Best Truck Battery

[ramminghard]

Looking to pick up a new battery for my 2009 Sierra. It has a 6.2L to turn over and has to run some accessories like a power rolltop, drop down running boards and lights to power but no stereo or anything with a big draw.

What's everyone running and where is the best place to pick up a new one in Calgary?

[Env-Consultant]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I'll second OPs post, but for a 2010 F150. No major accessories/draws. Had some battery issues over the last 6 months or so. Initially I was thinking of going to CT and buying one, but now I have Beyond...

[speedog]

Originally posted by Env-Consultant
Not trying to hijack the thread, but I'll second OPs post, but for a 2010 F150. No major accessories/draws. Had some battery issues over the last 6 months or so. Initially I was thinking of going to CT and buying one, but now I have Beyond...
Well considering the current cold spell we're in and how that may wreak havoc with a poorly performing battery, I'd suggest that going to CT and buying a battery sooner than later would probably be a better idea than awaiting any beyond offers.

[Darell_n]

Anything that isn't made by Optima.

[ExtraSlow]

One big thing for any battery is warranty and replacement.

Last time I bought a battery, I went with NAPA for that reason. Thousands of locations in every small town in canada. replacement should be a breeze.

I have heard good things about kirkland batteries

[TL911]

+1 for NAPA battery. I've had my truck (2000 Chevy) for 3 years now and never had any battery problems and last winter I never plugged in the truck.

[GTS4tw]

Hands down bang-for-buck Interstate is the best. I put my batteries through absolute hell and they are all but bulletproof with an awesome warranty and tons of places to get warranty.

If you want to spend a bit go Trojan.

Motomaster, and Optima are shit I have gone through dozens.

[quick_scar]

I just got a new kirkland one. First one I grabbed off the shelf was bad, but hey, it happens. After a quick and easy swap, I got a good one and am off to the races.

Also have a really long warranty. Better then some of the other ones out there.

[Env-Consultant]

Originally posted by speedog

Well considering the current cold spell we're in and how that may wreak havoc with a poorly performing battery, I'd suggest that going to CT and buying a battery sooner than later would probably be a better idea than awaiting any beyond offers.


I wasn't looking for an offer....

Just advice on a brand/place to buy one at. Truck has never broke down on me - I'm not one of those idiots sitting on Deerfoot with a dead, unmaintained vehicle at 5:00 p.m. on a weekday...

[epp01]

If you guys have the space, I would convert your trucks over to a stud group 31 series battery. The same one that semi trucks take, you can get them from any HD shop. (I work for a Volvo Semi truck dealer) We sell 1000CCA group 31 batterys for 92 bucks and 925CCA batterys for 79.99!

[ramminghard]

Originally posted by epp01
If you guys have the space, I would convert your trucks over to a stud group 31 series battery. The same one that semi trucks take, you can get them from any HD shop. (I work for a Volvo Semi truck dealer) We sell 1000CCA group 31 batterys for 92 bucks and 925CCA batterys for 79.99!
Could you elaborate a little on what this means and the benefits of it?

[AE92_TreunoSC]

Interstate! They can be warrantied in the US without a receipt!

I worked at a shop that sold them exclusively and never saw any stupid 1 year old failures like OEM batteries.

I will only put interstate batteries in my own cars.

[civic_stylez]

My second optima just shit the bed and wont hold a charge. Interstate is where im headed next.

[Alak]

Odyssey Batteries or Norstar. Big price but about 2 to 3 times more powerful than a 'normal' battery.

[btimbit]

Originally posted by ramminghard

Could you elaborate a little on what this means and the benefits of it?

Also interested in this info

[epp01]

^^ okay the series of battery is a group 31 which is a very common battery, in the heavy duty industry. I have no doubt a group 31 series battery would fit in any pickup. You would have to convert your "post" style battery cables to a stud style. That involves changing both battery cables ends which would probably cost 10-20 dollars at the most. The benefit is massive, you can run a battery that comes with warranty, 1000 cold crank amps for under one hundred bucks!


It makes me laugh, people will pay 200+ dollars for a battery from Napa when you can go and run a semi truck group 31 series battery for under 100 bucks that would probably last a diesel or 2500-3500 guys for years and years.

Knowledge is power.

[speedog]

Originally posted by epp01
^^ okay the series of battery is a group 31 which is a very common battery, in the heavy duty industry. I have no doubt a group 31 series battery would fit in any pickup. You would have to convert your "post" style battery cables to a stud style. That involves changing both battery cables ends which would probably cost 10-20 dollars at the most. The benefit is massive, you can run a battery that comes with warranty, 1000 cold crank amps for under one hundred bucks!


It makes me laugh, people will pay 200+ dollars for a battery from Napa when you can go and run a semi truck group 31 series battery for under 100 bucks that would probably last a diesel or 2500-3500 guys for years and years.

Knowledge is power.

Good info - interesting discussion about exactly this in this forum (http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/98-5-02-non-powertrain/377885-group-31-batteries-installed.html).

[ricosuave]

can you tell me what the amp hour rating of those group 31 batteries are?

CCA is great for gas vehicles, but ah rating is crucial for diesels, and I might be in the market.

[heavyfuel]

I have Interstates in both my trucks, never a problem.

[IggyB]

Northstar AGM

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq107/IggyBIggyB/Battery/004_zps6eb17b26.jpg (http://s438.photobucket.com/user/IggyBIggyB/media/Battery/004_zps6eb17b26.jpg.html)

[ricosuave]

Originally posted by IggyB
Northstar AGM

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq107/IggyBIggyB/Battery/004_zps6eb17b26.jpg (http://s438.photobucket.com/user/IggyBIggyB/media/Battery/004_zps6eb17b26.jpg.html)

Where do you get these?

