1996 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 12V Cummins....

I use a Battery Tender religiously, and while I have had zero issues, the batteries are going on their 8th birthday. With hunting season approaching, I'm thinking I may need replacements soon. Any preferences? Anything to stay away from?

Thanks

If the batteries you have are doing well that long, I'd stay with that brand.
What are they?

Costco.

I believe ther is only a couple companies making batteries anyway. They just get re-branded and sold in different colors.

8 years for any, much less both, batteries is great, you're doing something right.

I've sold quite a few brands over the years, back in my counterman days.

Had the least amount of warranties from Interstate/Ameritron (Johnson Controls), followed closely by Deka and Exide.

Had the most warranties and comebacks from Douglas, by orders of magnitude.

As with any such subject YMMV.

Never had problems with Interstate batteries either. They are GTG.

Wab,

I believe they are Interstate, but not 100% sure - I will check later.

Battery Tender Jr. is in my humble opinion, one of the greatest inventions of all time.

I will not say they are the best, but I've been buying Wal-Mart batteries.
Not hard to find a Wal-Mart for any warranty.

Our son is a believer in Interstates.

We have enough rigs, I like to keep a newer battery in the outfit that gets far from home, and shuffle the old battery down to a tractor.

I'm not sure but the dude at CARQUEST told me Interstate batteries are now made in Mexico.

CARQUEST batteries are supposedly made in the USA.

Last 3-4 batteries we bought this year have been CARQUEST brand.

My bil claims John Deere is the best, they add acid the day you buy them.

There are only a few major manufacturers of batteries. Do some reasearch on the size batteries you are looking for and see who really makes them. Many of the "value brand" batteries are made at the same plant at the really expensive ones and if the specs are the same, it's likely the same battery just rebranded.

Knock on wood, I haven't had to buy any batteries for my Cummins, I have used Walmart brand and Advance Auto batteries in my boats with good luck. Easy to find a Walmart or Advance if you are in need of replacement as well.

Wow.. 8 years on truck batteries is good stuff..

I, too, use battery tenders on most of my batteries - but not the truck since it's used nearly daily.

I'll second that....

Costco replaces batteries within the first 3 years with no questions asked...so every 33 months or so, I take it out of the vehicle in the parking lot and have it replaced with a new one, no charge...have one in each of our 5 family vehicles..

I buy factory blems from a nearby Interstate Distributor. His batteries come from the Johnson Controls factory in St. Joseph, Mo. I can never beat his price and have had good service with them.

We run Walmart/Sams

Never had any, including diesel, last less than 4-5 years.

Just pulled one recently off our diesel tractor, that was right at 10 years old. Come to find out it was not the battery but a kill switch adjustment that wouldn't allow it to work at times. But that old it was time to replace anyway.

The other good thing, when on the road, with walmart batteries in our airboats, vehicles, travel trailer etc... I can almost always find a replacement fairly quickly and easily.

One thing you will find out is now the only warranty you get is free one year replacement.

I did not check Costco, but Autozone, Advanced, Napa, Sears Die Hard,Pepboys,O'Rileys, all the same.

I believe in Napa batteries, in my truck x2, tractor, boat.

cost but hold up.

last battery I bought though was a deep cycle from sams for my sprayer. the Duracell batteries they sell are Deka made in usa betteries.

I do the same now, since I have a account at the local store, where I worked many years ago, and they no longer sell Ameritron or Deka.

IIRC Napa's house brand is Exide, unless that's changed in the last few years. I've had good luck from them.

If you get the better line they have 18 months free replacement, then pro-rata after that, which only helps a little unless you paid full retail (and nobody paid full retail when I was there).

I don't know about all Costco battery's, but the ones I buy for the boat have a 30 month declining warranty.

First year is 100%, then it drops off precipitously. The last 10 or 15 months they only refund 10%.

I buy the Marine Deep cycle ones. 750 "Marine" Cranking Amps! whatever that means.

I use 6v batts in series on my RV and they have the same warranty. The 12v car batts are 3 years no questions.
I got almost 8 years from the Motorcraft battery that was new in my F250 and that baterry got abused.

If you plan on keeping that old Dodge,don't scrimp, buy the best batteries you can find. Will cost in excess of 200 bucks.

If I'm reading that right, you're a thief.

I've had good luck with Interstate in the Dodge Diesel and Diehard in the Wife's various cars.

