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does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
long story short... had to take a family member to the emergency room (over 6+ hours inside) a few months ago and came out to dead battery. i have AAA but when i called (10pm on a saturday) they said it would be over an hour + for someone to come by and help, and that's after spending hours inside the ER already. you can only imagine how we felt...
luckily, the security guards had jumper cables but they do no good (at any given time) unless you have them on you, as well as having another car (if one is around) to use them with. I don't want to be stuck in that position again so i did a lot of research and came across this jump starter below (NOCO GB40). it's one of the best/top rated (the brand in general) on the market..
it has 1000 amps and is around $100. in a few years i may opt for the GB70 (2000 amps) which is overkill (and double the price at $200), but we'll see how this one does. for those who carry one (or family member), which one(s) do you have?
also, i went to harbor freight and bought a tool bag and keep both the jump starter (no more jumper cables) and (slime) air compressor (has saved me a few times already) in there together. better safe than sorry...
https://no.co/media/catalog/product/...sel-Main_8.jpg
1,000 Amp UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter
The GB40 is a portable lithium-ion battery jump starter pack that delivers 1,000-amps for jump starting a dead battery in seconds. It features a patented safety technology that provides spark-proof connections and reverse polarity protection making safe and easy for anyone to use. It's a powerful battery booster that doubles as a portable power source for recharging USB devices, like a smartphone, tablet and more. Designed for a car, boat, RV, truck and more with gas engines up to 6 liters, and diesel engines up to 3 liters. All Boost models can hold 70% of its rated capacity for up to one year. For optimal performance, we recommend charging the device at least every 4-6 months, after initial charge.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I have the GB40, I was in a similar situation as you a few years back and felt totally helpless. I keep it under the back seat in my truck, it’s very compact. I also will throw it in my bass boat when I go out. I’ve used it twice this past winter to help a stranded driver and worked great, I charge it every 3 months in the winter ( probably overkill) and once in July
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
vobro
I have the GB40, I was in a similar situation as you a few years back and felt totally helpless. I keep it under the back seat in my truck, it’s very compact. I also will throw it in my bass boat when I go out. I’ve used it twice this past winter to help a stranded driver and worked great, I charge it every 3 months in the winter ( probably overkill) and once in July
awesome, thanks for the purchase reassurance! i didn't realize NOCO has been around since 1914. i was looking at DBpower, Battery Tender, and Schumacher as well (so many brands/specs to choose from).. i'm going to have a set-up like mine (or similar) for each vehicle in the family (nephew/parents)...
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Lol with this sight,fishing sites,gun sites etc I’ve learned to limit my search. One thing I may suggest is to get an extra set of cables, when not plugged in they are pretty small and can get “misplaced”
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
vobro
Lol with this sight,fishing sites,gun sites etc I’ve learned to limit my search. One thing I may suggest is to get an extra set of cables, when not plugged in they are pretty small and can get “misplaced”
i also have the hard case too, instead of using the cloth bag it came in. thanks for the suggestion!
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....AC_SL1500_.jpg
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....AC_SL1500_.jpg
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I don't... But I should.
In the past I always had jumper cables available but that was many years ago. I live dangerously these days LOL.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Yes, I carry one. I even used it to jump the mailman’s Jeep when it stalled one day. He was amazed when the little thing started it.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Yes sir! Just got done charging this one.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...374b8bfbad.jpg
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Absolutely invaluable. Mine is the size of a deck of cards. Also can charge phones and other devices. $50 has bailed me out 3-4 times, if you include boats.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I picked one up last year, just made sense to have one around considering there are a few cars in the garage. Unsurprisingly, the Jaguar was the first to need it. :laughing:
https://i.postimg.cc/dVNJDMwj/IMG-6756.jpg
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I have jumper cables but have considered a charger like those. Project Farm has a nice comparison video on YT where he put several of them against each other.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
FYI, Another reason to consider one. I left my lights on overnight in the garage and killed the battery. When I tried to shift it into neutral to push it out to pull the battery..... the transmission would not shift without power. I hooked up my "box", bingo the car shifted into neutral.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I just have jumper cables and a slime air compressor. I also keep one of those battery terminal brushes in my car. I had a dead battery on my previous car and had trouble getting it jumped until the battery terminals were cleaned.
Good to see some positive reviews on one of these. I may put that on my Christmas wish list.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Yep and jumper cables too. Also compressor, tools, towels, and other assorted crapola.
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I keep the following on my bike at all times:- jump starter
- first aid kit
- assorted tools
- tire repair kit with CO2 cartridges
- bottle of water
- quart of oil
Attachment 73412
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I've got an (Antigravity Batteries) Microstart XP-1 in my wife's car. Her car also came with a plug-in air compressor since it has a collapsible spare tire.
