Dual Battery setup for D5 5 seater TDV6, where to put the battery?

[juliatea]

Hi all, sorting out the touring setup for the cargo area in my D5.
So far have removed the sheet of plastic in the back of the car on the basis that it is unlikely to be strong enough for the engel fridge, and my drawer that I had made for the D4 (it does fit).
I have attached my wheel winch adapter that I had made up for the D4 and have had a sheet of 18mm ply cut to replace the plastic sheet and the faux plastic rails.
Also just received my Traxide setup from Tim.
What I am not sure about is placement of the battery behind the drivers seat.

For any of you who have already gone down this route, how did you place and secure the battery, and how much of the foam box did you have to cutout.
I am intending to use an optima yellow top. Does everyone use a battery box?
I will also need an Engel socket and am wondering where to site it, as I intend to put the fridge behind the drivers seat to allow access to the cranking battery and the jack.
Any suggestions will be helpful.

Thanks Julia

Have also just had a run with the dreaded oil dilution problem but will put that in a separate post

[Jr2017]

Hi Julia

i have a 7 seater.
Have. Removed 2 rear seats and added a floor with storage under.
i store my second battery on floor behind seats strapped to a pc ply max size to spread weight.
seems to be working fine .(12 mnt )
Didnt loose any storage space this way.
Made a ply floor with upstand.
Tied down by 4 anchor points,I’ll just need to lift up floor when I need access to spare tire.
ill have to modify next time where traveling.
Slide out draw is a ply on alluminium strips with esky strapped to is.

jules

[IndusD4]

As you have a 5 seater, I thought there was enough room for an extra battery under the plastic cover you're already upgraded. But the battery would probably have to be installed on its side. The advantage of that location is that it is close to the main battery as well as where your fridge would be.

Ron

[juliatea]

Thanks Jules
Sounds about the same spot that I am looking at.
The 5 Seater comes with a large polystyrene box where your 2 rear seats would have folded down, I think will just have to carefully cut a corner out of the box of the right size to admit the battery.
I have 18mm ply in place of the plastic floor provided by land rover, and will bolt the drawer and the fridge slide onto that. Fortunately the spare wheel winch adapter I made up for the Disco 4 fits straight onto the disco 5 and pops up thru the ply. The only thing cannot get here is a spare wheel winch grommet as the adapter requires a hole cutting into the centre of it and then sealing.
Land rover is obviously not keeping a full stock of disco 5 spares here, Fortunate that I am going to the UK in a couple of weeks and can pick one up there.
Julia

[juliatea]

Hi Ron
Thought about putting the battery on its side but not being autoelectrically minded was not sure how safe that would be. I am intending to use a yellow top optima, as the traxide optima combination worked well in the Disco4. I have someone sorted who has installed other dual battery setups before on discos but has not done a traxide set up yet so will discuss with him when I have the positions of the drawer and fridge slide sorted and marked out on my ply sheet. hopefully will all be sorted by next week.
Julia

[DiscoMick]

I have a sealed AGM on its side under the rear of my rear drawers, behind the drawer, so out of sight. It can be done if it is the right battery.

[tony_s]

Hi Ron
Thought about putting the battery on its side but not being autoelectrically minded was not sure how safe that would be. I am intending to use a yellow top optima, as the traxide optima combination worked well in the Disco4.
Julia

Hi Julia. I’m pretty sure Tim told me the Yellow Tops are fine on their side. Maybe check with him.
Tony

[tony_s]

Julia, have you any photos of your tyre winch adapter? Would be useful, although I’ve made up my floor to still allow full access.
Cheers
Tony

[Lee Jackson]

I am redoing my Dual Battery. I am planning on using the space that would be the footwell for the third row passengers. I am planning on removing the head rests and utilising this space.

I am also planning on a 6 inch platform as my base for the fridge. This way i can still open the back flap to get to the spare tyre. All in planning at this stage..

[tony_s]

Hi Lee
I would like to remove the rear seat headrests so I can use the space for storage. The question is how do you remove them?
Tony