johnh

i was just wondering, how much longer can i expect my original batteries to last? i bought the truck july 2000

bluedodge3500

10,9,8,7,6, mine only lasted 3 yrs which I thought was good,I would think about replacing them very very soon my dad has a 2002 and they just started to give him problems now,I replaced them thursday

Patrick Campbell

My batteries were original 01 batteries from a TX then Arizona truck... replaced them and they were doing just fine this time last year with Optima reds. Good $200 purchase.

Olratlr

5 years and still going but probably will install Optima's in Fall.

John Faughn

I've found that if you take care of the system that almost any brand name battery will last as long as the warrentee, [ take care ]- keep the battery leads clean and tight , do not let the battery run its charge down more than 20% , do not run truck with charge indicater low , theres more but you should get the idea.

bentwings

Mine lasted a good 5 years and one day it didn't start. As luck would have it I was home but needed to be at work by 6 Am fortunately it's only 5 miles so I hoofed it. I had them tested and one was stone dead after a 24 hour charge, the other lasted about 1 minute under load. How the truck started is beyond me. It now starts in about 1 rev of the crank. AZ biggest they have. Worked fine in -20f this winter without plugging in and 15-40 oil.

Dieseldude4x4

About three years or a little longer is all I have gotten out of the dual set up. The NAPA legends are going on four years now. (knocking on wood)

ANG012

Just replaced the original batteries in my 97. build date was july 97. On cold mornings first start with grid heaters on it would draw the batteries down. Durning the day after it warmed up batteries would be ok.

nutter3

Bought my 2000 in Jan 2000. Ordered a set of Optima yellow tops in Jan 2006. While waiting for my new batteries to arrive we had a cold snap ~-30F ambient and couldn't start it (wasnt plugged in either). SO I guess you could say I waited about 1 month too long.

Dieseldude4x4

One thing I have done with this set of batteries is to rotate them side to side about once a year. This set has lasted longer than any set to date. The right one always goes bad and the left one is good for about another two years or so in another vehicle.

oestreich84

Still have the original batteries in my truck. In winter, the heater grid draws them down pretty good, but I haven't had any problems in cold weather. Every fall I load test them, put them on a trickle charger for a day or two, and rotate them when I re-install them. I'll be happy if I can get 9 years out of my next set

Mt Ram

I've still got the factory originals in my 99!!!!!!

SmokeyBear

Me TOO!

Tommy93w350

I have the orginals in my 2001, 91,000 miles

RowJ

I got 3.5 yrs. Both tested overdue for change. That's with 10 starts a day (Avg) on a working truck.
Seems to me that # of starts is more the determining factor than miles.... and that living in the South (Sun Belt) is harder on batteries than cooler climates.
Not Fact...just my personal observations.

Also... don't know about HO's and 5 spds, but weak batteries can raise a real fuss with Auto trannies, causing apparently unrelated shifting problems! Suspect same is true with low batteries and other elec. systems?
Best, IMO, to make batteries a routine MX item.

I like the "swap sides" idea. Had not heard or thought of that one... Thanks

RJ