cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Best Batteries for a diesel Tow rig?

Blanco1
Explorer
Explorer
Ok I've got a high Performance Tow rig '97 Dodge 12 Valve Cummins with about 500 HP & over the past 6-7 years have only used it for my Truck Camper.

But now I've purchased a Travel Trailer that will allow me more use for my truck than just the Truck Camper.

I'll drive here & there to work or for fun or to tow my New Trailer we just got.
Or my boat to the lakes.

What would you recommend?
Its got dual Batteries under the hood that have been there for years & are constantly dead.

Time to get new ones & wonder what you recommend?
1997 Dodge 4x4, 5 spd manual trans & HotRod 5.9 cummins.
With '85 Lance.
26 REPLIES 26

blt2ski
Moderator
Moderator
FYI, last I saw, Interstate does not make their own batteries. Would not surprise me if some were made in Mexico or Canada, along with the 3 plants here in US. I personally would not worry about the where they were made. Not a lot one can do to them.

Marty
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
2014 Chevy 1500 Dual cab 4x4
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer

blt2ski
Moderator
Moderator
Iirc, NAPA, West Marine and many other store brands are made by Deka/East Penn. I go in the Tacoma distribution center frequently, they have rolls of stickers they put in the batteries, depending upon who is getting them.

Marty
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
2014 Chevy 1500 Dual cab 4x4
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
blt2ski wrote:
IIRC, there is only three manufacturing plants in the US. Really does not matter the brand, they were probably made by brand X if you will. From a motor standpoint, get the one with the most CCA that you need, call it good!

Marty


Have you noticed some of the Interstate Batteries are Made in Mexico? I was in a pinch ended up with two 6volt from NAPA.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

blt2ski
Moderator
Moderator
IIRC, there is only three manufacturing plants in the US. Really does not matter the brand, they were probably made by brand X if you will. From a motor standpoint, get the one with the most CCA that you need, call it good!

Marty
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
2014 Chevy 1500 Dual cab 4x4
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer

Edd505
Explorer
Explorer
Look into a pair of group 65 Walmart/Sams for high cranking amps.
2015 F350 FX4 SRW 6.7 Crew, longbed - 2017 Durango Gold 353RKT
2006 F350 SRW 6.0 crew longbed sold
2000 F250 SRW 7.3 extended longbed airbags sold
2001 Western Star 4900EX sold
Jayco Eagle 30.5BHLT sold, Layton 24.5LT sold

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
ivbinconned wrote:
I had an 06 Ram. Cables etc constantly corroding. Installed AGM. Problem solved.

Now that you mention it, my connections were constantly corroding with the original batteries as well. Iโ€™d clean them every year at least. Those batteries seemed to leak around the posts a bit. I sealed up around the posts with some rtv and it helped. I think it may have just been those batteries because that is not the norm with flooded batteries.
AGM batteries have been in for 5years now and no issues or corrosion though.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
Costco will serve you well. If traveling they are all around the Country!
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
ppine wrote:
Costco batteries are pretty good.
I get my truck batteries at Les Shwab.


Do you think they have better quality batteries?
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

ivbinconned
Explorer II
Explorer II
I had an 06 Ram. Cables etc constantly corroding. Installed AGM. Problem solved.
Ram and 34 ft Cedar Creek

Super_Dave
Explorer
Explorer
I got my last batteries at Batteries & Bulbs. They even installed them for me in the parking lot so I didn't have to make a return trip for the core charge.
Truck: 2006 Dodge 3500 Dually
Rig: 2018 Big Country 3155 RLK
Boat: 21' North River Seahawk

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
My only reason for recommendation of Odyssey is they have lasted longerthan other batteries. Ymmv
Idk what the CCA are but they light up the diesel at -30 not plugged in no problem.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Ron3rd
Explorer
Explorer
For those recommending Costco, our local Costco now sells Interstate batteries and exclusively. Decent battery
2016 6.7 CTD 2500 BIG HORN MEGA CAB
2013 Forest River 3001W Windjammer
Equilizer Hitch
Honda EU2000

"I have this plan to live forever; so far my plan is working"

theoldwizard1
Explorer
Explorer
shum02 wrote:
I've had really good luck with Costco batteries.

As long as they have the same Cold Craning Amps (CCA) there is no reason to spend more money.

ppine
Explorer II
Explorer II
Costco batteries are pretty good.
I get my truck batteries at Les Shwab.