My car I keep jumper cables and a little $20 Microstart tire inflator in my car.
In the winter, I also throw in a "survival bag" with a heavy winter coat, hat, gloves, and snow pants. I only travel in populated areas, and my car's totally reliable, but I got a reality check a couple years ago when I got rear-ended on the way to work when it was like 30 degrees out.
Since I never worry about my car, I didn't have any really warm gear with me. When I got hit, my left muffler got folded out to meet my rear tire, kinking the pipe shut. Knowing I was keeping the car no matter what, I didn't want to run my car while waiting for the tow truck. Thankfully the parents of the rear-ending offender hung out and let me wait in their truck until the flatbed arrived.
If you keep one of the lithium jump packs in your car, don't forget to bring it in and charge it from time to time! Nothing worse than if you actually need to use it and find out it's dead. :doh: I've heard there are capacitor jump packs out there that actually don't use a battery at all. Through some manner of witchcraft they collect voltage from what's left in your battery and then provide enough oomph to start your car.
Haven't had a chance to try one yet but I'm really curious. Nice part would be never having to worry about the battery in the jump pack you carry in case your battery goes flat. :laughing:
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I just purchased the GB20 a few weeks ago at Advanced Auto because of the rave reviews online as I was having battery issues with my truck. It started right away with the jump starter versus jumping cables with another car which did nothing. Even came in clutch when I was running an errand and my battery died again in the parking lot.
I'm really impressed with this module and am glad I got it!
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I work on Big Rigs/Tractors as my day job and these are the same units we use to jump trucks that need a jump. Very strong and incredibly durable.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
fly07sti
I work on Big Rigs/Tractors as my day job and these are the same units we use to jump trucks that need a jump. Very strong and incredibly durable.
1st off - Oh man, that's a lotta big heavy parts... (my day job = regular car repair)
2nd - You use the NOCO jump boxes? That's quite the accreditation. I'll have to keep them in mind if I get another one in the future.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I always think if I had one, I'll just get out somewhere and need it and it won't be charged up and ready when I go to grab it. How often do you have to check/recharge devices like these? Also, would you have to cycle the battery, meaning run it down and charge it to full?
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Azure
I always think if I had one, I'll just get out somewhere and need it and it won't be charged up and ready when I go to grab it. How often do you have to check/recharge devices like these? Also, would you have to cycle the battery, meaning run it down and charge it to full?
They hold a charge for a long time. The one I use can start about 20 cars on a full charge.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
oneheadlite
1st off - Oh man, that's a lotta big heavy parts... (my day job = regular car repair)
2nd - You use the NOCO jump boxes? That's quite the accreditation. I'll have to keep them in mind if I get another one in the future.
Yeap. I actually work for Penske and that’s how I came across this brand. I previously had a different brand that I purchased from my MAC distributor and it gave up on me less than a year into owning it. I now have 3 of these!
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
GREAT idea, Visitor! Thanks for sharing it.
My wife's car always has jumper cables in the trunk but the independence of not needing a good samaritin nearby is even better.
Plus, the infrequent but occassional customer vehicles that die because i left the doors open doing interiors...
Again, great idea and fairly economical too.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Azure
I always think if I had one, I'll just get out somewhere and need it and it won't be charged up and ready when I go to grab it. How often do you have to check/recharge devices like these? Also, would you have to cycle the battery, meaning run it down and charge it to full?
Since it's a lithium battery, you don't need to worry about cycling it. I bring her jump pack in and charge it each fall. It will have lost a very small amount of charge from just sitting (1 out of 5 bars). Thankfully/unfortunately I can't vouch for how well it works because I haven't actually had to use it to jump anything yet. :o
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
oneheadlite
Since it's a lithium battery, you don't need to worry about cycling it. I bring her jump pack in and charge it each fall. It will have lost a very small amount of charge from just sitting (1 out of 5 bars). Thankfully/unfortunately I can't vouch for how well it works because I haven't actually had to use it to jump anything yet. :o
i was at home once, and my bike needed to be jumped....rather than put it on the tender, I used this as an opportunity just to get the hang of it, and to make sure I could do it if needed....turns out, I didn't have the tool on my bike to access the battery, so I'm glad I learned that....mine hasn't been charged in a year, I'll throw a charge on it before I leave for ND next week....the most use I've gotten from it has been charging my phone
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lance Mark
i was at home once, and my bike needed to be jumped....rather than put it on the tender, I used this as an opportunity just to get the hang of it, and to make sure I could do it if needed....turns out, I didn't have the tool on my bike to access the battery, so I'm glad I learned that....mine hasn't been charged in a year, I'll throw a charge on it before I leave for ND next week....the most use I've gotten from it has been charging my phone
Really great point. I've been meaning to add a "little" ground jumper to make it easier for the Mrs if she needed to actually use it for her car.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
great deal (was close to getting this one) on this one right now (DBPOWER 2000amps) at $79.99 PLUS an extra $15.00 off. total = $64.99+ tax. on the big A...
this has an LED screen connected to the jumper cables, you can connect it to your battery and it will tell how much voltage it's pushing before plugging it into the jump starter.. comes with a case and has a 3 year warranty...
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....AC_SL1000_.jpg
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....AC_SL1000_.jpg
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I've always carried cables in my truck, but this would be a good idea to have as well.
You're pretty smart (sometimes), Allen! :laughing::poke::cheers:
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Azure
I always think if I had one, I'll just get out somewhere and need it and it won't be charged up and ready when I go to grab it. How often do you have to check/recharge devices like these? Also, would you have to cycle the battery, meaning run it down and charge it to full?
i fully charged mine right out of the box since it comes partially charged. i wrote the date (i charged it on) on a post it note and put it inside the manual/booklet so i can get an idea how long it can go without immediate use (will check it again in a month anyway). lithium ion batteries last a long time and can go months without charging. i have an electric skateboard that has lithium ion batteries (way more than a jump starter has) and it stayed charged for close to 3 months without using it in the winter. as far as electric skateboards go, the top batteries used are by samsung, panasonic, and sanyo. it's a good idea to keep it above 70% charged at all times, and i'm sure that's with any rechargeable device...
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
PaulMys
I've always carried cables in my truck
i always use too as well (may keep them in the trunk still). but now that i think about it, your charge from someone else's vehicle will depend on their battery, and if their battery is weak you most likely aren't going to get a jump. at least with these jump starters it's consistent as long as you keep it charged. plus, who wants cables dragging on top of the front end on your car and potentially causing some marring/scratches/dings.. :(
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
VISITOR
i always use too as well (may keep them in the trunk still). but now that i think about it, your charge from someone else's vehicle will depend on their battery, and if their battery is weak you most likely aren't going to get a jump. at least with these jump starters it's consistent as long as you keep it charged. plus, who wants cables dragging on top of the front end on your car and potentially causing some marring/scratches/dings.. :(
I always replace my battery every 3-4 years. Anything after that, and you're just asking for trouble. Especially in a cold climate.
I have never even needed my cables to jump my trucks, but I have given jumps to many people.
Those jump packs are really cool though. :)
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Down here it seems I'm replacing my batteries every 2 years. :(
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I have/use the same one Visitor. Used it a few times, works great...and Mrs. Sizzle has used it to charge her phone!
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
i have one and had to jump start 2 people in 1 day
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I just ordered one. Especially now that my car is 4 years old and that’s about how long the batteries last on the GTI. Hopefully it’s not an issue sitting in the trunk when it’s too hot or too cold out there.
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Consider yourself fortunate at 4 years old
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bruno Soares
I just ordered one. Especially now that my car is 4 years old and that’s about how long the batteries last on the GTI. Hopefully it’s not an issue sitting in the trunk when it’s too hot or too cold out there.
you never know when you'll need it, and using it at least one time (when in dire need) will pay for itself.. :xyxthumbs: btw, keeping it the trunk (shaded) is a good idea as it doesn't get as hot compared to the inside of the car. shouldn't have a problem either way, most of the jumpers are made of (exterior) thick plastic and rubber...
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lance Mark
They hold a charge for a long time. The one I use can start about 20 cars on a full charge.
Dang! I guess I need to pickup one. Sounds like they are worth the cost.
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bruno Soares
I just ordered one. Especially now that my car is 4 years old and that’s about how long the batteries last on the GTI. Hopefully it’s not an issue sitting in the trunk when it’s too hot or too cold out there.
Mine has been in a black saddle bag that often bakes in the sun on a regular basis. Last year we had it in the bag on a run from MI to TX and back. Texas was 90-95 degrees.
If heat is the sure way to do these in, I've been lucky.
Attachment 73414
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Re: does anyone keep a jump starter in their vehicle(s)?
I keep one in my Minivan at all times. For some reason it drains battery often in the winter. Probably because of remote starter. It has saved me many times. If I am taking a long road trip, regardless of which car I’m driving, I will take it w me as well. Mine is a cheapo $60 duracell unit that also charges usb devices and has a light on it. Works well for me.
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