Hi all
I'm in need of a new battery for my 86 4runner. I don't get too drive it much so it spends a lot of time sitting in the driveway. I hate having to jump it on the times I do get to take it out. I would actually have it out a lot more if it didn't require jumping.

Is there any battery would benefit me in this case or will pretty much all batteries slowly drain when sitting, or do some drain slower than others.

Thanks

 

I think there are battery conditioners/chargers you can get that will keep it nice an charged if just sitting around. Do you unhook your battery from the truck when its just sitting? How long does it sit for?

 

i would buy a battery maintainer

 

I only drive my truck a couple times a week so I installed a cut-off switch in the cab so nothing drains on the battery.

Rob

 

i second the cutoff switch in the cab. hella makes a decent one, but it will get messed up if it is installed outside the cabin.

 

Sometimes it sits for weeks at a time. I don't want to use a battery charger/conditioner because its outside and would mean having an extension cord setup 24/7 through my dining-kitchen-backyard then to exposed truck.

I'll have to look into a cutoff switch. I was just hoping that maybe a deep cycle battery would benefit in this area as well as large sustained loads.

 

I have actually seen a solar powered trickle charger for your battery, we had one a mercedes 190E 16v racecar....It worked pretty well. ...

 

I would think an Optima would hold a charge longer, awfully pricey though. Are you actually saying that for the 2 minutes it takes to jump the truck you just don't drive it? How about one of the jump boxes, then you wouldn't need a second vehicle to jump it.

 

Optima's are pricey and hold a charge longer with things rtunning, so it would stand to theory that sitting they will hold a charge longer also...
I dont think he is not driving it becaus it has to be jumped...I think it has to be jumped because he is not driving it very often.
a jump box would be handy bikeguy....

 

If you go optima, don't get a red top. They don't last long if they're not used all the time. I went through 3 of them before I switched to a yellow top, thank god for Costco's return policy.

 

Actually yeah, there are times when I don't drive it because its dead. Sometimes I have to have my neighbor move her car to get my other car in to jump it. Or sometimes I'm just too lazy and if don't need the truck then I take the car.

A jump box may work, but I need a new battery anyway, so I thought maybe I'd put out the $$$ for a deep cycle.

 

It sounds like the yellow top is working in your not all used all the time apllication. If so I may just try it.

 

A yellow top is a deep cycle battery so would stand up to being deeply discharged and recharged better than a regular starting battery. I have one of those solar battery chargers, leave it on the dash and wired to the battery and it'll keep things topped off assuming no big current drains. You should check how much current your truck is pulling while sitting. Put an ammeter between the battery post and cable and see what it reads. Should be in the 20mA (0.020 amps) range on a modern vehicle. Get up into the 50mA range and you can drain a battery in 2-4 weeks. You can also get one of those battery minder gadgets. They attach between the positive post and battery cable and cut things off if the battery voltage drops too low.

 

roger,

do you have a product link for your solar battery charger?

bob

 

http://www.siliconsolar.com/shop/cat...ger-p-139.html
This is the one we had, and we have the same one on our pontoon boat.

 

lead-acid batteries like to be trickled. I'd get a little solar charger-maintainer.

 

In my vette which dont run during the winter and during anything but clear sunshine I ran a diehard battery that had a little remote that you could power it down. Worked really well, but later foundout it was recalled b/c it fried part of the electrical system. Talk about crazy, I spent a ton of cash on everything b/c it caused the fan relay to shut off.

Anyway, now I just run a regular old ac delco and have a charger from sears. I let it sit all winter than charged it right back up and she fired up after alittle coaxing. My point is if you charged it even 1x a month or every 3 months for a full charge and let it sit it will be fine.

 

Consumer reports just came out with a new car battery report; the WalMart Everstart Maxx-1N came in tops. Price is RIGHT at only $68. Make sure your alternator is working right or NO battery will stay charged.

 

Battery cutoff switch for the win. And that's my final answer Regis...

try this link:

link

If that doesn't work go to JC Whitney and search for battery cutoff and you'll see it. I've see them a little cheaper than that, but that gives you the idea.

Or you could figure out what's draining it and fix it or unhook it, which I'd do anyway.

As a last resort, I like the solar trickle charger idea.

A deep cycle battery will last longer sitting, but you can only squeeze so much water out of a stone.

 

I leave my 25 year old lawn mower out in a shed all winter with teh battery disconnected. It starts every summer. It I don't disconnect, it is Dead withint a week, so I say get with a disconnect.