[2nd79]

I have a Sears Suburban (SS/18) that I will be using for snow duty this winter. I am concerned about cold starting in the winter, so I want to make sure that my battery is always ready to go.

I have just started looking at battery chargers, and/or maintainers. I saw a $20 unit at Wal Mart, and a similar looking Die Hard (on sale) for $22. I also found the more expensive maintainers online. I saw a Die Hard for ~$100 that was a "real" battery charger, with automatic float mode, and 125 Amp starting mode, which I suspect would be more than enough to turn over the old Sears, without having to push it out of the shed to use jumper cables.

Ultimately, does anybody have any experience with these or similar units to provide any reasonable recommendation? I am too poor to buy cheap, so I want to get something decent.

 

[bcrewcaptain]

for most cases, a $20 maintainer will be just fine providing the Suburban is charging properly when it's running. All the plug-in one should be doing is keeping it topped off while it is not in use. You shouldn't need anything else major, but if you do, I'd get a portable"jump-pack" as I never seem to have a battery die anywhere that I can plug in an jump something.

 

[silver hair deere]

get the sears unit for $ 22.00 it's the same as the walmart one , but the sears has a 3 year warranty , just keep your receipt

 

[edro]

I use a cheap one from Harbor Freight on one of my Suburbans. It works fine but I did cut the round ends into a "C" shape so I could slide them onto the terminals without having to completely remove the nuts.

 

[tranks]

i bought a cheap motor trend battery charger and battery maintainer. it was on sale at northern tool. seems to work alright and was a pretty good deal. i leave the battery maintainer on the main tractor and the battery charger is on hand for whatever else.

 

[case222]

I picked up the cheap one from harbour freight for $4.99 on sale and it seems to be woring great.

 

[Chagrin]

I would suggest a complete battery charger rather than just a maintaner; the newer ones will maintain the charge as well.

Here's one for $25:
http://www.google.com/products/cata...log_result&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CEkQ8gIwAg#

 

[Mac Garage]

I have always used Batter Tender Jrs. for all of my smaller batteries. They are under $25 and are reliable.

I still kick myself for letting one go when I sold my Deere this summer as now when I get its replacement, I will certainly get another one.