Optima Battery Hold Down Solutions

[bfoldy]

I’m looking for recommendations on how you’ve mounted an Optima battery (I just bought a Yellow Top) in an Early Bronco using either an aftermarket tray or a simple mod to the factory setup.

I’ve seen a few generic aftermarket trays out there and some are pushing $150 to $200. I also saw the WildHorses tray and like the design, but I’m not really looking to add prominent logos in the engine bay.

Better yet, has anyone done a basic mod to the stock tray, J bolts, and hold down? The tray itself seems usable, it’s really the top clamp that doesn’t sit right on the narrower Optima.

If you’ve got a clean solution, part numbers, or photos, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[1969]

https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.co...b679fee997a9&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

Bolt this tray to the stock tray and you’re good to go. Have done this several times in many different vehicles.

 

[SLOWnEASY]

When I ran an Optima I just added some strips of 1x1 pine under the battery to lift it up higher and clamped it all down. Probably not what you were looking for but it gets the job done.

 

[bfoldy]

https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.co...b679fee997a9&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

Bolt this tray to the stock tray and you’re good to go. Have done this several times in many different vehicles.

Thanks for the lead. Just ordered it.

 

[bfoldy]

When I ran an Optima I just added some strips of 1x1 pine under the battery to lift it up higher and clamped it all down. Probably not what you were looking for but it gets the job done.

Appreciate the response. In my case the issue isn’t really height. I can get the clamp low enough on the J bolts without a problem. The challenge is the width of the stock style top clamp. It’s too wide for the narrower Optima case, so it won’t seat flush or make solid contact on both sides.

 

[bigmuddy]

I’m looking for recommendations on how you’ve mounted an Optima battery (I just bought a Yellow Top) in an Early Bronco using either an aftermarket tray or a simple mod to the factory setup.

I’ve seen a few generic aftermarket trays out there and some are pushing $150 to $200. I also saw the WildHorses tray and like the design, but I’m not really looking to add prominent logos in the engine bay.

Better yet, has anyone done a basic mod to the stock tray, J bolts, and hold down? The tray itself seems usable, it’s really the top clamp that doesn’t sit right on the narrower Optima.

If you’ve got a clean solution, part numbers, or photos, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks.

Interesting you mention vendor logos on stuff. I actually have that WH battery tray and hold down.
I have and do run vendors logos on a few parts, but I too am running weary of it. I have since started modifying parts I buy, when I can and removing logos or paint/powder coat.
Wild horses I think is a top-notch vendor and I don't mind showing some of their logos, but it does become a bit much, kind of like seeing the word bronco splashed on every part of the rig.
The worst was when Duff's insisted on spraying that funky blue color on every part, I started repainting everything I bought until I started seeing better options and bought those instead or making my own.

 

[Yeller]

2 J bolts and a piece of flat bar is pretty clean and simple.

I’ve also used This one. it looks ok but is a bit too wide, I mounted it on a bit of a diagonal across the top of the battery to clean it up some.

 

[ntsqd]

I build battery clamp bars like this:

Appropriate length of 1/2" square tube and a couple ~1.25" long pieces of 1/2" x 1/8" wall angle welded to the tubing where they need to be.

 

[toddz69]

2 J bolts and a piece of flat bar is pretty clean and simple. View attachment 957420

I’ve also used This one. it looks ok but is a bit too wide, I mounted it on a bit of a diagonal across the top of the battery to clean it up some.

I'm using the first one you linked as well. I used to have the Optima-specific one until I switched to Odyssey batteries and then I went with an Odyssey-specific one. Then I decided the brackets for the specific batteries might pose a challenge when you're 50 miles from Nowheresville and have to put a different group size battery in to get home. It has worked well and the battery doesn't move around - even with all the rough road driving I do.

Todd Z.

 

[ntsqd]

......even with all the rough road driving I do.

Todd Z.

Instant recall of '08 on Saline Valley Road when your NATO can went for that triple Axel followed by 3 successive cartwheels......

 

[bfoldy]

Thanks for the info and the photos. I like the simplicity of the flat bar and j-bolt approach, and Todd makes a good point about not locking yourself into a battery-specific bracket in case you need to grab whatever group size is available on the road.

 

[Yeller]

My bronco is locked in pretty hard to an optima, however it wouldn’t take much to slip in a group whatever in nowhereville. The biggest hurdle would be the heat shield since it sits next to the exhaust manifold.

 

[toddz69]

Instant recall of '08 on Saline Valley Road when your NATO can went for that triple Axel followed by 3 successive cartwheels......

And survived! I had the Optima-specific holder in for that trip.

Todd Z.

 

[El Kabong]

Bungee brand. One size fits all.

So much bad juju in this pic.

 

[904Bronco]

Factory tray, WH's J-bolts (I like the flat hook rather that the rounded ones), Aluminum bar stock cut to fit.

I really liked the second one, unfortunately the Owner of the company passed.

 

[lars]

I have the WH tray in mine. I'm Optima-centric and fine with that. I tried various homebrew solutions for years, including some I thought were pretty clever. Until they weren't. Fact is that sort of thing just isn't something I want to put much time and energy into, especially when others are doing so, and preferably creating more secure mounting than what I came up with. Happy to pay for that. The WH logo doesn't trouble me. I like doing business with Jim Creel et al.

That said.

My first impression was that the WH tray is *really* heavy. Installed in the OEM location it's adding some stress to an already semi-flimsy spot. I had to weld a bunch of stiffeners to the outside of my core support years ago because the support was cracking where the OEM tray vertical supports were welded on. Also the 4 bolts for the hold down clamp are a little awkward. The nuts are loose. It was difficult for me to get them started in the confined space with my arthritic fingers. Lots of ways to fix that; I made up some plates with weld nuts on them.

The WH description for their tray notes that it's made from 10 gauge steel. Ruff Stuff reports 12 gauge. IMHO that's plenty. Also the Ruff Stuff tray appears to incorporate nutserts for the hold down bolts. Ruff Stuff for the win here. Not gonna run out and swap, just sharing my experience.

 

[ntsqd]

Factory tray, WH's J-bolts (I like the flat hook rather that the rounded ones), Aluminum bar stock cut to fit.

I really liked the second one, unfortunately the Owner of the company passed.

What did that very large contactor do?

Bungee brand. One size fits all.

So much bad juju in this pic.

I haven't seen one of those Accel coils in decades.

 

[toddz69]

I haven't seen one of those Accel coils in decades.

My first thoughts as well!

Todd Z.

 

[ntsqd]

I wonder if I still have mine? Last that I saw it was two moves ago.....

 

[JeepGuy]

Man, so of you guys are fancy.