Dual battery question for winch

I use an 83 gmc 4x4 for snow plowing. I have homemade plow on front and been using a warn winch to lift and drop my plow. Its been like this for 8 years or so however with the headlights, wipers, and heater on and doing short pushes I start seeing my headlights dimming when winching in. I put a larger amp alternator in today and thinking of adding a second battery in parralel. My 2nd battery is the same as my other battery. They were both in a diesel truck before. I have place to put 2nd battery under hood along with some extra battery cables. Do I need to add any other components? I read somewhere I should add a battery isolator so main battery does not get depleted by 2nd battery. Im on a tight budget and want to do it as simple as possible.
 
NO reason it won't work, if you have two similar and GOOD batteries, just install a diesel battery tray on the driver's side and parallel 'em just like a diesel of the era.
 
Years ago when I cut wood up in the hills and used my winch to pull trees to a landing, I installed a second battery on my 76 chev 4x4. I used the isolator as I was worried I would run the winch too much and not be able to start the truck to go home. I also used the second battery to run lights in my camper. My batterys were not of the same age and it seemed like the second battery did not charge up to the level of the first one just driving down the road. I'm not sure how much your winch pulls just lifting your blade but I know mine takes a lot on a hard pull. The larger amp alternator should help.
 
The only good reason for an isolator is to keep the truck battery fully charged for starting it while the other battery runs the camper accessories. Your not using that second battery when the engine is off, so nothing is gained with an isolator.
 
I had a "65 Mustang convertible that sat outside during college classes or at my night job at the ammo plant. To ensure good starts, I mounted a second battery in the trunk, wired in parallel to the original battery, connected by a long welding cable. Had no issues with it.
 

I installed a 2nd battery in parallel on my '08 PU with a circuit breaker to operate my electrical powered hyd pump for my rd bale spear bed with zero problems.
 
Ok sounds good. Thank you for the tips guys! I have a drivers side battery tray in a 85 suburban I am using for parts. I'll put that in my 83 gmc. I really appreciate your replies!
 
Go to napa. When the cab relay (think starter solenoid but meant to run continuously) went out on my IH 886 I went there. I described what I
was looking for and he had just the thing. He said he sold lots of them for Dodge trucks with two batteries. It's worked perfectly for years and
was super cheap. $20some bucks I think.
 
My diesel has batteries in parallel, no other components. When I was doing marathon plowing, batteries would fade, but a few miles on the road, and they came back up. Biggy sized my alternator.
 

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