself!!!!

I strongly disagree with your statement that they were trying to stitch you at all when you look at it..

[ADMIRAL]

Hi all, I got my all time dream car last October. Ordered fresh from the factory a Range Rover Sport 3.0 Diesel. I want to install a duel battery in it. My dealer, from Melbourne recommended the same sytem that I found too. Traxside. Has anybody installed one of these systems themselves? The dealer quoted me $1200.00, saying that it would take at least 4 hours to install, I've been told, I can do it in about an hour.

An hour. It could take you longer than that to get the main feed through the firewall. If you have done one before, and have all of the right gear, 3 hours is probably achievable. Don't underestimate the gymnastics involved in getting in and under.

[borderdas]

Take your point Tombie, $1200.00 is fair for the bells and wistles system, I agree, trouble is, and this is why I posted in the 1st place, the guy in the service dept said it was the stnd system, no anderson plug and extra plugs down back. So, I will query them once again. And make my decision then. This car is awesome, I just want to make it even better! So, thank you one and all. I now have the information I need.

[Ferret]

Has anybody installed one of these systems themselves?

Yes I installed my own. Many other people here have installed these kits themselves. Only very basic tools are required. The job is fiddly but by no means beyond the ability of the average non mechanical types (ie me).

But 1 hour installation time? No, not unless you have done it before. I reckon I took about 6 hours but that included reading the instructions few times, scratching my head, ringing DriveSafe (Tim) to ask questions, staring under the bonnet for a while, swearing, dropping a nut down a crevice and fishing it out with some sticky tape on a stick, wiping white goo off my arms, connecting the Anderson plug the wrong way around and thinking "hmm - its loose that does not seem right", wondering why I have parts left over and the rest of the drama that goes on when do something unfamiliar for the first time.

Paying to have it installed is the easier way but if you want to spend an enjoyable afternoon fiddling about with your new ride, then do it yourself.

[drivesafe]

Hi folks and the basic kit, a battery in the engine bay, in a D3 will take about 30 minutes, in a D4 or new RRS, which require a battery tray, the install is about an hour.

A full fit, including an additional socket in the rear cargo area and an Anderson plug at the rear bumper is around the 4 to 6 hour make.

BTW folks, I am just about to put up info on my web site about a range of new TWIN engine bay mounted Auxiliary battery kits for those who want more auxiliary battery capacity.

[drivesafe]

I just remembered, MLR opt to move gear around in the driver’s side auxiliary battery compartment of a D4 rather then fit the battery tray, which give a tidier finish but is a fair bit of work.

So the quote, which would also include a battery is not to bad and I might also add, I send plenty of customers to MLR if the customer does not want to carry out or they don’t have the time to do the installation themselves.

[AnD3rew]

I paid a total of around $1300 for a full kit in a D3. Bought the kit directly from Tim, had the battery delivered from Batteries Direct so a bit under $800 and then around $500 bucks for the installation.

[SimmAus]

Hi

Sorry to hijack, but on a similar subject of the Traxide setup, quick question: whats the preferred installation second battery in rear or in engine bay? Does the engine bay heat affect the second battery that bad? It seems strange, given that the main battery also lives there...but I'm not a auto sparky.... 😄

[jon3950]

Fair enough. I read the original post as being $1200 just to install it. :eek:

If you include the kit and battery it sounds better, but I still think its a bit expensive for such a simple job.

Cheers,
Jon

[drivesafe]

Hi jon and I charge $250 to “HELP” with an installation at my workshop.

I do the install as a training exercise for the customer so do a compere and MLR's not a bad price.


Hi SimmAus and the D4 has been around long enough now to show there is no heat problem.

[gghaggis]

We charge significantly less for the install (depends which model for exact prices) - around $250. But then you have to add the rail freight to Perth and back !!

Cheers,

Gordon

[drivesafe]

We charge significantly less for the install (depends which model for exact prices) - around $250. But then you have to add the rail freight to Perth and back !!

Very funny :D :D :D

[phl]

Hi SimmAus and the D4 has been around long enough now to show there is no heat problem.

I thought there were still concerns, hence the Orbital batteries rather than any other AGMs, as I think there are AGMs out there with higher capacity, albeit some are taller.

How much taller than the Orbital D34 can I go before it becomes a problem for the battery carrier in the kit?

[drivesafe]

Hi phl and with a D3 and early models of the RRS, the Optima D34 is the only battery that will fit the auxiliary battery compartment without the need of some sort of modification to either the battery, battery bracket, battery compartment or a combination of alterations to the lot.

With the D4 and later models of the RRS, you can move the equipment around in the auxiliary battery compartment and again fit an Optima D34.

Alternatively with the D4 and later models of the RRS, you can fit a battery tray just in front of the cranking battery compartment.

I now have a stainless steal battery tray manufactured for me and I have specifically designed this tray around the Optima D34 as this battery gives the best performance, but other batteries may fit as there is a small amount of clearance available above an Optima D34 when mounted on the battery tray.

I have not tested any other battery so I can not give you specific brand or model info.

SPECIAL NOTE, my battery tray can also be fitted in a D3 and early models of the RRS, if you want to use the auxiliary battery compartment to house something else or if you want to mount two auxiliary batteries under the bonnet.



BTW phl some additional info for you, using one of my isolators and fitting an Optima D34, a 55Ah battery and not discharging the Optima battery below 20% SoC, you will have 45Ah available from the auxiliary battery and 45Ah available from the cranking battery, giving you a total of 90Ah.

This 90Ah of available battery capacity is the equivalent of having to fitting a 112.5Ah battery if you use any other type of isolator.

