Can anyone recommend a dual battery setup? I've searched the forum and found that Benchmark was highly recommended but recent posts indicate some customer service issues.

 

in my opinion.. this business is too competitive to have customer service issues.

I love the look of benchmarks products.. but there are too many nightmare stories ive heard to order from them.

 

The Rugged Ridge doesn't look to bad and I think M.O.R.E. makes one also

 

I wouldn't hesitate to purchase and install another Benchmark setup, regardless of the posts I've read. I am extremely happy with the quality of mine, and in the end, that is what your paying for. I realize getting it fast is nice, but I consider some things well worth the wait. This is one of them.

 

I see some terminals and connectors on those batteries. What are those?

 

With the RHD model down here in Australia we cant fit another battery under the hood. That location is taken up by steering column and Brake Booster.

So I used a CTEK D250S charger and mounted a SLA 50A/Hr under the passenr seat. It works very weel for running my fridge mounted in the rear.

The CTEk will charge a battery from flat to 80% in two hours.

 

I bought the Rugged Ridge tray and a Cole Hersee Solenoid (I think that is the same solenoid Benchmark uses) and I don't see how mine would be any less in quality than Benchmark's. I have not personally seen Benchmark"s setup, but IMO a tray is a tray as long as it fits properly and is made well. The solenoid is the key. Granted he gives you all the cables but anyone can get that done for them cheaply. Just my thoughts, anyway.

 

Agreed. Quality is quality, regardless who makes it. I, like you, can only speak to the quality of the product I purchased. Well made, heavy gauge, great fit, durable powder coated finish.
About the only thing I did differently on mine was utilize a custom bracket from a fellow forum member, rather than mount the tray support underneath by the shock. Which also provided a mounting bracket fot the cannister.

 

LOL I have the Smart isolator from Cole Hersee, then I'm running to a 200 amp knife fuse, which in turn runs to a solonoid for my winch, so I can keep it dissabled until a switch is thrown in the cab. There is also a power distribution bar so I can run more power out lines from my aux battery without going directly to my battery post.( HID driving lights, HID 170 offroad lights)
The power for my trans cooler fan is coming off of my main battery, so it only can be turned on when the ignition is on.
They are running in series, with the option to "boost" via the Cole Hersee smart isolator.

 

Yes it may indeed be overkill, but it does give me peace of mind to have an OFF switch, and some overload protection. It also allowed me to install another switch on my dash! lol