Battery Life

Most factories have battery charge quality specification for build units. I am familiar with a requirement of at least 80% charge, which in layman’s terms equates to around 50-60 days of sitting before dropping to unacceptable levels.  

As the ambient temperature increases, this life shortens, so battery maintenance on stock trucks is important.  Batteries are like some people, they like cool/dry mild temperatures.

Computers (ECMs) and certain electrical components add parasitic (draws current) load with the engine shut off.  It also doesn’t help to leave interior lights on (not shutting the door completely which continues to power the ECUs), radio, refrigerator, engine cranks, etc.  Anytime you let a lead acid battery drop to 0 charge, they cannot be brought back to life. 

You might want to give thought to charging the batteries which have been sitting for 4-5 weeks.  A good preventive maintenance practice would be to charge the decked trucks upon arrival since they have not had a chance to completely charge the batteries after leaving the factory, like the horse does.  Alternators only produce around half amperage at idle, so letting vehicles idle a few minutes periodically isn’t a robust battery charging program.

Battery Disconnects helps increase life since there is no draw while the batteries sit. You may also investigate solar chargers (sitting inside the truck on the dash). We have had a number of reports that they work very well.