Have you ever been running late to work on a freezing cold morning, you go to start up your truck and hear nothing but clicks?
You might know this feeling all too well.
Our Best Truck Batteries
- Optima Batteries RedTop Starting Battery (Our Top Pick)
- ACDelco 48AGM Professional Automotive Battery (Best Budget)
- Optima Batteries YellowTop Dual Purpose Battery (Best High End)
- Delphi MaxStart Premium Automotive Battery
- Odyssey Batteries Automotive Battery
After reading this, you’ll feel a lot more confident that the replacement battery you decide on is the right battery for you.
What Is A Truck Battery?
A truck battery is what supplies the 12 volt power to your truck when it’s being started along with when the key is on but the engine is off.
Differing from a car battery, a truck battery is made of more heavy-duty material to resist bumps and vibrations. Also, they deliver more power at startup because trucks and larger vehicles require that power to start successfully.
What Are The Different Types of Truck Batteries?
There are endless designs and complicated technology in the battery world, just take a look at the EV industry.
Although, in the truck battery world, the major player is the Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery.
Without going down a rabbit hole of battery design, an AGM battery is a type of Lead Acid Battery that uses glass plates to sandwich as many lead plates together as possible.
Basically, more lead plates equals more power.
How Does A Truck Battery Work?
A truck battery is essentially a contained chemical reaction between lead, sulfuric acid, and water.
When power is used, sulfuric acid is drawn to the lead plates, leaving behind lead sulfate and water. This enables a chemical reaction which in turn releases energy in the form of electricity.
In an AGM battery there are valves to prevent gases from escaping and other small processes to ensure the battery’s functionality.
What Do You Look For In The Best Truck Batteries?
Even with batteries, your personal preference and application comes into play in order to choose the best option, but there are a few specifications that put some batteries above others.
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
Cold cranking amps are the measurement used to determine the electrical current a battery can produce at 0℉ for 30 seconds.
This essentially says how well your truck will start in cold weather.
Most truck batteries have a rating between 700 and 900 CCAs.
Warm climates will not require as many CCAs, so take that into consideration when deciding on your battery.
Reserve Capacity
Reserve capacity is the number of minutes a fully charged battery can sustain a constant load, usually 25 amps, before it is completely dead.
A higher reserve capacity is important for trucks with accessories that you would rather use with the truck turned off.
Internal & External Materials
Good internal materials such as pure lead plates, high-density negative paste, and quality lead oxide create a more powerful and long lasting battery.
Good external materials are just as important. Heavy duty plastics and tight seals will create a maintenance-free, corrosion resistant, and spill-proof battery that should have a lot of vibration resistance.
Lifespan
The materials of a battery will determine its lifespan. A good warranty paired with a long battery life gives you comfort knowing your battery will either last a long time or be replaced if not.
Cycle Life
Cycle life is the amount of times a battery can be fully discharged and recharged before it reaches 80% capacity.
More cycling capabilities give a battery a longer service life. Most batteries have anywhere between 300-500 cycling capabilities.
Best Truck Batteries Reviewed
1. Optima Batteries RedTop Starting Battery (Our Top Pick)
Optima’s unique SpiralCell design gives it an edge over many conventional batteries.
The Optima RedTop is no exception. Marketed as their “Starting Batteryâ€, the RedTop has an 800 CCA rating giving your engine enough power to start in all weather conditions.
Optima batteries also claim to be 15 times more vibration resistant than other new batteries on the market. Combine this with its leak-proof design, and this battery gives you all the durability you could ask for.
Pros
- 800 CCA
- Durable shell
- Versatile mounting options
Cons
- 100 minutes of reserve capacity
Buy The Optima Batteries RedTop Starting Battery On Amazon
2. ACDelco 48AGM Professional Automotive Battery (Best Budget)
At under $200, the ACDelco battery gives you everything you could ask for in a modestly priced battery.
The internals consist of high density negative paste for improved performance and battery life, silver calcium stamped alloy for increased cycle life, calcium lead positive grid to maximize conductivity, and a robust envelope separator to improve acid circulation.
Add in a 760 CCA rating and a 3 year free replacement warranty, this battery is sure to satisfy even diehard battery enthusiasts.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- 3 year warranty
Cons
- Unknown reserve capacity
Buy The ACDelco 48AGM Professional Automotive Battery On Amazon
3. Optima Batteries YellowTop Dual Purpose Battery (Best High End)
Like the RedTop the YellowTop has an optimal SpiralCell technology minimizing internal resistance and maximizing recharge efficiency.
The YellowTop is your ideal battery for a well-rounded auto-enthusiast because it can go in everything from your hot-rod to your commuter.
This battery has a 750 CCA rating combined with 120 minutes of reserve capacity. It also has a very low self-discharge rate, so this deep cycle battery will last all winter without needing recharging if necessary.
Pros
- 300+ discharge/recharge cycles
- 120 minutes reserve capacity
- High performance
Cons
- Expensive
Buy The Optima Batteries YellowTop Dual Purpose Battery On Amazon
4. Delphi MaxStart Premium Automotive Battery
The Delphi MaxStart is another price-point battery that is ideal for all automotive needs, but its durable construction would make it ideal for harsh conditions like off-road.
The MaxStart has 20x the vibration resistance as conventional batteries combined with a manifold venting system to improve corrosion resistance.
Delphi uses the AGM technology in the MaxStart for optimized component compression, minimizing the movement of any internal parts.
Pros
- 760 CCA rating
- 120 minutes reserve capacity
- Durable construction
Cons
- Non-deep cycle
Buy The Delphi MaxStart Premium Automotive Battery On Amazon
5. Odyssey Batteries Automotive Battery
The Odyssey battery is one of the best truck batteries available on Amazon. It has a lot of power with its 850 CCA rating and 135 minutes of reserve capacity.
Its deep cycling capabilities ensure this battery will almost never need to see a charger, but if it does its able to withstand 400 discharge/recharge cycles.
If that’s not enough, tack on a 3 and 4 year full replacement warranty to guarantee your satisfaction.
Pros
- 850 CCA rating
- 135 minute reserve capacity
- 400 discharge/recharge cycles
Cons
- Expensive
Buy The Odyssey Batteries Automotive Battery On Amazon
Final Thoughts On Truck Batteries
It’s slightly easier to make a decision on things such as finding the best car batteries or truck batteries because there’s definitive numbers that tell you if it’s a good or bad choice.
Once you have made a decision on what numbers work for your automotive needs, make sure you are getting the most durability for your budget. The type of battery and its construction will determine some of this, but a lot of it will come from the reviews.
Do your research so you don’t find yourself with a silent truck that should sound like it’s starting when it’s -10 degrees Fahrenheit early in the morning.
