There is ample info on auxiliary batteries at Vanagon.com and in the
Archives.

Please see the attached files for all references to this info.

BTW, Jim Davis has indicated that the Optima battery can be safely side
mounted, so there is no need to cut off the top posts.

Good luck.

Budd Premack
86 Syncro, 84 Vanagon (for sale)
73 Super
Minneapolis, MN (Land of Sky-Blue Waters)
Optima deep cycle battery.htm [application/octet-stream]
Re Adding an aux battery to a Westy.eml [application/octet-stream]
re Aux. Battery Isolator Relay.eml [application/octet-stream]