Relocating the battery to the rear.

[Sheepdog]

Here's something to consider.

During starting, especially in cold weather, the starting amperage may exceed 400 amps! Mounting the battery say behind the rear seat, may reduce the starting amperage at the starter to less than 50% of normal. This happens because even small amounts of resistance, at high amperage, have a very pronounced effect. It is simply a case of Ohms' law!

I'm up to speed on Ohm's Law.

I'd be surprised if the starters on our trucks draw more than about 150 amps.

Sponsored

 

[Sheepdog]

Only reason to do that is weight DISTRIBUTION...

Bingo...

2/0 copper cable is expensive

What, $3 a foot?

...and the frame isn't a very good ground over that distance. Nope......

Sure it is...

 

[Sheepdog]

If you want to lighten it up the get a Lithium Ion battery!!! For the price of one of those you can do the same for a batter relocation as the cables...

LiFePO4 batteries are impractical for general transportation use, because you can't charge them below freezing without damaging them.

A LiFePO4 battery in the stock location would still leave the front end heavier than moving the stock battery to the rear.

And LiFePO4 batteries big enough to work, cost many times what a battery relocation would cost.

All my motorcycles have LiFePO4 racing batteries, because there is no place to relocate the batteries to, because I don't use them for general transportation and they're kept inside so freezing is not a concern, and because they're only a couple hundred bucks each in the small sizes that motorcycles use.

 

[Frenchy]

Ohm's Law applies to all vehicles equally.

True but how much of the modern electronics do you have to worry about with older vehicles?

 

[Sheepdog]

The point of moving the battery to the rear, would be weight distribution. Pickups are nose-heavy.

That's one of the reasons we bought a 4x2- the weight distribution isn't as bad as on a 4x4 (and the 4x2 is capable of more front end suspension travel).

Those are important considerations in off-road performance.

 

[Frenchy]

The point of moving the battery to the rear, would be weight distribution. Pickups are nose-heavy.

That's one of the reasons we bought a 4x2- the weight distribution isn't as bad as on a 4x4 (and the 4x2 is capable of more front end suspension travel).

Those are important considerations in off-road performance.

If you want to go offroad then trad it in for a 4x4. Simple as that

 

[Frenchy]

I forgot to mention that a 2wd ranger is not as heavy in the front due to no from differential!!

 

[Sheepdog]

If you want to go offroad then trad it in for a 4x4. Simple as that

We're building it to pre-run. For performance usage, 4x2 trucks are safer, faster, cheaper, more reliable, and more comfortable than 4x4 trucks, because all things being equal a 4x2 is lighter, has more front end travel, and has better weight distribution.

 

[Frenchy]

We're building it to pre-run. For performance usage, 4x2 trucks are safer, faster, cheaper, more reliable, and more comfortable than 4x4 trucks, because all things being equal a 4x2 is lighter, has more front end travel, and has better weight distribution.

I can guarantee you I could take a two-wheel drive Ranger in a four-wheel drive Ranger compare both suspension stock and they will both have the same amount of travel.

 

[Sheepdog]

I forgot to mention that a 2wd ranger is not as heavy in the front due to no from differential!!

Yes, I already mentioned that...

 

[Sheepdog]

I can guarantee you I could take a two-wheel drive Ranger in a four-wheel drive Ranger compare both suspension stock and they will both have the same amount of travel.

We're planning a Camburg mid-travel setup with adjustable King 2.5 dampers with reservoirs.

 

[Frenchy]

We're planning a Camburg mid-travel setup with adjustable King 2.5 dampers with reservoirs.

And you think a four-wheel drive won't have the same travel if you did the same thing? I will also add that weather is a two-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive the Comfort will either be absolute garbage or absolutely awesome depending on how you set it up. It can go either way no matter what. I'm sorry but there is no way I can agree with you on safety for a 2 wheel drive versus 4-wheel drive when it comes to off-road. When you are off road you weren't four-wheel drive. There's a reason they designed 4 wheel drive 4 off road

 

[Sheepdog]

And you think a four-wheel drive won't have the same travel if you did the same thing?

No, and there are a whole bunch of other problems that come from trying.

You can only get so much suspension travel out of an IFS four wheel drive front suspension, before running into the limits of the front CV drive axle's articulation.

4x2 front ends do not suffer from this limitation.

Even when you stay within the physical limits of CV drive axle articulation, any increase in front suspension travel increases the stresses on the inner and outer CV joints. And a front CV joint failure would be a major problem while pre-running.

A diff drop does not fix this, reduces ground clearance, and GREATLY weakens the front suspension.

Modified CV drive axles add expense (diverting money away from suspension improvements), and are usually even weaker than stock ones- you would probably need to stay in two wheel drive except at very low speeds, and you would need to be very gentle when in four wheel drive, to avoid the risk of a front CV joint failure.

And again, four wheel drive front ends are heavier, meaning that you're going to hit everything harder, and possibly at a less advantageous angle of impact, which makes the ride rougher and increases the risk of vehicle damage.

 

[Sheepdog]

Frenchy, let me use an extreme example to help you to understand- the very fastest off-road trucks are Trophy Trucks, which are allowed to use their choice of either 4x4 or 4x2, and virtually all of them have been built as 4x2 only for many many years.

 

[Sheepdog]

Even in slower stuff where a lot of people think you need four wheel drive, a two wheel drive vehicle can do pretty well.

Sponsored