Portable Jump Starter

oldpilot · Dec 18, 2023

I have a Weego 44S, and it's a wonder. Haven't needed it to start my tractor, but it has fired up my Subaru Legacy and my zero-turn lawn mower in seconds.

Nam Tran · Dec 18, 2023

RayCo said:
It's been a while since I've purchased something like the "jump and carry," a portable battery pack for jump starting cars and what not. It appears that in this era, there are tiny jump starters, small enough to fit in console of a truck and are USB-rechargeable. I'm skeptical of anything I see sold on Amazon these days, assuming it's just some Chinese crap. Am I right in being skeptical, or has anyone used such items with success?

What I'd jump start most often is just a small Kubota garden tractor, gas engine. But, if such a product could also jump start actual real vehicles, that'd be grand.

johneking · Dec 18, 2023

RayCo said:
It's been a while since I've purchased something like the "jump and carry," a portable battery pack for jump starting cars and what not. It appears that in this era, there are tiny jump starters, small enough to fit in console of a truck and are USB-rechargeable. I'm skeptical of anything I see sold on Amazon these days, assuming it's just some Chinese crap. Am I right in being skeptical, or has anyone used such items with success?

What I'd jump start most often is just a small Kubota garden tractor, gas engine. But, if such a product could also jump start actual real vehicles, that'd be grand.

I too have had a few "Jump Starters" and really didn't like the size of the first two or three -- just too big for my storage between uses.
I found one that I still use that had a "BOOST" button on it and the circuit inside crapped out so I cut it open, removed the circuit board and direct soldered the wires together -- BOOM, works great.
I have wanted a NOCO one {the big one} for some time -- but then there's that $400 price tag -- along with a few posts where people have had problems and didn't get good customer support.
I like NOCO due to the fact they have a phone number and when the one I have finally bites the dust, I'll buy one of theirs probably.
Here's my final comment -- my "garden tractor/Cyclone Rake" set up doesn't get used often enough to keep the battery charged so I bought a small solar panel and keep it plugged in when not in use. This has kept the battery charged just fine.

ArlyA · Dec 18, 2023

If the jumper pack doesn't fit in the smallish tool space in our truck, then it has very limited value to us.

alpha&omega · Dec 18, 2023

I have both the Jump ‘n Carry and the NOCO Genius 5. Each have their own uses and have served me very well. The Jump ‘n Carry is a heavy sumB, so be aware of that. The nice thing about the NOCO other than its size, is that it will bring a dead battery back to life, where most chargers don’t have that capability. It also serves as a trickle charger which is nice to have on hand so that my tractor battery doesn’t freeze during cold winter nights.
I do know someone that had an issue with their Jump ‘n Carry, but come to find out their boosters failure was the result of improper usage/storage, caused by “said individual” not wanting to read the instructions.

JimmyJ321 · Dec 18, 2023

RayCo said:
It's been a while since I've purchased something like the "jump and carry," a portable battery pack for jump starting cars and what not. It appears that in this era, there are tiny jump starters, small enough to fit in console of a truck and are USB-rechargeable. I'm skeptical of anything I see sold on Amazon these days, assuming it's just some Chinese crap. Am I right in being skeptical, or has anyone used such items with success?

What I'd jump start most often is just a small Kubota garden tractor, gas engine. But, if such a product could also jump start actual real vehicles, that'd be grand.

I bought a Hulkman (?) off Amazon. I have been very pleased with it. Make sure you can recharge it from you car cig plug. I have used it on multiple vehicles and it started them. I even got froggy one day and tried to start a class 8 duel battery lumber truck. It turned it over several times, but it just wasn’t enough. The papers that came with it say it has a 3-4 year battery life. I’ve had mine 3 years now and it still works fine. Buy a case for it as it comes with a couple different charging cords and it will keep everything together.

rgr33 · Dec 18, 2023

I have the Audew, bought it about 3 years ago.
At one point or another, it has jump started just about every battery on the place.

It’s amazing how this thing packs so much power in such a small package.

My dad had several of those larger jumpers when he passed, used them for his golf cart, none of them worked any longer when we cleaned out his garage

Tim in SC · Dec 18, 2023

RayCo said:
It's been a while since I've purchased something like the "jump and carry," a portable battery pack for jump starting cars and what not. It appears that in this era, there are tiny jump starters, small enough to fit in console of a truck and are USB-rechargeable. I'm skeptical of anything I see sold on Amazon these days, assuming it's just some Chinese crap. Am I right in being skeptical, or has anyone used such items with success?

What I'd jump start most often is just a small Kubota garden tractor, gas engine. But, if such a product could also jump start actual real vehicles, that'd be grand.

This guy has a lot of good information and does online tests for you to see.

California · Dec 18, 2023

Project Farm's reviews are the place to start when choosing a jump starter. (It is also power block for charging your phones during a power outage).

Based on Project Farm's earlier video I bought this model. It has served me well for cars and for my 24 hp tractor - from no click, to cranking like mad after attaching it and waiting a minute for it to transfer some energy to the battery.

It's the size of a VHS video. The carrying case containing it, cables and the phone charger that re-charges it, will fit in your (empty) glovebox.

I got this from Amazon three years ago, $80. It still works like new. Today Walmart has it at that price. But see Project Farm's latest reviews before choosing one now.

Robot or human?