Best Heavy Duty Batteries for 2018 3500 Dually 6.7 Diesel

[tmcgraw]

Hi I'm looking for a recommendation for heavy duty batteries for my 2018, 3500 Laramie Longhorn, 6.7 diesel, dually. I've gone through two sets of batteries over the last four years. I keep our Host cabover camper on year round and have only 20K miles. Sometimes it's 3-4 months between trips and though I start the truck up every few weeks my second set of batteries needs to be replaced. The camper is NOT connected to the electrical system on the truck. Thanks for any thoughts. Tom

 

[tjfdesmo]

Deka AGMs and a Battery Tender.

 

[crash68]

Odyssey 49-950 batteries and a battery maintainer for when it's parked if you don't want to disconnect them. Starting a vehicle for a few without running the engine up to full operating temperature is harder on the engine and batteries than letting it sit.

 

[WY-Dave]

After almost 4 yrs, had the batteries go wonky. For the cold here I switched over to AGM style batteries (walmart everstart $360 for both). Though most times it is a daily driver, when it goes below freezing, I put it on a tender.
Over the last week we had 50+mph winds and <20°, and it stunk hooking up the tender, soooooooooo

Shortly I am going with the setup I have for the camper.
A 10w (almost 1 amp) solar panel, around $60 Coleman from cabalas


and a HF regulator, around $20, regulates 14-10vdc. I don't hook up the "load", so it will just shut down the charging when the battery gets to 14v. The garage light at night has the panel putting out just a hair under 12v.

The regulator and and an extension cord ($20 amazon) to run into the cab for the panel which gets stored in the pocket behind the drivers seat when not in use.

For $100, can have a fool proof system that

 

[stevenP]

Like you I dont use my truck as a daily driver. Mine will set for months where we dont use it much, as we tow a fifth wheel with it. Its always on a battery tender when not in use. My OE batteries lasted 6 years in my 2014 with this practice.

 

[BossHogg]

The typical lead acid batteries don't handle a discharged state well and that typically leads to early failures. To mitigate, put on a battery tender and if that isn't easy to do, go with AGM chemistry. The best battery is the one on sale.

 

[Scottly]

Common denominator in these replies? Battery tender/charger. "I start the truck up every few weeks" only worsens the situation because the act of starting it consumes more of the battery's power than is put back in during the brief time running it, lending itself to a discharged state...Which as stated above, doesn't bode well for battery life.