Anyone here used Rural King batteries?

[kiltedpadre]

It looks like it’s new battery time for the Silverado. As always I’m getting a bit of sticker shock. Most places are $120 for a battery with 5yr warranty and 650CCA.
On a whim I decided to look at Rural Kings store site and I’m seeing 600CCA for $50 with a 5 year warranty (2yr free replacement the rest prorated) or 800CCA for $80 with a 6yr warranty (2yr free rest prorated.
I’d definitely go with the 800CCA if I buy one.
The picture on the 800CCA says the battery was made by Exide but has a disclaimer that manufactures may vary.
I’m certainly tempted but since I don’t need to go anywhere today I figured I’d see if anyone here has used them. Plus, it’s supposed to be warmer tomorrow so I’d rather mess with it then anyway.

[MM54]

I have one in my lawn tractor, it is marked as being made by exide and has put up with a lot of shit from me, I'm fairly pleased.

For cars I usually recommend Napa Legend series, not cheap but are Deka and last quite a while.

[ForSweden]

@kiltedpadre Also this

[Bandit]

@kiltedpadre At the cost of $50 you could replace it twice for the cost of a standard battery, I think it's worth the gamble.

[kiltedpadre]

@bandit That’s my main thought too. I give up a couple years of free replacement on the battery but to save over 50% I’m sure I can live with that.

I just figured I’d pick people’s brains since I’m not in a rush.

[Boxer_4]

@mm54 East Penn Manufacturing FTW!

[kiltedpadre]

@forsweden It looks like the Everstart he tested is the same as the 800CCA that Rural King sells (assuming the local store has them made by Exide). That just may be all I need to know.
Thanks

[Chariotoflove]

@kiltedpadre When you Google reviews and customer experiences for it, do you see any red flags? I just ran a search and came up with at least one forum rabbit hole to occupy your afternoon:

https://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/best-place-to-buy-car-battery.109142/

Of course, the usual caveats about forum posters sounding uber-authoritative about a topic apply.

[Albino Kangaroo]

Manufacturer varies.

Could be this company (I like this video because you see them remake all the plates in more detail)

Or this one ( I like this one because during assembly, at the 11 minute mark the rebuilder uses what I think is a short carbon rod to short out against another battery to melt lead connecting the plates)

One of those two videos is from a great truck rebuilding channel. Lots of heavy work with limited tools but neat results.

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@mm54 I tend to follow around where the Deka's are. They seem to last.

[kiltedpadre]

@chariotoflove
Yeah, my first stop was a forum specific to my truck. I found three people posing the same question and all were basically immediately overrun by the experts that had no idea Rural King sold its own line of batteries but could confidently say they were utter crap.

Then I found the thread you linked to and I found one guy that actually bought one and hasn’t had an issue. The rest seems to be filled with guys that think “have you tried this” means I want a complete breakdown of every alternative without any information specific to what he asked and guys saying you should only buy the most expensive battery available for your car.

That’s one of the many reasons I like here. If I have someone here tell me they’re crap it most likely means they bought one and it actually was crap.

[kiltedpadre]

@66p1800inpieces If that’s the builder I’m glad I’ve got AAA and a second vehicle. I’m sure I’d wear out the free replacement policy.

[Chariotoflove]

@kiltedpadre said in Anyone here used Rural King batteries?:

That’s one of the many reasons I like here. If I have someone here tell me they’re crap it most likely means they bought one and it actually was crap.

For sure. I stopped posting to car forums ages ago for that reason. The only time I post an inquiry outside of Oppo is when I have a question about a disability issue. Then, I get a mix of actually helpful experiences and the usual forum BS.

[kiltedpadre]

@chariotoflove I’ve given up on actually posting to car forums. You either get no helpful information or a bunch of guys saying “why didn’t you just use the search function.” I almost never find anything useful through a search.

Now, I only use the search ability and assume actually asking is a waste of time.

[Chariotoflove]

@kiltedpadre said in Anyone here used Rural King batteries?:

"why didn’t you just use the search function"

This phrase sends me into an irrational rage.

TBH, there is sometimes useful info. Few forums are populated completely by jerks and know-it-alls. It's just so buried that it's often exhausting to pick it out.