Battery question

[vidro]

This maybe a real stupid question, How often do you Off-Road 4x4 folk have to change vehicle batteries?

This question came up in conversation with a "Jeep" (4 letter word) friend of mine who does have a 4x4 but does not do off road stuff.

There is a theory that if a vehicle has a strong but not necessarily damaging front end bump it can be expected that the battery will go dead and/or weak with in a few months after this bump.

 

The reason for this has something to do with the plates in the battery and stuff falling off the plate.

 

If this being true I was wondering about off-road vehicles and the ruff ride those batteries take.

[94extreme]

buy an Optima and you're good to go regardless of any bumps... 4wheeling involves bumps.. i've ran my stereo for hours on end and have left my lights on over night and it just fires right up..

[vidro]

"Optima" is that a gel cell battery?

My understanding is that any sudden jolt on a lead battery causes this "dead battery" phenomenon.

I wasn't sure if Off-Roaders had experienced a pattern of buying a new battery every year.

[Pezzy]

more info on the optima here: http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=5633

[94extreme]

yup, gel cell. i don't know about regular battery since i only wheel with the optima.. it's awesome and worth every penny.. get it cheaper at an Interstate outlet store... they are all over.

 

i never had any problems with a regular battery that i used to have in the 89 though.. it was a factory one... it worked great.

[Precise1]

theory that if a vehicle has a strong but not necessarily damaging front end bump it can be expected that the battery will go dead and/or weak with in a few months

8 months ago I slammed the front end pretty darn good... Battery still works fine, I'll check to see what kind it is if you are curious.

 

B

[iLLlegal]

well I had a nice hit from the front..and it was damaging and the batt still works great..some OEM nissan battery accually..but I hope to go optima soon due to my power needs

[denisb]

Although a hit/bump could hurt your battery, here is a difference between one good bump and continuous vibrating and beating. The reason for gel batteries is for true off road enthusiastes/competitors.