Had terrible luck with Vatozone batteries in everything we tried them in years ago. No mas.

Actually not. If the company policy is that way, thats what they've set themselves up for.

They get what they asked for.

I've no issue with that. After a year I"ve obviously used some of the lifetime of it.

Wished I could get 100% free replace on tires if an issue arose in a year....the heck with treadwear.

deka

If the optima starting batteries are as good as their trolling batteries they are the best.

How long do they last?

Thats gotta be a key when you are spending way more than a walmart battery.

And most all walmart ones are running 5 years plus for us. Thats working out typically to 20 bucks a year or so.

How many years would you have to run an optima to get 20 bucks a year?

And if they are that much better I'd consider them, other than the fact that w'eve had to replace a few on trips at times... and that sucks looking for a certain brand dealer...

Legal or not it's a bullchit, weasel dick thing to do.

I want nothing to do with a shiesty ass thief like that.


Total bitch move.

I generally go to Optima batteries, when I replace - especially on the diesels.

It is not the company policy to replace good batteries, it is their policy to replace any FAULTY battery, no questions asked.

Which makes Seafire a thief AND a liar.

Price of batteries is getting expensive.


But it sure is nice when stuff starts up on a cold morning without a jump.


First cold night always lets you know when it's time to replace battery.

Don't hold back Sam!

Total ignorant company move. Why not require a test? While its not somethign I'd do, its damn sure one of the dumbest company moves I've seen.

Just like not requiring a receipt for a refund of returned merchandise etc...

The country, both consumers and companies gets dumber by the day.

That is my nice, toned down internet voice!

It is not the company policy to replace good batteries, it is their policy to replace any FAULTY battery, no questions asked.

Which makes Seafire a thief AND a liar. [/quote]


This makes more sense. And nothing wrong if the battery doesn't hold up, and they feel it should for 3 years.

But no test? NO reciept?

It does piss me off that Walmart quit having the envelopes on the batteries to drop the reciept proof of purchase in.... but then they don't require a reciept for stuff anymore... which is also stupid.

Seafire probably lurks around waiting for the new dumb guy at Costco(?) before he makes his big move and returns a good battery for a new one.


Blows my mind that people are so petty.

Who in the phizzuck keeps track of 5 different batteries and takes them all in every 3 years just to never have to buy a battery?


Seafire must have been trolling, no way is that for real.

She's a fine Christian....




bragging 'bout smoking somebody....unreal.

NAPA Gold have been doing well for me over the past decade or so. They have lasted a minimum of 6 years in our vehicles.

Well Sam, you might stop speakin' to me.
One of the supermarkets have a policy of an item being free if the register price is higher than the shelf price.
By sheer happenstance I bought a jar of grape jelly that rang up high.
I took the checkout women to the isle to show her he shelf price, free.
So, the next time I'm in that store, I go straight to the grape jelly.
Same price.
After several trips, we had a few years supply of grape jelly, and I stopped that.

So you know of the price each item and remember what it's "supposed" to be on a cart full of stuff?
You are good.

Just on that one jelly jar.
I stumbled onto that.

do you even like grape jelly?

+1 on the DEKA

Well, I don't know what these batteries are. I thought they were Interstates, but there is no logo on the battery that is visible. The only thing this has is a sticker that says KELLEHER BATTERY CO, SCRANTON, PA.


Anyways, I will probably go with these 49 pounders:




Retail*: $137.95
List: $156.95

Mega-Tron Plus
Mega-Tron Plus 27 Automotive Battery Six-Year Performance 750 CCA

30 MonthFree Replacement
Six YearPerformance Warranty
810 CCA
1000 Amps

Yeah, on their website, there is a discrepancy in the CCA listed.

It's not old, it's well seasoned.




BTW, Wally World batteries had a very poor customer rating - something like only 50-60% would recommend it to a friend.

I've had good service from Trojan and Sears Diehard, over the years. But they eliminated the automotive section of the nearest store, so I might have to search.

Recently bought an Interstate 29NF battery for my gas forklift. They are located not far from me and stocked the special, narrow size required. They trusted me to return the core/exchange without requiring a deposit or payment.

+1 ,something seriously wrong w/ anyone that doesn't see that.

