Jump Box, Jumper Cables or Both?

Shokgoblr

Shokgoblr

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Off-Road Ranger I

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Do you carry both? I currently carry a Lithium jump box and a set of cables at all times. I am considering leaving the cables behind. I have never needed either, and now that I am building a dual battery system I dont expect to run into starting battery troubles. What is your preference?
 
Because I have the luxury of space, I carry both. In case I forget to charge my jump box, then at least I have cables to jump start. My dual battery setup is not that kind that would jump start the main battery in an emergency.
 
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same. i carry both...cables are pretty much a staple to carry and the jump box is good because it can run led lights and charge a phone, etc
i also like the cables for diesel engines...until i got my tundra, i always drove a diesel pickup and never saw a jump box with enough ass to it to spin over a diesel
 
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RoarinRow said:
Because I have the luxury of space, I carry both. In case I forget to charge my jump box, then at least I have cables to jump start. My dual battery setup is not that kind that would jump start the main battery in an emergency.
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Have you thought about carrying a solar charger system?
 
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grubworm said:
same. i carry both...cables are pretty much a staple to carry and the jump box is good because it can run led lights and charge a phone, etc
i also like the cables for diesel engines...until i got my tundra, i always drove a diesel pickup and never saw a jump box with enough ass to it to spin over a diesel
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My Noco GB70 easily starts my Cummins. It has also started a Ford Powerstroke. I had a battery issue at a theme park and the security guy had a Noco GB50 power pack that had already started 4-5 cars. We didn't think it would start my Cummins. I had cables but he suggested trying the pack anyway. Hooked it up and let it sit a couple of minutes and it started it right up. I put the GB70 on my Christmas list the next day. I have one in my truck and my Jeep now. I have only had to use it on my Jeep once but I have used it many times to help others.
 
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Shokgoblr said:
Do you carry both? I currently carry a Lithium jump box and a set of cables at all times. I am considering leaving the cables behind. I have never needed either, and now that I am building a dual battery system I dont expect to run into starting battery troubles. What is your preference?
Click to expand...

I carry both. I keep thinking about leaving the cables behind but I haven't done it yet.Old habits die hard. If I am going out for several days I also will have my solar panel with me and I have charging system with it too.
 
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I just carry the GB70 now. It holds a charge well, but good idea to check capacity, especially if using it as a power pack, it soon runs down if you charge a phone from it.

Even when I carried cables, the issue was positioning with second vehicle when parked the wrong way for hood access. And then being nowhere near a donor at your favourite lonely spot.
 
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South_Puget_Sound_OL said:
Have you thought about carrying a solar charger system?
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Yup I already have a 100w solar panel on top of my rig, which powers everything in my camper shell via a 100amp battery, 1000w inverter, etc. I have a suit case solar panel, which I guess could hook up to my main battery if I was sitting anywhere for any length of time.
 
I have jumper cables and a 3rd option. Ultra capacitor jump box, it doesn't have a battery so it isn't affected by temperature or neglect. Lithium ion batteries bloat when they get too hot, and don't work in very cold environments. Ultra capacitor jump packs charge themselves from your "dead" battery, down to something like 5v. It's super light and does not take up much space.
 
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WE carry both a jump box, and heavy duty cables long enough to reach a vehicle parked behind (think they are 20 foot for the Jeep and 24 foot for the ram). I love the jump box, especially when .helping out a stranded motorist. I keep the cables because of my one is none, two is one prepper mentality. Cables don't have any circuitry to fail if they get dropped in the water, and can be used for more then jumping a dead battery, I have used them to jump from the battery directly to the starter when the factory wire failed. Sometimes old school is hard to beat, same reason I still have paper maps and a compass along on my trips.
 
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I still carry cables but haven't used them since purchasing a NOCO GB150 about four years back. It has started everything around the farm including Dodge Cummins and 150 HP John Deere tractors.
 
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I bought one of these a few months ago. When I picked up thenewgirl recently I was having troubles starting without a jump. I used this several times without recharging. It still shows 90% plus charge level.

BTW, like thecopcar, thenewgirl has dual batteries in parallel. The primary position battery is toast. I've been running only on the secondary while I determine all of the maintenance needs and priorities.

 
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Downs said:
The one time you need to jump yourself or someone else and don't have cables......the battery pack will be dead or malfunction :tearsofjoy:
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That's my luck. I always look at the situation as if it can happen it will happen with me. I dont trust the battery pack because if you hook it up wrong the thing will go from 100% charge to zero. At least that is what happened to the one my son gave me.

There are other uses for the jumper cables if necessary, like repairing a solar system cable when something goes wrong or someone else has a battery cable problem that needs fixing. I say be prepared for any unexpected event when dealing with electrical.
 
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I carry both. I needed them to jump myself a couple of times in my 2008 JK Rubi, but haven’t needed either since I changed over to a 2019 Raptor. I have also used both quite a bit over the years to help other people. I would say overall, it has been well worth it to have both. The battery jump is worth it if you personally need it, so you don’t need to find someone else for help. Cables don’t really take up much room, and there’s nothing wrong with some back up redundancy. That’s my $0.02
 
Truckee said:
I carry both, the lithium jumper box doesn't always work.
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+1

The magic box wouldn't cut it on my Duramax.

Jumper cables I can leave in each vehicle and never worry they are going to internally short out and burn my vehicle to the ground on a hot summer day. No need to maintain a charge in them either.

I have found the magic box to be most useful for folks whose electronic gadgets need a charge in order to operate.
 
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