Do I need dual batteries?

[Penguin VII]

22 hours ago, Donstar said:

Your portable jump start accessory idea will significantly (and affordably) increase your comfort level when off the beaten path.  When I worked in remote communities I learned to take every precaution to prevent me from being stranded.  However, you can never prepare for every scenario and sometime blankets and snack bars are your only recourse!  Good luck and congratulations on your promotion!

Thanks man. And I feel you. I'm sure living in BC you're prepared. I always carry some high calorie bars in the truck as they are rather stable for temp swings and have 3600 calories per bar. Not the greatest tasting thing but if I got stuck I've got food. Same with blankets, light, knife, extra batteries, etc. The only thing I don't currently have is a shovel or water that I leave in the truck. Still not sure how I can carry drinkable water during the winter without hiking it in and out of the truck every night (which I do with a single bottle, but just standard thin nalgene size).

[tnchevy]

For drinkable water just carry some iodine tablets or a small water filtration unit, both take up little to no room.  As far as your battery goes my work trucks have always had a dual battery setup because we have winches on both the front and rear of our company trucks due to the large amounts of time myself and the other guys/gals I work with are offroad plus we have a radio communications system installed in some trucks.  I got a 2018 silvy to replace my 2015 F150 back in the summer and it only has one battery this go around and I have been fine.  I only run the winches with the truck running and these newer radio systems do not use up near the electricity they used to but if I forget to turn my radio system off at night I will have a near dead or dead battery the next day.

[AlaskanMooseMan]

On 10/27/2018 at 6:08 AM, 1SLOW1500 said:

These trucks have a programmable alternator amperage output. There is even a draw sensor in there, That said the answer is complex. If you use the high output lights with the car off or extremely cold weather yes dual batteries. I led interior lights are no big deal I left some on all night and one battery started right up. 

I have 2 red top optima's with a stinger isolator as well as a 1.5 farad cap in the back for the audio. But I have over 1800watt audio. And I have watched the amperage output of the alternator under max load. 

The way my isolator works  I have a switch on the dash next to a dual voltage gauge. I can push the button and the second battery kicks in also there is a wire that in the normal system has power it connects the 2 batteries. So every time I start the truck and truck is running I have to 2 batteries. If the truck sits to long one battery can die, push button and start truck. My truck sits for days and doesnt move I have had a factory dead battery a few times. never a issue now. 

I say if the ability to run the lights with truck off and still start the truck is for you or you live/drive/hunt way back in the woods it is a very cheap and easy install. 

Also with the optima there is a adapter that clicks on the base of the battery and with another $7 part it bolts right into the truck. I will say do not just wire to batteries together. The charging system can kill one off.

Nice setup