PSA: Budget Dual Battery Tray for Under Hood Usefulness

TLDR: Here's the cheap second battery tray I didn't need, but randomly found!

I don't currently have any intention of running a dual-battery setup, nor am I rushing toward on-board air or anything else, but I enjoy tinkering and have wanted to find a way to make this empty engine bay space useful (aside from open airflow, I guess). So for a couple years now it's been in the back of my mind with no urgency at all, and then two weeks ago I stumbled upon a cheap ($80) second battery tray on Amazon. Link:

$86 Bevinsee Secondary Battery Tray Compatible with Toyota 4Runner 2010-2023 5th Gen Group 34 & 35 Battery Charging Relay Mounting Points Battery Tray, 4Runner Battery Tray, 5th Gen 4Runner Accessories

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTDJW1JV. Bevinsee Secondary Battery Tray Compatible with Toyota 4Runner can also be found on AliExpress and eBay if you don't like Bezo's World.

Install was easy with a minor modification needed at the foot of the airbox. I didn't have to remove the airbox or anything for install. You just have to unclip the one electrical harness (air/fuel mix?) from the wheel well, which I had already done in my messing around. I fully assembled the battery tray and just wiggled it right into place. I even grinded the airbox foot with the tray in the engine bay, just pushed it aside. I used a die grinder with a polycarbide wheel to grind the airbox foot, but a Dremel or even a box cutter would've worked too. Only small complaint right now: I might figure out how to move the electrical harness out of the way so it's not sitting there in the tray area.

Anyway, this isn't a review or recommendation, but maybe you'll find it useful!

 

Question. What device needs to be added to keep it charged? Is there some “switch” or something from the alternator to charge it?

 

Fortunately, my ammo box doesn't require any charging... jk, but seriously, I'm not currently planning to add a second battery, so I don't know much about dual setups. I just bought this tray for its utility.

 

I just want to point out there are a couple of damn fine battery trays available for less than $15 from here --> https://www.mcmaster.com/products/battery-trays/

I've been using this tray for well over 5years with a G31 battery in my 2011 with zero issues. I did have to source a couple of long tie down bolts and a brace across the top, but for less than $25 total It's good. While I agree that $80 isn't much for the tray above, I was so disgusted by the $200-$400+ asking prices from the usual vultures/vendors I went the cheap route and haven't looked back since.

 

For the curious there are many damn fine dual battery install threads. Here is one on the other forum:

 

I'm gonna ask the stupid question: does that generic battery tray have any plug-and-play install options? If so, that's a great price, but I didn't know about installing the multitudes of decent battery trays I saw. If not, well, that's what made the $80 worthwhile for me because I didn't want to do the work of figuring out the install.

 

No stupid questions. To each his own, I understand that. The generic battery tray has multiple slotted holes ( I think like 9 slots) for lining up the holes that are already threaded on the 4runners front left location. I think I dropped it in place, shuffled it around a bit and then decided I needed to widen one of the slots or drill one hole pin it, so it was squared up properly. After that it was just a matter of bolting it in place. I did have to source the bolts myself. Well worth the $$50-$60'ish in savings...at least for me anyway. I installed a group 65 agm battery in that location so it worked great. YMMV.

Please note: It looks from the pics that the battery tray the OP is talking about fits up against the engine compartment. The tray I'm referring to is for the front of the engine compartment on my 2011 TE that does not have the emissions pump.

If anyone is more curious I have a mod thread in the link below

 

Ahh Bevinsee, maker of the billet oil filter bowls with UV-resistant anodizing.

 

You can just wire up the two batteries in parallel and they'll both charge. However, for overland use, typically you'd want an isolator between the two batteries. This is so a depleted accessory battery doesn't drain the starting battery. See the Dirt Lifestyle video for explanation:

 

Wow, that's great!! I did think about that option, but no mount on the sidewall or any other secondary point made me nervous I guess. Maybe for no reason! I do like the bevinsee has 3 points of attachment, but maybe it's just massive overkill.

 

I edited my post above, but only after you replied. I just want to point out again for everyone, I think we are talking about different mount points. your tray is mounted against the firewall at the back left of the engin compartment. My comments referred to the generic tray mounted at the front left of the engone bay against the headlights where the newer 5th gens have a smog pump or some such emissions device.

 

Appreciate that. Thank you