High output alternators

Go to the manufacturer of the truck, Freightliner, KW, Pete dealer parts dept, give 'em your vin and they can let you know everything that will fit on your truck. Of course you can fit a locomotive alternator or tug boat altenator, but it would require custom fabrication

 

My local shop was telling me about some very high output alternators that they use on ambulances, and they cost about 3 times what a standard one does!

 

I dont think you need a bigger alt. for an 8 pill

 

James3505 is right, you could probably just add 4 more batteries and be good.

 

I am in orientation with a hand that owns an alternator rebuilding business in Alabama with his 2 brothers. We talked about how chicken lights and big radios affect alternators while watching the ball game yesterday. He said if you get 6 months with an alternator while running a bunch of lights and big radio then you're doing good. He said go LED lights and then have no problems...

 

If your thinking of a 8-pill...Best bet would either also get a Motor Maul, (and keep just your regular alternator you have now, plus 2 more battery's) or add a second alternator...

You could go with a larger alternator if you can find one that has enough out-put to keep up with the 8 pill and all the lights on the truck plus you would also need a driver for the 8-pill, so your probably looking at something like a 300+AMP alternator...Problem with these, is they don't have much out-put amps at lower RPM's. And they get real HOT. Real Fast!

Most 8-pill's need 160-180 AMP's to run.

Now you can get away with your stock alternator and a few more battery's and run the 8-pill...I seen guys that do it. But for every battery you add, your alternator will need to provide about 20 to 25 amps to keep each battery charged. And at the end of the day, your asking allot out of that alternator to keep the battery's and Amp happy!

In other words...Eventually, that stock alternator is going to have a major melt-down....Been there...Done that!

Here is my alternator set-up in my Suburban...3 220 amp alternators that power my 16 pill and 2x4 driver box's.