[AndyL]

Maybe its the rv side of me talking - but don't AGMs require some different handling than a regular battery?

[ExtraSlow]

I think AGM's need a "smart" charger, but I'm not totally sure what that means. I don't think the use in your vehicle will be any different.

In an RV, you always have it hooked to a charger, so that's maybe where your concern comes from?

[epp01]

Originally posted by ricosuave
can you tell me what the amp hour rating of those group 31 batteries are?

CCA is great for gas vehicles, but ah rating is crucial for diesels, and I might be in the market.


I'll have to check what the AH rating is, but they are designed to go into semi trucks, which are only diesel. I watched three of these battery crank and start a 16 Liter Volvo motor in the minus 30 we had on friday. Pretty good battery.

[Alak]

You can get odyssey or northstar batteries from A&D battery or Battery World.


Problem with group 31 batteries is they dont fit in everything. I found they were too tall for my truck and the posts would hit the hood.

[turbo'dGSR]

Ive been running a Northstar in my Cherokee for a couple years now with no issues. I have spotties, CB, elec fans, winch, hid's and subs so lots of draw... I got it at a place off 46ave west of blackfoot, cant remember the name right now

[firebane]

Picked up a new Interstate from Autovalue cost me about $180 with taxes.

Haven't started my truck in well over a month and went outside and depsite me cranking and cranking the truck it still got the truck started.

Can't complain about that.

[IggyB]

Originally posted by ricosuave


Where do you get these?

http://www.affordablebatteryspecialist.ca/contact-affordable-battery-specialists.htm
$275

[ramminghard]

Originally posted by epp01
^^ okay the series of battery is a group 31 which is a very common battery, in the heavy duty industry. I have no doubt a group 31 series battery would fit in any pickup. You would have to convert your "post" style battery cables to a stud style. That involves changing both battery cables ends which would probably cost 10-20 dollars at the most. The benefit is massive, you can run a battery that comes with warranty, 1000 cold crank amps for under one hundred bucks!


It makes me laugh, people will pay 200+ dollars for a battery from Napa when you can go and run a semi truck group 31 series battery for under 100 bucks that would probably last a diesel or 2500-3500 guys for years and years.

Knowledge is power.
My truck is already set up to run studs so that is not an issue. My only concern would be fitting it in the stock battery tray. Done some searching and haven't found much about this conversion for Sierra's or half tons in general. Are there different sizes? What is the best place to pick one up or are they sold everywhere?

[DEATH2000]

My CT Motomaster battery froze over in the -30 weather and wouldnt start. 730CCA. Warmed it up in my house during the day and it started fine again.

[Cos]

.

[AE92_TreunoSC]

^

I change my batteries every 5 years, regardless of condition, so a long life doesnt have much appeal to me. Too bad they're green they would be great in a restoration project. But a 4 year warranty is amazing, again why I recommend interstate.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally posted by Cos
Dont know anything about them but Interstate has been marketing these a lot in C&D, R&T, etc.

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_estore/Content.aspx?dsNav=Ntk~SearchGroup|lastslonger|3|

Sounds promising as a hybrid of a starting and deep-cycle battery, theoretically great for vehicles with a winch and no dual-battery setup. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of reviews for them yet, though.

[hachiroku]

Originally posted by epp01
^^ okay the series of battery is a group 31 which is a very common battery, in the heavy duty industry. I have no doubt a group 31 series battery would fit in any pickup. You would have to convert your "post" style battery cables to a stud style. That involves changing both battery cables ends which would probably cost 10-20 dollars at the most. The benefit is massive, you can run a battery that comes with warranty, 1000 cold crank amps for under one hundred bucks!


It makes me laugh, people will pay 200+ dollars for a battery from Napa when you can go and run a semi truck group 31 series battery for under 100 bucks that would probably last a diesel or 2500-3500 guys for years and years.

Knowledge is power.

Knowledge is power and it seems you lack both. Please do your research before telling others about how amazing this idea is. A 31 series battery is constructed differently than a standard 78 or 65 (popular automotive) series. Also for a 1000 cca 31 series battery you will be paying more than a standard replacement for the automotive application. Cheaper 31 series are available but are nowhere near 1000 cca. Personal opinion for the OP, look at an AGM battery only if you have extra electrical draw than what came from factory. FYI all new Vehicles in 2017 WILL have an AGM from factory. Also you get what you pay for in the battery world. There is a reason NAPA (made by EASTPENN) is a higher priced battery. If you look at the construction and materials used, it's easy to understand why they cost more. All three manufactures make good batteries but Eastpenn is #1 followed by Exide and lastly Interstate is the "worst" of the three. PM any questions and I will do my best to answer.

[hachiroku]

Originally posted by ramminghard

My truck is already set up to run studs so that is not an issue. My only concern would be fitting it in the stock battery tray. Done some searching and haven't found much about this conversion for Sierra's or half tons in general. Are there different sizes? What is the best place to pick one up or are they sold everywhere?

A 31 series battery is 13 inches long compared to 11 inches long in a stock 48 series which is what your truck takes. Are you sure your truck takes a stud? it should be top post on that year of chevy.

[Rat Fink]

.

[heavyfuel]

HOLY FUCK just get some Interstates and be done with it already LOL why is everything around here some big over thought over analyzed over engineered conundrum??? :dunno:

[ramminghard]

Originally posted by hachiroku


A 31 series battery is 13 inches long compared to 11 inches long in a stock 48 series which is what your truck takes. Are you sure your truck takes a stud? it should be top post on that year of chevy. Just checked and you are correct.