battery?

[SSXtreme350]

How much of a big deal would it be to relocate my battery to the bed on a 2001 s10?
Is it worth it it?
How difficult would it be with a jack rabbit bed topper?

thanks

[Hammer Head]

Get a battery relocation kit (Summit & Jegs have them). It's pretty easy, just run the line on the frame towards the driveshaft side & then bring it through the drain hole in the bed corner (may need to drill it slightly larger to run a rubber grommet). Is it worth it? hmmm... that's a question you need to ask yourself, remember it takes up space in the bed but, you're also takin some weight off the front. I've been weighin out this for a while now myself. A bed topper doesn't matter for this, may even make it better for the battery box so it doesn't get all the elements straight on it.

[Dogsofjune]

It's not so bad to do. I'm glad I did it. It gave me room to install my MSD box.
I used this kit:
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2DG1200A&N=700+4294925143+400304+4294912629+115&autoview=sku

Make sure your battery will fit in the box. Check dimensions. I had to get a new battery due to the sixe of the original, and the kit is made for top mounts, not side.

[SSXtreme350]

I take it i will have to drill another hole, since both of the drain tubes from the bed topper runs through the exisitng drain holes of the bed. My jack rabbit bed topper has box that drains water and rolls up the bed topper in it.
Or i will have to mount the relocationn kit on the far back of the bed?
Would i have to worry about a bedrug in the bed being in the way of any of this?

[Hammer Head]

Is there any way you could "T" the drains together? I wouold place the Battery relocation kit up behind the passenger seat, front of the bed (not by the tail gate). You could mount the relocation it over top the bed rug. Just my opinion, seems easier in that location.

[Pewter Sonoma]

I thought about making a custom bracket for a relocation below the bed - that way the weight would be tranfered to the rear, AND also help contribute to a slightly lower center of gravity. To be honest, the battery sits fairly low already, and the eye measurements I made, just mounting it in the bed is about the same level it is under the hood.

Keep in mind, I autocross, so any weight tranfer/ balance / or center of gravity advantage I can think of I have a plan for. I'm sort of waiting for my current battery to go, and then I'll very much consider a swap to the rear and get an optima.

Anyone have pics of their current bed set-up??

[Hammer Head]

I would love to design or find a way to mount the battery under the bed (sealed from the weather).

[Joker2040]

Here is a pic of my setup in my 2001

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/337000-337999/337227_11.jpg