So is there a "BEST" battery?

[Magfan2]

To the question - may sound morbid, I am in good health, but gettin' / am old. I am trying to turn my 2014 RAM Sport 5.7L Quad into my forever truck and do everything short of bulletproofing it to drive it for as long as I have. I have always bought name brand, high quality batteries. Is there something exceptional?

Slipping a second question in - discovered today, driving in variable rain, that there is a sensor on the wipers that reads the rain. Anyone got a short answer for an old guy on how that wonder works?

 

[Pull Ya]

Most batteries are manufactured by the same couple of large companies and then sold and rebranded by other individual companies. The last two batteries I bought have come from Advanced Auto. The thing that I was concerned with was the warranty and the CCAs. One lasted for about 5 years, and I'm still on my second one now.
Jay

 

[HEMIMANN]

Like Pull Ya said, it's both simple and complex. We'd say go with a USA made battery, but there's few remaining. East Penn is one of the few that still makes flooded starting batteries under various brand names (Duracell, Deka, etc.).

If you need an AGM for some reason, East Penn makes those too, but then there are purely AGM USA companies like Odyssey and X2. You pay big bucks, but supposedly they're made better and last longer (I have an Odyssey AGM).

For commodity foreign batteries, you're basically talking Clarios, which sources from all over the world. Same thing with Interstate. They are no longer constant sourced. Consumer Reports continues to list Walmart EverStart Max as good, but I don't like going to WalMarts, nor haggling over warranties. Costco has Interstate, but my Costco is always always always overcrowded with parking a half mile away.

Race to the bottom, I guess. Good luck.

 

[Dredger]

Slipping a second question in - discovered today, driving in variable rain, that there is a sensor on the wipers that reads the rain. Anyone got a short answer for an old guy on how that wonder works?

I'm not sure if it's the same on a 2014, but here's what the owners states on a 2021:

 

[Magfan2]

I'm not sure if it's the same on a 2014, but here's what the owners states on a 2021:
View attachment 576848

Thanks! I did read the book but apparently missed this - will have to run it by again. Seems to match performance today.

 

[mtofell]

I suspect some battery companies may run ratings/warranties like water heaters. Basically, a 36 month battery is the same as 48 months.... you're just paying for a warranty. I just learned this is the way it works with many water heater manufacturers. 12 year costs more than the 6 but the appliance is the exact same.

 

[18CrewDually]

"Best batteries" for me are longest warranty (4 yr) with free replacement at a lower price and Nationwide availability in dam near walking distance. That is why I go with the top Walmart AGM Platinum batteries for most applications.

 

[Magfan2]

For context, 2 or 3 years ago I had a problem with the battery in my 2005 Dodge Hemi Magnum R/T - it was the original! I did not know at the time that the car was going to be sold - should have kept the brand name - they might even still make it! Prolly not as good!

 

[madtrucker2016]

To the question - may sound morbid, I am in good health, but gettin' / am old. I am trying to turn my 2014 RAM Sport 5.7L Quad into my forever truck and do everything short of bulletproofing it to drive it for as long as I have. I have always bought name brand, high quality batteries. Is there something exceptional?

Slipping a second question in - discovered today, driving in variable rain, that there is a sensor on the wipers that reads the rain. Anyone got a short answer for an old guy on how that wonder works?

Today I would go to Costco and buy one; they will take it back if it fails, no problem. Sears used to be the go to battery, but we all know our once great store has passed on.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

Best battery, one that starts the truck. Most are made by same company, re branded. Agm if you want to save weight. H8 seems to fit and a little more cranking power.

Do the big 3 at minimum for better charging.

Rain sensing wipers, big on the 14 models. I have them on my 14 along with automatic headlights.

If you replace the windshield go with OEM, or good chance they will not work correctly.

 

[BossHogg]

To the question - may sound morbid, I am in good health, but gettin' / am old. I am trying to turn my 2014 RAM Sport 5.7L Quad into my forever truck and do everything short of bulletproofing it to drive it for as long as I have. I have always bought name brand, high quality batteries. Is there something exceptional?

Slipping a second question in - discovered today, driving in variable rain, that there is a sensor on the wipers that reads the rain. Anyone got a short answer for an old guy on how that wonder works?

The best battery is the one you find on sale. Over the years, I've had every brand name, and I've never related battery life to a brand name. I run Everlast (Walmart) batteries in my land maintenance equipment and average 9 years of service life. For my vehicles, I get Interstate batteries from Costco; their pricing is impossible to beat.

The rain sensor wipers use an infrared sensor that detects reflected light from rain/snow deposits to determine when to activate. It is a sound, reliable system, but it does experience false triggering events due to the sun's angle.

 

[Magfan2]

The best battery is the one you find on sale. Over the years, I've had every brand name, and I've never related battery life to a brand name. I run Everlast (Walmart) batteries in my land maintenance equipment and average 9 years of service life. For my vehicles, I get Interstate batteries from Costco; their pricing is impossible to beat.

