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Just wanted to share my recent experience with getting batteries for the M1028. In the past few days, I have been searching the posts on this topic, and feel what I have learned may help someone else.
My original cube shaped military batteries died within months of getting the truck, back in 2010. I replaced them with Group 65 sized “Kirkland” brand batteries from Costco, which put out 850 CCA. These were the largest that Costco sold at the time. Down side to giving up the military battery is that I had to insert chunks of 2x4 as spacers under the hold down bracket because the new batteries were not as tall.
These Kirkland batteries were warranted for 36 months, and lasted nearly three and a half years; crapping out suddenly last week (turning the engine over slowly without starting), and leaving me stranded.
Strangely, the truck started when cold (overnight), but not when warm after being parked for an hour. Charging them overnight resulted in only slight improvement.
Upon removing the batteries and testing them with a Schumacher SpeedCharge Ship & Shore SSC 1500A automatic charger, the front battery showed (I think) 70%, while the rear was only 10%!
Electrolyte levels were fine – no plates uncovered.
So, I figured the rear battery is shot, and the front is marginal. Time to replace them both. But with what? Optima? Not necessarily.
First off, I wanted at least 900 CCA, and at least 150 minutes of reserve. I was looking for Group 31 sized batteries. Optima makes a blue top (dual use: starting and deep cycle) that would work, but were not available in stores near me. O’Reilly Auto Parts could order them, but the price was @ $270 each. Amazon would ship me a set for free (prime member gets free shipping) for $219 eacdh, but returning them would be a hassle.
Why worry about returning them? Optima batteries either work great, or they have a shorted cell and won’t hold a charge. Twice I have bought them (for other applications) and have had shorted cells. Here’s the dig with Optima: You can only return them to the vender you bought them from (or mail them to Optima, for which I would have to pay)! I bought mine from a promotional Optima vendor at a car show. O’Rielly’s would not accept it. I waited until the car show was back in town, and took the dead battery back to the same vendor and swapped it for a working one (fortunately still under the 24 month warrantee). Lesson learned? Don’t buy an Optima if there is no convenient way to return it. Two of the three Optima's I have owned were bad. Amazon’s price was good, but if I did not want to have to mail it back for exchange. O’Reilly’s was just not a good price, even though I could return it to the store. So, on to my next option: A Regular Group 31 battery.
I went to a Sears Auto Center – no Group 31’s in stock. It’s the weekend, so I could not check the Interstate warehouse (closed), though I am pretty sure they would have some Group 31’s and at a fair price. I called West Marine. Not in stock. Tractor Supply – Yes! And for only $109!! I made sure two were in stock, and drove 30 miles to my closest Tractor Supply, in Gilroy, CA. Core charge was 10 bucks.
At home, I topped up the batteries on the charger. One was at 75%, the other at 90%. Both are now at 100%.
Nice thing about the Tractor Supply group 31 batteries is the height – no longer a need for the 2x4 spacers.
So this is what I got:
Exide Heavy Duty Farm Battery, HP31E
SKU 0470904
Vehicle Battery | Brand : Exide | Type : Lead Acid | BCI Group Size : 31 | Cold Cranking Amps : 925 | Cranking Amps : 1050 | Terminal Type : SAE | Terminal Voltage : 12 Volt | Product Width : 6-13/16 in. | Product Length : 13 in.
So, happy battery shopping to all!
My original cube shaped military batteries died within months of getting the truck, back in 2010. I replaced them with Group 65 sized “Kirkland” brand batteries from Costco, which put out 850 CCA. These were the largest that Costco sold at the time. Down side to giving up the military battery is that I had to insert chunks of 2x4 as spacers under the hold down bracket because the new batteries were not as tall.
These Kirkland batteries were warranted for 36 months, and lasted nearly three and a half years; crapping out suddenly last week (turning the engine over slowly without starting), and leaving me stranded.
Strangely, the truck started when cold (overnight), but not when warm after being parked for an hour. Charging them overnight resulted in only slight improvement.
Upon removing the batteries and testing them with a Schumacher SpeedCharge Ship & Shore SSC 1500A automatic charger, the front battery showed (I think) 70%, while the rear was only 10%!
Electrolyte levels were fine – no plates uncovered.
So, I figured the rear battery is shot, and the front is marginal. Time to replace them both. But with what? Optima? Not necessarily.
First off, I wanted at least 900 CCA, and at least 150 minutes of reserve. I was looking for Group 31 sized batteries. Optima makes a blue top (dual use: starting and deep cycle) that would work, but were not available in stores near me. O’Reilly Auto Parts could order them, but the price was @ $270 each. Amazon would ship me a set for free (prime member gets free shipping) for $219 eacdh, but returning them would be a hassle.
Why worry about returning them? Optima batteries either work great, or they have a shorted cell and won’t hold a charge. Twice I have bought them (for other applications) and have had shorted cells. Here’s the dig with Optima: You can only return them to the vender you bought them from (or mail them to Optima, for which I would have to pay)! I bought mine from a promotional Optima vendor at a car show. O’Rielly’s would not accept it. I waited until the car show was back in town, and took the dead battery back to the same vendor and swapped it for a working one (fortunately still under the 24 month warrantee). Lesson learned? Don’t buy an Optima if there is no convenient way to return it. Two of the three Optima's I have owned were bad. Amazon’s price was good, but if I did not want to have to mail it back for exchange. O’Reilly’s was just not a good price, even though I could return it to the store. So, on to my next option: A Regular Group 31 battery.
I went to a Sears Auto Center – no Group 31’s in stock. It’s the weekend, so I could not check the Interstate warehouse (closed), though I am pretty sure they would have some Group 31’s and at a fair price. I called West Marine. Not in stock. Tractor Supply – Yes! And for only $109!! I made sure two were in stock, and drove 30 miles to my closest Tractor Supply, in Gilroy, CA. Core charge was 10 bucks.
At home, I topped up the batteries on the charger. One was at 75%, the other at 90%. Both are now at 100%.
Nice thing about the Tractor Supply group 31 batteries is the height – no longer a need for the 2x4 spacers.
So this is what I got:
Exide Heavy Duty Farm Battery, HP31E
SKU 0470904
Vehicle Battery | Brand : Exide | Type : Lead Acid | BCI Group Size : 31 | Cold Cranking Amps : 925 | Cranking Amps : 1050 | Terminal Type : SAE | Terminal Voltage : 12 Volt | Product Width : 6-13/16 in. | Product Length : 13 in.
So, happy battery shopping to all!
