Is the AGM battery worth the extra cost?

[mrmikey]

I've had a glass mat battery in my bike now for three years. First year I left the radio on twice and killed it deader than a nit both times, would'nt even start my charger going, had to put it on a 12v power supply for a couple hours so it would take a charge. Second year I was smarter and didn't kill it at all LOL. Last year be dam**ed if I didn't do it again, charged it up and it's still going strong, least ways it was when I parked it end of last year. I do keep it on a tender tho but still, for a battery to be killed totally and still going strong....I'm impressed..............Mike

 

[dodge man]

Keep in mind he is talking dump trailer not a vehicle. It might pay off in a vehicle more so than a dump trailer.

 

[shooterdon]

I might put one in my truck when it dies but I have had good service on other stuff with putting batteries on a Battery Tender. I am going on 4 years with a $20 Wally World battery on a riding lawn mower. Not the end of the world if it dies one day. I have a booster pack if that happens.

On of the snowmobiles is going on 6 years with the original battery and no idea how long the other battery has lasted as it is a 1995 and bought it used.

I keep all my electric start engines on Battery Tenders except for the two trucks.

 

[crazyal]

I think where the AGM batteries shine is when there's lots of vibrations or hard jarring shocks. Those are the types of things that can damage a flooded battery. Where do you store your trailer? Can you connect it up to a small charger? A flooded battery will last a long time as long as you do some basic things. Keeping it charged up when not using it for a long time is a big one. The very large Interstate battery in my dump truck is almost 20 years old now and has been drained flat at least a half dozen times and yet still has tons of extra power to start the engine. The original battery in my Kubota is still going strong after 10 years. About every 4 years I have to replace the battery in my backhoe (usually a cell dies) from all the bouncing around. I've thought about replacing it with a AGM but I think it's better to just get a used battery someone replaced because they didn't want to get stranded.

 

[fried1765]

I think where the AGM batteries shine is when there's lots of vibrations or hard jarring shocks. Those are the types of things that can damage a flooded battery. Where do you store your trailer? Can you connect it up to a small charger? A flooded battery will last a long time as long as you do some basic things. Keeping it charged up when not using it for a long time is a big one. The very large Interstate battery in my dump truck is almost 20 years old now and has been drained flat at least a half dozen times and yet still has tons of extra power to start the engine. The original battery in my Kubota is still going strong after 10 years. About every 4 years I have to replace the battery in my backhoe (usually a cell dies) from all the bouncing around. I've thought about replacing it with a AGM but I think it's better to just get a used battery someone replaced because they didn't want to get stranded.

Probably not a Walmart near you in Northern VT, but I think the best battery bang for the buck is the Walmart Everstart MAXX, made by Johnson Controls.
I buy them for everything that I can (they do not sell all sizes with the MAXX designation).
They are VERY cost effective batteries!
I keep 'em hooked to a Battery Maintainer, and they last a LONG time.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Put the cheapest battery you can get into whatever and simply look after it.

My analogy. People don't grease fasteners, then run into trouble, and THEN think they have to use the most EXOTIC expensive anti seize stuff. A dab of the cheapest grease would have worked wonders.

I put my (nothing special) trailer battery on a 2 amp charger for a few days every now and then. Maybe every two months. More religiously in the cold months. Works perfectly.

 

[fried1765]

Put the cheapest battery you can get into whatever and simply look after it.

My analogy. People don't grease fasteners, then run into trouble, and THEN think they have to use the most EXOTIC expensive anti seize stuff. A dab of the cheapest grease would have worked wonders.

I put my (nothing special) trailer battery on a 2 amp charger for a few days every now and then. Maybe every two months. More religiously in the cold months. Works perfectly.

Yep.....the Everstart MaXX may not be the absolute cheapest, but it is very close, and has a decent Walmart replacement warranty.
I leave a Battery Minder on everything that is not used at least once per week, or is used for very brief periods.

 

[Dougeye]

Glad to hear all these opinions, thanks. As dodge man reminded, it's for a dump trailer, not a vehicle, so cranking amps are of little interest. What's most important is the reserve capacity, and I see no point in paying nearly double to increase the RC from 120 minutes to 135. The battery is on a battery minder when sitting idle, and is being trickle charged when connected to the truck. Cold is not an issue where I am. Bouncing around is not an issue the way the trailer gets used. All the battery ever does is run the electric motor that drives the hydraulic pump tha raises the trailer bed. That's it. Oh, and act as a power source for the trailer breakaway. All things considered, I'm with Industrial Toys and will just get a low priced deep cycle battery.

 

[coobie]

AGM all the way.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Especially when you don't have a government buget but have lots of stuff to put batteries in...SURE, If you are crossing the worlds oceans in a small sailboat, buy the BEST battery you can get.