Sears Diehard Platinum will be my next batteries in my rig. They are a re branded Odyssey and run $100 cheaper.

http://www.sears.com/diehard-platin...P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

This past winter I left the dome light on in my truck and it drained the battery dead. I put it on the charger and got the truck started but the ammeter was reading high like it wouldn't take a full charge. I drove it that way for a couple months and finally took it to O'Reilly to have 'em check it out. They hooked up one the new fangled testers and it showed the battery was bad.

It was a 4 year old 72 or 84 month battery I purchased at O'Reilly so it was still under warranty. They didn't have the correct size store brand but they applied the same discount to a a new AC Delco battery.

This isn't about batteries per say but the very good customer service that I always get at O'Reilly. I know it sounds like a plug but I buy all my parts there and have always been pleased with their CS. They have my purchases in their computer so I didn't even have to provide a receipt.

The cost of keeping up deadbeats like this is passed on to consumers by the business.

"I wanna return this battery."

Is there a problem with it?


"Uh................................

Unfortunately I bet it is.

Warranty on a battery is just someone's perceived license to wreck, abuse and lie.

The batteries in the pic are made by Exide with a retailer's label on them.

Get a pair of 600-750 CCA Grp. 34, 24 or 27's (spare yourself of the "1000" crap). Your truck doesn't know or care about any CCA above and beyond what the gear reduction system pulls to turn over.
Batteries in this range will also last longer, and Dodge Rams use one of the better starting and charging systems and generally get pretty long battery life.

Dodge diesels in that range also pull the pre-heat off of one battery. Switch batteries after 2-3 years for more life out the pair.

Yes, it is.

Our ACTUAL defective rate has been at or less than 1% for the 25 years.

Hey Hawk, how can that be if they are in parallel?

Thanks

It draws from both, but not equally.

If the system had the positive connected to one battery and looped and grounded off the other, it would be better. Its powered and grounded off one of the batteries. Yes, both batteries are "available", but power travels the least distance quickest, every time.

If you look at it, its not hooked up the same way the starting cables are, which spread the duties more evenly (I think its the passenger side battery in question).

You can hook up parallel systems in such a fashion one battery gets most of the starting drain, cycling and re-charge. Early heavy truck systems used this and it more often than not destroyed the "front" battery and at times also ruined the second or third (last) battery in the system from never being used, due to the resistance of a "cooked" front battery.

Also, if one cable is longer than the other, that increased distance (and resistance) will also stress the battery with the least distance to the unit to be powered and likewise the charging system, which is what some of those systems do.

Thanks. I have the Battery tender hooked up like this:




I would have thought the preheat would have been wired the same.

When the OEM batteries in my Sierra 2500 HD DuraMax diesel reached five years I decided to replace them before going on a varmint hunt. So, being obsessive about being broken down in nowhere close by nothing, I decided to replace them. Drove down to a commercial battery house and had them replaced with two Odyssey 78-PC1500 batteries made by EnerSys. Now these things aren't cheap at a list of $308.00 a pop, but I did get a discount. So far no more worries about batteries. They have a 12 year warranty, but I bet they have abundant weasel words to get out of that, and a prorate policy that pays $0.39 after ten years.

Bought a new old stock 2008 GMC 1500 with the little 4.8L V-8 for my wife when her Ford F-150 caught fire and burned up on the freeway. Having sat around the lot for two years the battery was weak and would suddenly die overnight. The dealer tested it and said it was fine, but it would crap out anyway. Tired of it all, I popped down to Autozone and picked up a Duralast (don't you love the names they concoct for batteries - I mean who would buy a battery named Shortlife or Sir Dies-a-lot?). For a $144 battery it has worked fine, but the truck is a garage queen that makes shopping trips and occasional runs to a casino.

Then again the Optima Yellow Top batteries I have in an old van and other applications have lasted well.

That's the correct way.

The Odyssey batteries are also a great product.

Eventually, everything will be a sealed AGM; but AGM isn't always the answer, and not all are built even close to the Odyssey product.

The oldest pair of batteries I have seen were 22 years old in an older AC tractor. Seen others go in the 18-20 range.

I rarely have a battery last more than 30 months in my superduty. The heat here kills them. We also have better luck with wet batteries in airplanes than the much more expensive AGM batteries.

Yep.

The 650-675 range grp 65's will last longer than the typical 850 CCA ones people think they need (and your gear reduction starting system can't tell the difference), even with Ford's excessively high voltage regulators.

Those play a big role in toasting too....

Ford must have finally figured part of this out, as most new diesels I see have 750 or 675 CCA group 65's in them. Still not a cure for a poor system.