Two batteries?

[RatVan]

Hi all, just tried to start my transit this morning and she didnt want to play so i've replaced the battery and it started first time. But my dad said that on his old mk5 tipper he had two batteries and it does seem like there is a large space to acomadate one on the right hand side of the engine bay even though a battery tray is nowhere to be found.
Essentialy do I need two batteries?
Cheers

[johny transit]

Someone on here will prolly know more about this, but for starters (no pun intended) I have seen transits with two batteries that are simply connected together with very fat leads (as opposed to two batteries connected by thinner wire and a relay which is to supply seperate circuits without using the starter battery ie a leisure battery arrangement). Anyway, I believe the type of thing you are talking about is what was reffered to as "cold start" or something. The only thing with that is - what happens if one battery fails? It will surely drain the other, therefore you have twice as much chance of a flat battery and you wont know which is the culprit. It's prolly a good system for official bodies who change their batteries every so often, but if you have put on one new battery, providing it is actually big enough, I would stick with that. Might be worth checking your alternator while you are at it as incorrect charging often causes battery failure.

[MinorMatt]

twin batteries were fitted as an option at the factory, if you want a battery tray for the other side you need one from a petrol van!

Its not a cold start system, but it does help when you dont service your van and the oil gets thick

You should replace both batteries at the same time if one fails - so it can get expensive

[RatVan]

Cheers guys ill stick with the one, was just wondering as i've only just bought her and several bits are missing (spare wheel, etc).
Dad did say he went through an alternator every year, hopefully ill avoid that pain though
Came with excellent service history though and its a V reg (2000) so touch wood.

[JayKay730i]

I have twins on my mk3 because i was having trouble starting it even after puting a new battery on, Mainly on really cold mornings though so i made up a battery tray and put another on the drivers side(van was originally a petrol, and will be again soon, 2.1!) connected them with fat leads and put an extra earth on. On the button every time!

[MrMPuk]

viewtopic.php?f=40&t=9554&start=0

[RatVan]

She started fine this morning and it was even colder today (first lot of frost on my windscreen!).
Cheers MrMPuk, i did search but i don't know why i missed that thread.