Has anyone done this? I don't really need it but its in the back of my head. I have a plow that I will use a little bit this winter. Does that need the dual batteries or will it work fine with one? Its my first winter with the truck.

 

I just did this...love it,works great.Had to do a bit of shaving cause I used 2 31-D batteries.I don't have any pics yet but there was some good posts about 2 months ago...go to the end of this section.

 

All first gen owners that have never had a cold start problem with a single battery say aye.

Aye!


If every 1500 chevy with a Meyers plow can do it, so can that monster of a battery under our hood...jmo.

 

Aye.

Mine's started as low as 15 degrees unplugged, sounded like it fired on about the 3rd hole.

 

Aye!

I bought my truck because it was -10 below and had been setting for 2 week and no wheres to plug it in.........Bump, and it running! i just had to find the cash and bought it!

 

I have two grp 31s on the stock tray, just required raotaing them 90* and some slight trimming of the fender. Truck starts a -30C after sitting for a week not plugged in.

I find that with a single battery if I need to run the grid heaters more than twice it doesn't leave enough juice for cranking at below 0 temps.

 

AYE!
AYE!
AYE!


My big yellow single Wal-mart (*gasp*) battery starts my truck just fine, no matter how cold it is. I have an older western plow on mine, with the electric motor driven pump, a beacon light on the roof, and a bunch of extra lights, and it runs all them just fine.

The engine in your truck is not that big, one battery will start it just fine, its not a big rig with 900 CI under the hood. We have excavators at work with the 5.9's in them, they start all winter after sitting for a month or so at a time, in the middle of the field, in the wind, in the snow, so on, so forth, plus the starter has to crank over at least two hydraulic pumps while starting the engine. One battery is plenty sufficient for these trucks.

Grid heaters are unnecessary on these trucks, they just use excessive battery power. Our trucks are the only version of the 5.9 that have heaters. Every other version of the 5.9 seems to start ok without them.


Just my .02.

 

Hmmmm, we seem to have the same feeling on this issue

 

Aye!

I just got the truck a few months ago and its only been down to about 28 degrees....and started easily on first try. Winters a coming and it will be in the negatives soon...we'll see if I need dual batteries then!

 

Aye. ....and I haven't always lived in Florida!

These rigs need dual group 31 batteries like a cat needs a flag.

Regards, DBF

 

Aye. Spiral bateries RULE! Just make sure they are 1K CCA.

 

Aye! Although its super low on juice after the grids kick on in negative degree weather! Two years ago I had the grids unplugged because they were cycling on and off for no reason. I fired her up one morning and drove by the bank and the sign said -3 degrees! I was impressed it fired up without a block heater or the grids! All hail Cummins!

 

My truck has a got a napa battery in it (not sure on the CCA's) and I've started my truck in -20C unplugged no problem. Just let the grid heater do its thing and bada bing, truck is running. It doesn't like it too much but its running unlike a lot of other diesels.

 

Aye

Started every time since 1998, when I got the truck and put a new battery in it - it has started every morning - except once - when I did not use the truck for a week, but left an inverter on charging a cordless drill.

 

OK. I've read that the grid heaters are not needed. And, somewhere here, I read that they were.

The only problem I've had is after a week or so, allowing the grid heater to cycle has slowed my starter to the point of needing a jump.

Mine either cranks over fast enough to start instantly, or if the battery is a little weak, and it turns a little slower, it will make no attempt to fire.

Bypassing the grid cycle avoids this problem, though. And, that's OK, right?