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Truck battery recommendations

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December 01, 2025, 12:58 PM
walker77
Truck battery recommendations
My truck was slow to start this morning. So I think it's new battery time. What do you guys recommend? Sam's has a Duracell 27F for $140. But it looks like reviews are saying they only get 3.5 year out of them. I got 7 year out of the factory battery.
December 01, 2025, 01:02 PM
BlackTalonJHP
I've had good luck with East Penn branded as NAPA Gold, Duracell, Deka, etc at least for SLA batteries.
December 01, 2025, 01:03 PM
HRK
WalMart, good warranty, better price than others, You can pay more, lots more for high end units. The one that lasted the longest in my F150 was from WalMart.

EastPenn, Exide and Clarios make WalMart Everstart batteries, and they have different levels.

Clarios is the name now for Johnson Controls

Order it online for installation, make an appointment and let them do all the work while you sip a coffee...

https://www.walmart.com/cp/bat...-accessories/1104292
December 01, 2025, 01:17 PM
Lineman101
My brother has used the AAA battery service and has said that it is really good. 3 year free replacement if it fails- no hassle. If you have AAA?
December 01, 2025, 01:24 PM
iron chef
I've had batteries w/ 60 & 72 month warranties but have never gotten more than 4 yrs out of any of them. I have a friend who drives a lot doing delivery work (Uber, DoorDash, etc). He just replaced his battery for the third time in three years. Good thing he has the 36-month full replacement warranty, b/c he's gotten his money's worth from it.

I bought a new battery last month. My advice is to find a model that has sufficient CCA for your needs, and after that, shop based on warranty. Some warranties are full replacement within the warranty period. If you bring it in dead on the last day of the 36-month warranty, the store replaces it w/ a new one.

Other warranties are pro-rated. In the 18 month of the 36-month warranty, the store will give you 50% credit of original purchase price towards a new battery. If it's in the 36 month, they'll give you 1/36th credit.

I bought batteries from Costco in the past and was going to buy from them again, but they switched to pro-rated warranties. I bought from Walmart instead, b/c their battery warranties are full-replacement. Sam's is likely to be the same.

AGM batteries are supposed to be superior but cost more. I don't have any experience w/ them and can't comment on their cost-to-benefit value. I think the manufacturers have got the batteries down to a science such that they will fail shortly after their warranty expires.

If you have portable battery tester or multimeter, you can be a nerd and take it w/ you to the store to individually test batteries on the shelf for voltage & CCA and choose the 'freshest' one.
December 01, 2025, 02:22 PM
a1abdj
Walmart for me as well. I run them in all of my equipment. Always a Walmart nearby, and I've had very good luck with them from a longevity standpoint.

Just replaced two in my work truck with AGMs. The previous two were their best flooded, and I got 5 years out of them.


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December 01, 2025, 02:30 PM
Patrick-SP2022
Just replaced the 2 batteries for my Super Duty a couple of months ago.
Picked them up at the local AutoZone store.

The previous pair lasted 3 years and 2 weeks. Just made it out of the full replacement warranty. Those were also from AutoZone.

The original batteries lasted about 5 years.




December 01, 2025, 02:46 PM
trapper189
One guy says his OEM battery lasted 7 years another says 5, then there’s a bunch of posts that say the replacement batteries last 3. Hmmm. Big Grin

On the other hand, price considerations are what they are and I get the Walmart AGM batteries because of the 4 year replacement warranty. They last about 3 years and they get replaced. If you are coming up on 4 years, go to WalMart, have it tested, and maybe it’ll fail the test. Especially in warm weather, batteries will seem like they are OK and start your car, but they can still fail the test.
December 01, 2025, 02:53 PM
mdblanton
I like Interstate batteries but have had good results with Autozone as well. Interesting bit on the interwebs about automotive batteries from a Google search:

"There are three main automotive battery manufacturers in the United States for retailers: East Penn Manufacturing, Exide Industries, and Johnson Controls (now Clarios). These companies produce "private label" batteries for many different retailers, meaning a store like AutoZone or Walmart will carry batteries with its own brand name on them, but they are manufactured by one of these three primary companies."
December 01, 2025, 03:04 PM
BigSwede
The walmart. Last two batteries have came from there. I take in my old one, grab the one off the shelf I need and checkout. Done

Most of the batteries are made by the same manufacturer anyway


December 01, 2025, 03:45 PM
.38supersig
I have an Optima red top battery in mine.

It has done great since 2012.




December 01, 2025, 04:21 PM
cparktd
Been buying auto batteries since 1968. I service my 5 cars and some family members as well. Never had an Interstate green top/top of the line, they have 3 grades, that didn't outlast the warranty. After seeing good reviews I have tried a few Walmart ones… Because cheaper. Not a single one lived to its warranty.

I will admit they are good to replace them. Especially if you had the receipt. Of course, the new battery only get the remainder of the original warranty.

If its a freebie fix for a needy relative they get a Walmart. I put the receipt in a Ziploc bag and put it in their glove box.

If for one of my own, they get An Interstate.



Some people spread happiness wherever they go… some whenever they go.
December 01, 2025, 04:36 PM
Black92LX
I just buy Walmarts AGM batteries with the most cold cranking amp and highest reserve for my battery type anymore. Good price and great warranty.
Walmarts are everywhere.

Yeah, lucky to get 3-4 years out of batteries anymore.


————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
December 01, 2025, 04:40 PM
FenderBender
quote:
Originally posted by Black92LX:
I just buy Walmarts AGM batteries with the most cold cranking amp and highest reserve for my battery type anymore. Good price and great warranty.
Walmarts are everywhere.

Yeah, lucky to get 3-4 years out of batteries anymore.


Bingo.


_____________________________________________
Proverbs 3:31 "Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways."
December 01, 2025, 06:20 PM
RR
I’ve read a lot of good things about Odyssey batteries. Since then, I have had good experience with them as well. Not cheap though.
December 01, 2025, 06:21 PM
P250UA5
Walmart in the Midget
Ford Motorcraft in the Expedition
Interstate in the Fiesta
Had a Costco [Interstate as well I believe] in the Mini when I traded it in




The Enemy's gate is down.
December 01, 2025, 06:51 PM
wrightd
I buy regular warranty rated betteries, of a major brand, of late Duracell from Sams Club, with a CA/CCA rating a step ABOVE what is normally specified for the vehicle, but of the same size. And then replace it during a service interval immediately before or after the 3 year warranty period. In this way I never have to play chicken with questionable starts, weak starts with cold weather, etc.

You may not know it but weak batteries are hard on engines and electrical systems. It's like a brownout for your house, for lack of a better term.

I do this for four cars, and none of them fail to start with a strong turnover in any weather.

Buying them at your local big club helps with the price.




Lover of the US Constitution
Wile E. Coyote School of DIY Disaster
December 01, 2025, 07:21 PM
Gustofer
I put NAPA Gold in mine. They are spendy though. Close to $300 and I got to buy two of 'em.


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It is long past time for a Convention of States. The Founding Fathers gave us this tool to fix an out of control government and we need to use it.
December 01, 2025, 07:40 PM
sasquatch28
I usually buy Interstate batteries at Costco.
December 01, 2025, 07:53 PM
walker77
I picked up from Sam's on the way home. I got the old one out and realized the new one won't work. The terminals are in the wrong position and the wire harness won't reach the new battery.

Old battery is on the left. The positive terminal needs to be in the top right corner.