Bar over battery on EXT

by **BigBen** » Wed May 25, 2011 9:41 pm

I have an 06 tb ext LT and was wanting to put a new battery in with dual terminals. How important is that bar that goes over it? Is it just to hold the battery down or is it some kind of brace also? There's one on the other side too over the air filter which the non ext models don't have. Can I just remove the bar over the battery for good or do I need it?

Ben

by **fishsticks** » Wed May 25, 2011 9:43 pm

Your battery will stay put... but I was able to put mine back on and did. With the amount of bouncing I tend to do I don't like the idea of just a plastic block holding a little lip on the bottom of the battery.

by **BigBen** » Wed May 25, 2011 9:48 pm

Yeah I get that. I don't mind doing another type of hold down. Just wondering if that is the ONLY purpose of that bar? The battery I want is an Odyssey pc1500dt. It has side and top posts. The top posts are to run some larger gauge wires from a ho alternator and some wires to some other things in the back.

by **fishsticks** » Wed May 25, 2011 10:12 pm

I run the DieHard Platinum P4, which is just a rebranded Odyssey. Mine still fits even with the top posts.

FYI you can run a HO alternator to the side posts with no problem. I winch off my side posts.

by **djthumper** » Wed May 25, 2011 10:29 pm

Mine fits between the posts as well. There are also bottom clamps holding the battery in.

by **BigBen** » Wed May 25, 2011 10:53 pm

This the battery I want

This is my current setup

Doesn't look like room for the top posts.

As for the ho alt to the side posts, I wanna keep the side posts for the truck stock stuff.

by **fishsticks** » Wed May 25, 2011 11:03 pm

You went and made me walk outside... :hissyfit:

You'll have to either put a dent in or cut a notch out of the bar if you want to run top posts, but it's doable.

by **BigBen** » Thu May 26, 2011 2:08 am

Haha. Sorry bout that! The top posts are there but what about a terminal? I see taking that bar out a necessity. I'll just get a steel hold down similar to this for it.

YouTube Videos · by **Trail X** » Thu May 26, 2011 10:11 am

fishsticks wrote:I run the DieHard Platinum P4, which is just a rebranded Odyssey. Mine still fits even with the top posts.

FYI you can run a HO alternator to the side posts with no problem. I winch off my side posts.

I've heard a lot of people speak against winching off the side posts. Apparently there is a big difference to how they are attached to the battery leads. The side posts are just soldered in place, while the top ones apparently are more permanently connected. The issue with the side posts, is with high draws (like from a winch), the solder can heat up and the terminals can pop out.

Now, I know you've done a fair amount of winching, but it might still be a good idea to switch to the top terminals for your winch.

by **fishsticks** » Thu May 26, 2011 10:29 am

JamesDowning wrote:
fishsticks wrote:I run the DieHard Platinum P4, which is just a rebranded Odyssey. Mine still fits even with the top posts.

FYI you can run a HO alternator to the side posts with no problem. I winch off my side posts.

I've heard a lot of people speak against winching off the side posts. Apparently there is a big difference to how they are attached to the battery leads. The side posts are just soldered in place, while the top ones apparently are more permanently connected. The issue with the side posts, is with high draws (like from a winch), the solder can heat up and the terminals can pop out.

Now, I know you've done a fair amount of winching, but it might still be a good idea to switch to the top terminals for your winch.

Everything I read said that was an Optima specific problem... have you seen differently?

Ben, as I said I suspect you could modify the crossbar slightly to make room for the terminal. Save some $$ in the process.

by **The Roadie** » Thu May 26, 2011 10:58 am

I had the Optima as my first upgrade, so I did have the top-post-needed-for-winching issue. Not certain about the new P4, but there's no reason to try to stack more stuff on the side terminals anyway. Ben I like that hold-down. But something tells me you're not looking to put a winch in there. :poke:

Anyway, I think the bar is to meet the rollover regulations, and the second bar in the EXT is for frontal crash issues. It might be that GM needed them in there to push the fenders out sideways in the frontal crash test to increase the predictability of the crumpling, and make sure nothing went back to poke through the windshield and kill an occupant.

YouTube Videos · by **Trail X** » Thu May 26, 2011 10:59 am

Quick google searched gave me this from some jeep forums:

Before I purchased mine I read a ton of reviews on the Platinums and many people complained about the side posts detatching on the inside. However sears will happily replace it if you have that issue...

Your winch should only be attached to the top posts, the side posts will not support high amp draws. I have found large fuses and fuse holders at RV supply shops and custom car stereo shops. Usually cheaper at the RV shops. You can also find them with google.....

This is exactly right. If you connect to the side posts you were LIKELY damage your battery on a hard pull. Always connect a winch to the top posts of a battery. The sides are merely a jumper inside the battery and aren't made to handle the type of draw a winch pulls.

Of course, you can almost always find SOMETHING to support a argument through a google search.

by **bgwolfpack** » Thu May 26, 2011 11:03 am

I'd bet bartonmd could design and sell a hold down that would be offroadtb worthy.

Fish,

Not sure with the wheeling you do if the bar should be that close to the positive post. :happy whip:

by **fishsticks** » Thu May 26, 2011 11:31 am

bgwolfpack wrote:Fish,

Not sure with the wheeling you do if the bar should be that close to the positive post.

That though has crossed my mind as well... I glued the protector down...

I need to clearance that bar as well...

by **fishsticks** » Thu May 26, 2011 11:33 am

JamesDowning wrote:Of course, you can almost always find SOMETHING to support a argument through a google search.

You meddling kids and your GOOGLE. I'd have gotten away if it weren't for you!

by **BigBen** » Thu May 26, 2011 11:49 am

The Roadie wrote: Ben I like that hold-down. But something tells me you're not looking to put a winch in there.

A winch is likely a future upgrade. But for now I wanted the top posts to run a dual run of 1/0 to the back to 2 group 31's that will be used for many other things. I own a big rig and a single group 34 just won't cut when my big rigs batteries get a little low. Also the bats in the back will support an air compressor at a good level. I'm hoping to get on the search and rescue team this winter and you never know when a spare set of bats could be handy. And of course there's the issue of the pair of 12's in the back.

YouTube Videos · by **Trail X** » Thu May 26, 2011 12:13 pm

BigBen wrote:A winch is likely a future upgrade. But for now I wanted the top posts to run a dual run of 1/0 to the back

The primary battery hold down is a shoe at the bottom of the battery. I've had just that holding mine for a couple years now. It should be fine for you. No need for the metal cage.

by **BigBen** » Thu May 26, 2011 12:28 pm

That's the answer is was looking for! Bye bye bar!

by **djthumper** » Thu May 26, 2011 2:57 pm

BigBen wrote:That's the answer is was looking for! Bye bye bar!

I swore I said there was a bottom clamp on the battery...

by **BigBen** » Thu May 26, 2011 7:29 pm

Ok but you didn't say the top bar could be left off.

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