Mechanical/Electrical issue

He load tested them. It's best that you replace all four and pay the labor for it instead of a tow bill, and it's happening before winter so consider yourself fortunate. Replacing batteries every couple years is routine maintenance.

 

Got to love the attitude of "It's still running, so I'll just drive it no matter it could start a fire and burn to the ground before I can get stopped and get out."

 

it shouldnt be anything insane on the bill anyway a couple of hours of work maybe and about $500 for batteries not bad for being stuck on the road people have paid stupid money for the same issue more than once before

 

You got off cheap. If those batteries were installed 5-15 they would more than likely need to be replaced this winter anyway.

The wet and swollen battery is never a good sign. A bad cell will take down both the good batteries and eventually the alternater. Or blow and take the truck in a fire.

The truck will run on one battery, but you need two to crank the engine. So if you can't get a new battery you should remove or disconnect the bad one immediately. If you disconnected the damaged one when the problem first appeared you could have waited to have it replaced at a terminal, but you would not have much power for hotel loads.

Live and learn.