Thread: Batteries and electrics for 4wding

Some notes from 20+ odd years of buying batteries for 4wds and cars.

a) If you are going a long way from nowhere off road in a 4wd get a battery with a hydrometer indicator in it. Of the green = good, black = needs a charge and white = replace type. Check it 2 or 3 days before leaving and before leaving.

b) get an oversized battery, I like to fit 3yr warrantee batteries and ones that are the biggest I can fit on the battery tray, usually this means the next size or 2 up. My experience with doing this is it costs maybe $20 or $30 more for the cars and 4wds I have done this on but I find the batteries seem to last x2 as long.

c) get your starter motor overhauled at about 10 years, ie new brushes and a "head" Often you might get a wee warning on the starter sticking as a sign the head is jamming. (Nissan Safari's).

d) Change the belts but keep the old ones as spare that way you know 100% the belt you have fits. Its not unknown for some moron to put the wrong belt back in the packaging and you go to fit it and it doesnt.

e) Never ever do a service less than a month from when you intend to take it a long way off road. I did a service once and the new points seperated from the base plate while someway from home., but I'd kept the old ones.

Dual battery system = no worries. Came back from two days in the hills, mate had parked my truck and left lights on (without me seeing) and battery was dead on arrival.

So I made him feel REAL shit about extra walk out, he got all grumpy, then I flicked the switch and cranked the engine up....haha!

Good advice though. Definitely don't skimp on batteries!