Jump Pack - Starter Box

[HARDTRAILZ]

Whatever you want to call it.

I have never had good luck with any of these. Tried about 3 and they never lasted more than a few starts in a year, even with following the charging guidelines. However, we had some where i worked in High School and they alway worked, multiple starts on one charge or swapping in place of a battery for a trip to the shop. But I don't know what brand they were or anything.

Who has one, carries one, and uses one and wants to share some advice?

I did think of the combo deal, but want a seperate compressor, but I am not opposed to having this have a compressor as a back up.

I also saw that some have invertor's but I have one of those already, but as before...back up is good.

Let me know what works, what doesn't, what options to get or to avoid. I really work hate to get one with invertor and find out that it kills the pack and it wont last as long or the the compressor usage shortens the battery life even with charging.

[The Roadie]

My wife and I each carry one. No compressor - no inverter - nothing but a jump battery and LEDs. Any feature they add to the box just compromises the money they spend on the battery, and those compressors would overheat airing up ONE tire, let alone four. Pepboys has them on sale regularly for $40-50. I didn't like the wasted volume of the enclosure on mine so I stripped it down to the battery, cutoff switch and clamps ONLY. Takes up a lot less room that way. Tested it on the vehicle with the normal battery disconnected to make sure it was sized well enough. I charge it either on the vehicle while it's running, or with a little 1A intelligent float charger I got for my trailer. Would not be without it while on a solo trip.

Oh - and don't store it in the rear drawer unit if you have one. You can't open a locked liftgate without a working battery. Keep it in the cabin somewhere.

[Philberto]

Well... there is actually an access panel inside that can be used to unlock and unlatch the rear if u need to.

[KE7WOX]

Well... there is actually an access panel inside that can be used to unlock and unlatch the rear if u need to.

If you need power at 11PM it's easier to just crawl over the back seat and get it.

[HARDTRAILZ]

My wife and I each carry one. No compressor - no inverter - nothing but a jump battery and LEDs. Any feature they add to the box just compromises the money they spend on the battery, and those compressors would overheat airing up ONE tire, let alone four. Pepboys has them on sale regularly for $40-50. I didn't like the wasted volume of the enclosure on mine so I stripped it down to the battery, cutoff switch and clamps ONLY. Takes up a lot less room that way. Tested it on the vehicle with the normal battery disconnected to make sure it was sized well enough. I charge it either on the vehicle while it's running, or with a little 1A intelligent float charger I got for my trailer. Would not be without it while on a solo trip.

Oh - and don't store it in the rear drawer unit if you have one. You can't open a locked liftgate without a working battery. Keep it in the cabin somewhere.

The charger...just like a typical trickle charger?

[Zero]

I have a Motomaster Eliminator box, its a booster pack, and charger. thats it. no lights or compressor. Does a great job. Ive boosted 7 dead cabs on a film set one after the other and still had juice left. I must say I have had mine for at least 5 years, and it has been great. Always there when I need it. Even has a nice reconditioning function to help bring batteries back to life.

[Trail X]

I've got a 350 amp Black and Decker jump box that has saved my butt twice. I find the more important thing is to wire everything smart... make sure nothing comes on without the engine ignition.

Oh - and don't store it in the rear drawer unit if you have one. You can't open a locked liftgate without a working battery. Keep it in the cabin somewhere.

I learned that lesson the hard way. I had to wrestle the drawer back from the rear hatch in order to gain access to the jump box.

Oh, and Bill, how do you store your battery without accidentally shorting it out? Do you keep it covered with rubber? That's why I keep mine in the housing... don't want to be grabbing for food and get a surprise shock.

Well... there is actually an access panel inside that can be used to unlock and unlatch the rear if u need to.

Where? If I recall, the hatch cover is one solid piece of plastic. Or do you go in under the license plate?

[irishboy02]

Theres a little circle inside the rear plastic that you can pop off which gives you direct access to the lever to open the hatch

[The Roadie]

My drawer unit is mounted in a way that's almost impossible to move out of the way to get to the lower part of the hatch from the inside.



I covered the essential parts of the battery with electrical and duct tape, and for safety, carry it inside an ammo box that sometimes got repurposed during a long trip to carrying WAAG Bags. Now I have a Trasharoo for the spare tire, no need to worry about leaking WAAG Bags inside the vehicle.

What's a Trasharoo, you ask? http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index. ... ail&p=2096

Charger is an intelligent Battery Tender, with 3 or 4 modes, I forget. About $30.

[Philberto]

Duct tape melts and catches on fire... it's slightly conductive... figured it out after a friend used it on the terminals of his shitty VW bug.

[The Roadie]

Good point to make, since I forgot to say that's why I put the electrical tape on the terminals, and wider duct tape on top of all that.