The rain sensor wipers use an infrared sensor that detects reflected light from rain/snow deposits to determine when to activate. It is a sound, reliable system, but it does experience false triggering events due to the sun's angle.

Thanks! Particularly for clarification on the second question!

 

[D1DAVE]

Walmart Everlast here. Quick story. My longtime friend and neighbor swears by Optima batteries. Three years ago, he had to buy a new one. It failed in 6 months. He got it replaced. That battery quit last month. About 3 years. He bought another Optima at $300.00.
My battery needed replaced right around the same time. Went dead in Ohio on a trip. It will be 4 years old in July. And under $175.00 installed.
Like said above, most batteries are manufactured by 2 or 3 companies. Go with the best warranty and correct cca and reserve capacity for your application, and let it eat.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

To the question - may sound morbid, I am in good health, but gettin' / am old. I am trying to turn my 2014 RAM Sport 5.7L Quad into my forever truck and do everything short of bulletproofing it to drive it for as long as I have. I have always bought name brand, high quality batteries. Is there something exceptional?

Slipping a second question in - discovered today, driving in variable rain, that there is a sensor on the wipers that reads the rain. Anyone got a short answer for an old guy on how that wonder works?

At the very least I would be upgrading to an H8 battery (stock/standard it comes with is the H7), be it AGM or Lead Acid Filled. You'll net higher CCA's with the H8.

I personally went with an Odyssey H8 AGM, but I also have a 2100W audio system and a bunch of other goodies on my truck that puts more demand on my system.

The other thing I'd do is to add more grounds to the system.
Doing this provides a significantly better overall starting and running experience for our trucks.

 

[Curmudgeon]

No "best battery" thread would be complete without input from our old buddy, Project Farm!

EDIT: Even his test was posted to YT 6 years ago.

Which Car Battery is Best? Let's find out!

Car batteries tested: Optima AGM, Duralast (Autozone), Everstart (Walmart), Diehard AGM (Sears), SuperStart (O'Reilly), and Autocraft (Advance). Internal re...

www.youtube.com

 

[HEMIMANN]

Consumer Reports annually says there is no best brand, only best brands per battery size group.

I personally don't know, and don't no how reliable CR is.

 

[joesstripclub]

The best battery is the one you find on sale. Over the years, I've had every brand name, and I've never related battery life to a brand name. I run Everlast (Walmart) batteries in my land maintenance equipment and average 9 years of service life. For my vehicles, I get Interstate batteries from Costco; their pricing is impossible to beat.

The rain sensor wipers use an infrared sensor that detects reflected light from rain/snow deposits to determine when to activate. It is a sound, reliable system, but it does experience false triggering events due to the sun's angle.

I typically bought Costco batteries in the past, but Walmart AGM was either the same price or within $10 of Costco's price last year. Costco also prorates their battery warranty now where Walmart is full replacement.

 

[turkeybird56]

Most batteries are manufactured by the same couple of large companies and then sold and rebranded by other individual companies. The last two batteries I bought have come from Advanced Auto. The thing that I was concerned with was the warranty and the CCAs. One lasted for about 5 years, and I'm still on my second one now.
Jay

With the heat, I am only getting 2-3 out of battery. I bought/got a new battery blanket for it a few months ago, as you know the blanket helps with heat and cold. But my problem is truck sits too long and short drives not enough to keep SOC up. Might put in a built in Noco unit to charge intermittently.

To OP: Yep CCA and Warranty, as most batteries only made by a few companies and "rebranded".

 

[HEMIMANN]

With the heat, I am only getting 2-3 out of battery. I bought/got a new battery blanket for it a few months ago, as you know the blanket helps with heat and cold. But my problem is truck sits too long and short drives not enough to keep SOC up. Might put in a built in Noco unit to charge intermittently.

To OP: Yep CCA and Warranty, as most batteries only made by a few companies and "rebranded".

BOIRD, many of us retirees and work from home guys have put maintainers on our batteries. NOT trickle chargers - they boil batteries and make corrosion at the + terminal. I tossed by 30 year old Battery Tender Trickle Charger away.

After tons of research, I went with CTEK, even tho it's now made in China and doesn't have a lithium charge cycle. Supposed to be a little better than NOCO, but you can do your own research. You won't regret it!

 

[BenchTest]

SO, in summary: Everybody's "Best Battery" is what they have experience with. I'll add this: Whatever battery you buy, spend another $150 +/- and buy a high amp/high milliamp hour portable jump starter. Keep it charged, keep it in your truck. No matter what quality battery you buy from what brand, a battery can fail due to bad manufacturing or user error. A portable jump starter can be the difference between "click click click" (and cussing) and getting your vehicle started (or helping another person).