Jeepwalker
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2017
- Posts
- 4,287
- Reaction score
- 5,486
- Location
- WI
- Ram Year
- 2012 Reg Cab, 4x4
- Engine
- 5.7 Hemi
Interstate is made mostly by Clarios (Johnson Controls previously ...before being spun-off). Same as the Walmart batteries, and most of the batteries out there. A lot of the farm & barn batteries are made by East Penn.. I've had good luck with their batteries too. I generally buy the Premium L/A batteries. ..but that's me. There's a hardware store A guy I know buys car batteries from and they're super-cheap! Like 1/3 of the price. IDK if they're coming from India or what? He's had good luck with them.
However, the 'good' Premium batteries use New lead and electrolyte (not recycled). And thicker plates, more internal plate supports. Lower grade batteries have progressively less and use recycled components. Compare the weight of similar style/group L/A batteries (regardless of make) to the lower-priced batteries. The Premium batteries weigh more.
I'm not stuck on Interstate, but they don't make lower grade batteries to my knowledge. When I bought a couple before (from the store) ...they were within 5-6 bucks of a farm & barn nearby (Interstate batteries is next to Costco ..and a bunch of other places ...so not out of the way). But on the last battery somehow they were a lot more.
The Interstate I took out of my skid steer was 14 years old. Ive had a few Optima yellow-top batteries go that long (they're coiled L/A glass mat, with premium components). I put a Walmart battery in my Ram when it needed one. Caveat .... Great Lakes conditions are about as optimal as it gets for long battery life.
However, the 'good' Premium batteries use New lead and electrolyte (not recycled). And thicker plates, more internal plate supports. Lower grade batteries have progressively less and use recycled components. Compare the weight of similar style/group L/A batteries (regardless of make) to the lower-priced batteries. The Premium batteries weigh more.
I'm not stuck on Interstate, but they don't make lower grade batteries to my knowledge. When I bought a couple before (from the store) ...they were within 5-6 bucks of a farm & barn nearby (Interstate batteries is next to Costco ..and a bunch of other places ...so not out of the way). But on the last battery somehow they were a lot more.
The Interstate I took out of my skid steer was 14 years old. Ive had a few Optima yellow-top batteries go that long (they're coiled L/A glass mat, with premium components). I put a Walmart battery in my Ram when it needed one. Caveat .... Great Lakes conditions are about as optimal as it gets for long battery life.
Last edited:
