The right battery with a true "Nationwide" warranty

Dave Siegel · June 15, 2007, 03:40:07 PM

I am going to finally add a "house " battery to our PD3751. It's easy to just go to the parts house and for any number of reasons by one there. Price, aesthetics,warranty. Which brings us to warranty. Suppose I go into my local parts house and buy their battery, and I drive to Podunk, Minnesota and the battery gives out. Where do I go for an adjustment?

Is there a recommended battery that can be adjusted just about country wide? Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

Dave Siegel

TomC · June 15, 2007, 04:15:24 PM

This is why you buy a nationally known battery, like Interstate, Exide, etc. Best to pay a bit more for a name brand initially. What size batt are you going to use? Good Luck, TomC

Dave Siegel · June 15, 2007, 04:27:18 PM

We are not boondockers. With that said I have very limited 12 volt needs. !2 volt water pump, 3 or 4 interior lights, and the retractable step for the front door. I purchased a 45 amp Wizard battery converter/charger. It has a micro processor that slows the fan down for quiet operation a night time. I think that a 12 volt deep cycle battery maybe a group 27 would be sufficient. I know there are a lot of guys and gals out there that are going to tell me about golf carts batteries and when you add up the price of two to make one 12 volt assembly, it doesn't really fit into my budget.

Dave

Dale MC8 · June 15, 2007, 05:11:56 PM

Get one from Wal Mart or Sears. They have stores in Podunk the last I heard.
Dale

DrivingMissLazy · June 15, 2007, 05:55:56 PM

Group 31 deep cycle from Wal-Mart or Sears is my recommendation.
Richard

jjrbus · June 15, 2007, 06:24:31 PM

I get my batterys and toad tires from Wal Mart. Not becuse they are the best tire or batt or have the best price it is becuse there are Wallys most everywhere. Of course you have a coast to coast warrenty buying from them. HTH

Kristinsgrandpa · June 15, 2007, 06:39:52 PM

I'd vote for NAPA, there are 4 or 5 times as many NAPA stores as there are Walmarts.

Ed.

Busted Knuckle · June 15, 2007, 07:10:54 PM

Quote from: Kristinsgrandpa on June 15, 2007, 06:39:52 PM
I'd vote for NAPA, there are 4 or 5 times as many NAPA stores as there are Walmarts.

Ed.

I'm with Ed! If it's quality you want it's hard to beat NAPA when you consider that they have strict QC policies, and that they are almost everywhere! Especially PODUNK, USA ! (If there are farms or trucks near by, theres a NAPA!). FWIW BK

Now for the disclaimer; the remarks above are merely my own personal opinion, also I have nothing to gain by reccommending them financially as the only connection I have with them is they send me a very large bill every month and I pay it so they'll continue to deliver parts when I call them! OK that being said, I have been using NAPA batteries (and parts) in all of my vehicles for over 20 yrs. That goes for my personal car to the small fleet of big trucks I had in the 90's, to the buses we currently run! In those 20 yrs I've only experienced one battery failure where there was not a NAPA with in a reasonable distance to get it warrantied. But 1 phone call made to my local NAPA, where the battery was originally purchased, and I was told pick up a new battery and bring us the receipt. They not only reimbursed me for the one I bought, but they exchanged it with their top line battery (even though I'd bought a cheapie and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it as it was brand new!) By the way that 1 time it was an 8D bus battery ! just my own biased opinion for what it's worth! BK

Len Silva · June 15, 2007, 08:47:19 PM

There is a Podunk, CT, Podunk, NY, two Podunks in MI, one in VT and apparently, there once was one in MA, but they can't seem to find it now.

None of them has a Walmart or NAPA.

There is not an East Podunk anywhere.

Len

Dallas · June 16, 2007, 03:45:16 AM

According to Answers.com, Walmart has 6,775 stores in the US and Napa (Owned by Genuine Parts Company, Inc.) has 6000. Either way, you shouldn't be far from either one.

I chose Walmart because of not only the numbers, but ease of access. All Walmarts have a large parking lot where a bus can park. Not all Napa stores have a place big enough and I don't want to carry a battery any farther than I have to.

Either is a good choice, just make sure you get batteries that will fit your needs.

Dallas

GO BUSSING!

Dave Siegel · June 16, 2007, 04:20:26 AM

I have checked with the local Wal-Marts (we have four mega-monster stores near-by) and none of them say they have deep cycle batteries. NAPA does and their prices vary from store to store.

Dave

Dallas · June 16, 2007, 04:57:23 AM

Dave,

Considering the average intelligence of the standard Walmart Employee, I would actaully go to the Walmart nearest you and look for yourself.
You will be looking for, "Deep Cycle" "Marine" "RV" etc.

The ones to stay away from are the combination MArine/start batteries as the are built more lightly than a true deep cycle.

I used the Everstart MAXX Marine which is a combination Deepcycle/start battery, but it does have a 125Ah capacity and seems to work well for my application.

I was surprised you actually got to speak with someone on the phone who can speak english, I've called around here and the person answering usually cannot understand or speak english or speaks nothing but Spanish and/or Ghetto.

Good Luck!

Dallas

Busted Knuckle · June 16, 2007, 06:42:11 AM

Quote from: Dallas on June 16, 2007, 03:45:16 AM
According to Answers.com, Walmart has 6,775 stores in the US and Napa (Owned by Genuine Parts Company, Inc.) has 6000. Either way, you shouldn't be far from either one.

I chose Walmart because of not only the numbers, but ease of access. All Walmarts have a large parking lot where a bus can park. Not all Napa stores have a place big enough and I don't want to carry a battery any farther than I have to.

Either is a good choice, just make sure you get batteries that will fit your needs.

Dallas

GO BUSSING!

Dallas very good point! But in NAPA's defense all NAPA store have parts delivery trucks for running parts to the local garages. Id bet a new battery just about all of the would be more than willing to drive the batteries to the coach, and return the core to the store if one were to go in and explain the lack of close parking situation along with giving them the $ or warranty info! FWIW BK

Dallas · June 16, 2007, 07:36:14 AM

Bryce,
I agree.
Except it would be my luck that the Napa would be like the one in Florence, SC.... They do not deliver to anyone but cerified repair shops.
And Walmart is open until 9 or later just about everywhere.
But then, my luck would be I'd hit the only Walmart that closes for the managers, sisters mother in Laws, cousins, dogs, neutering.

Dallas

gus · June 16, 2007, 08:01:25 PM

I've never seen a WM that didn't have deep cycle batteries, unfortunately the largest they usually have is Gp 27, especially them small stores. I had to find my Gp 31s at Sams Club but larger WMs probably have them.