If you use one of my twin engine bay auxiliary battery kits, you will have a total of 135Ah available and this equates to needing to having an auxiliary battery of 168.25Ah with any other system.

[rdenyer]

Hi Drivesafe,
Auto Electrics are not my strong suite and this may be a very basic question.
If you have the anderson plug installed, is it feasible to convert a set of jump leads to to be used to jump start other vehicles.
Also does the Traxide system have any ability to display battery charge and condition ?

Regards,
Richard

[drivesafe]

Hi Drivesafe,
Auto Electrics are not my strong suite and this may be a very basic question.
If you have the anderson plug installed, is it feasible to convert a set of jump leads to to be used to jump start other vehicles.
Also does the Traxide system have any ability to display battery charge and condition ?

Regards,
Richard

Hi Richard and you can use a standard 50 amp Anderson plug to make up a set of jumper leads and you can use 6B&S twin cable for the leads.

Take care if you intend to buy a set of jumper leads that they have thick enough cable as many of the bought ones, while marked as say 400amp, are usually way too thin.

I do not supply any form of battery monitoring as this is a specialised field and a proper battery monitoring system will set you back a few hundred dollars and needs a lot of work to install.

[borderdas]

Hi All, to finish off what I started, the dealer quoted me in the end $1150.00 fitted for the basic system. "Oh, do you want extra plugs?", they asked...I paid $285.00 for the battery, delivered, I paid $360.00 to Traxicide all up total $645.00. Plus my time? Honestly it took me a couple of hours of messing around, I'd never done it before, but everything fitted and it works...To be fair, maybe the dealer was quoting me based on contingencies, something not fitting, extra work they couldn't foresee, and they would've given me a credit in the end....... Dealers, of these these of vehicles, especially, have a responsibility to us, we want to trust them, we need to trust them, its like going to a doctor...we/I dont know, the answers and I need my vehicle practitioner to be straight. $250.00 + per hour? You decide

[Tombie]

Hi All, to finish off what I started, the dealer quoted me in the end $1150.00 fitted for the basic system. "Oh, do you want extra plugs?", they asked...I paid $285.00 for the battery, delivered, I paid $360.00 to Traxicide all up total $645.00. Plus my time? Honestly it took me a couple of hours of messing around, I'd never done it before, but everything fitted and it works...To be fair, maybe the dealer was quoting me based on contingencies, something not fitting, extra work they couldn't foresee, and they would've given me a credit in the end....... Dealers, of these these of vehicles, especially, have a responsibility to us, we want to trust them, we need to trust them, its like going to a doctor...we/I dont know, the answers and I need my vehicle practitioner to be straight. $250.00 + per hour? You decide

Knowing the person you spoke to..

I think you're gilding the lily a little mate ;)


The kit you were quoted on was the One with the Lot (Anderson at the rear, sockets in back) + Battery + Time @ the well known Dealer Workshop rate.

Comparing that to what you purchased (which comes with AULRO discount) and battery (which you paid about $80.00 too much for BTW ;) ) and then your time is totally unfair.

You aren't in it to make money - A dealer is - or they wont be around later!

And I can assure you, if that job had run under, the gentleman you spoke with would have looked after you by adjusting accordingly.

If it had run over - He wouldn't have charged any more than the quote.

I'm glad you got what you wanted, and well done for giving it a go yourself..

But horses for courses mate!

I'm so damn busy that $1150.00 supply and Fit for me would be a bargain (time wise)...

Now get out there and enjoy the vehicle :cool:

[drivesafe]

I must also comment on the quoted installation price as I have had a number of customers who have purchased kits from me because they had been quoted $1,200 to $1,400 by a number of well known 4x4 stores, to have a BASIC dual battery system fitted to their D4, so in a horses for courses approach, MLR’s price is in the better customer service category.

[jonesy63]

..battery (which you paid about $80.00 too much for BTW ;) )

Tombie - do tell... where can one get a D34 for $205?

[herrBlick]

Trust me .... It's very fulfilling fitting it yourself and also you can work out the actual workings of it.

[Tombie]

Tombie - do tell... where can one get a D34 for $205?

Local battery shop offered me them @ $205.00 each last month.

Online I found them for $260.00 delivered.

It pays to look around and haggle.

[Kim_M]

Finally, after a few delays, I attempted to install the kit today following the detailed information in the installation guide.
It took an couple of hours to remove all the trims and push feed the cable from the Jack Cubbybox, along to the front and rip out the underneath of the dash.
But for the life of me I can not find said grommet; is it because I've followed intructions but not taken into account that my car is LHD, should I be looking under the other side above the pedals?
I hope not as it will have meant today was a complete waste!

[drivesafe]

Hi Kim and the instructions state that for LEFT HAND DRIVE vehicles, the instructions are a mirror of the RHD vehicle.

Looking at the front of your D3, what side did you go down, the right ( your driver’s side ) or the left ( your passenger side )?

If you can, post up a picture of your engine bay and I'll talk you through the install.

[Kim_M]

OK my bad!
I'd read that completely different because I'd followed from the jack cubby, which is on the RHS, the other being full of A/C stuff.
Anyway, cable now fed front to back - I'll have to wait till Monday to have another go.
Thanks for info Tim, note to self; read instructions again!

[rufusking]

BTW folks, I am just about to put up info on my web site about a range of new TWIN engine bay mounted Auxiliary battery kits for those who want more auxiliary battery capacity.

Drivesafe, I've been checking you're website but haven't seen any info on the "Twin engine bay" battery system. Any update?