Crap Batteries

I installed two deep cycles isolated with a manual switch. Mainly use them for the Webasto. Works great.

 

I about had a stroke when he posted that. Really makes me think of getting out of the truck and opening a shop.

 

Yes trp was what I got from kenworth in omaha , they didn't even last a year .

 

I haven’t found anything TRP that was worth a dam.

 

apparently the company im leased to feels the way you do about trp cause they dumped them and switched to interstate.

 

Sounds like about the best plan for now anyway.
I didn't start my career in trucking but as a tech in the 80s in a harsh environment in north Dakota...somthing has definitely changed in battery quality because I've always practiced good battery maintenance as mentioned by other members and we didn't even worry about battery replacement much before 5 years .
I agree that hotel loads without a diesel apu will shorten battery life and fleet maintenance of batteries is poor at best but what we are seeing now is just plain junk ...I dont even trust automotive batteries much beyond 2 years now .

 

There is probably one key ingredient that we don’t know about that is needed to make a battery last long like they used to but California and EPA banned it.

I’ve noticed that even Duracell and Energizers don’t last long anymore either. Some are weak out of the package.

 

If they are opti-idle trucks, and one bank is power storage AND starting power, you should use the mixed-use batteries that have both starting power and energy storage between starting batteries and deep cycle batteries. I cannot recall the exact term for them off the top of my head.

I had a dealership sell me a set of starting batteries for my opti-idle truck. They lasted about a year.