Retired my jumper cables

[Brewbud]

I have had a Noco GB70 jump starter for a couple of years now. I received another GB70 for my birthday a couple of weeks ago so now I have one for my Jeep and my truck. However, last weekend was the first time I went on a trip without jumper cables in my Jeep. After having carried jumper cables for my entire life it felt odd to me but I really liked the extra space in my tool kit. 20 ft. 0 gauge jumper cables take up a lot of room. I have decided to go full bat crazy and take the cables out of my truck too. The GB70 has more than enough power to start the Cummins several times. Wow, life on the edge! Anybody else completely replaced cables with a portable jump starter?

 

[Pretzel]

I'd find it difficult to look at a simple reliable tool (jumper cables) and make the choice to not carry them, but they only do you any good if there's someone else out there to jump from. Only you can decide what level of redundancy you want to stuff in your tool box.

 

[64Trvlr]

You know I was thinking about what if, what if the jump box doesn't hold a charge, what if something inside fails what then? Over the years I've slimmed a lot of my basic equipment down but I think that I would be hard pressed to do away with my jumper cables (I've got 1/0 cables) they're rock simple and pretty much bullet proof.

I hope your jump boxes work well for you every time you need them and you update this once in a while on how they're doing over time.

 

[old_man]

I use my jumper cables more for welding than starting.

 

[Brewbud]

I use my jumper cables more for welding than starting.

I have a Readywelder for welding if I am heading out on a trail where I expect carnage. Ready Welder

 

[Brewbud]

You know I was thinking about what if, what if the jump box doesn't hold a charge, what if something inside fails what then? Over the years I've slimmed a lot of my basic equipment down but I think that I would be hard pressed to do away with my jumper cables (I've got 1/0 cables) they're rock simple and pretty much bullet proof.

I hope your jump boxes work well for you every time you need them and you update this once in a while on how they're doing over time.

I do have solar panels and a Goal Zero Battery backup. I often do not have anyone with another battery around.

 

[old_man]

Ready Welders are cool but pricey. I have a MIG & Tig in my shop but I can do what I need with a couple of batteries and some 1/8" welding rod on the trail.

 

[adventure_is_necessary]

I have a Noco Genius GB70 as well but I still carry jumper cables. The jumper packs are great until you have to jump a really low battery. Ran into that scenario a few times (not on my rig) where there wasn't enough to bring the battery back to life. Jumper cables to the rescue!

 

[Brewbud]

I have a Noco Genius GB70 as well but I still carry jumper cables. The jumper packs are great until you have to jump a really low battery. Ran into that scenario a few times (not on my rig) where there wasn't enough to bring the battery back to life. Jumper cables to the rescue!

True. With the GB70 you have to go into override mode if you want to jumper a completely drained battery. Ran into that several weeks ago. Also ran into a situation at Home Depot where somebody was trying to jump somebody with a pair of cheap lousy cables. They couldn't get a truck going even though the other truck was running. The GB70 started it after connecting it and waiting a minute.

 

[tjZ06]

I love the jump packs, and had to use mine on the last trip (replaced the battery as soon as I got home). That said, I still carry cables, it's the old "two is one, one is none..." thing.

-TJ

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I have had a Noco GB70 jump starter for a couple of years now. I received another GB70 for my birthday a couple of weeks ago so now I have one for my Jeep and my truck. However, last weekend was the first time I went on a trip without jumper cables in my Jeep. After having carried jumper cables for my entire life it felt odd to me but I really liked the extra space in my tool kit. 20 ft. 0 gauge jumper cables take up a lot of room. I have decided to go full bat crazy and take the cables out of my truck too. The GB70 has more than enough power to start the Cummins several times. Wow, life on the edge! Anybody else completely replaced cables with a portable jump starter?

I have a devise my son gave me but I don't trust it. I tried to use it once on one of my trucks and I discharged it in seconds somehow. It takes all day to recharge the thing so I'm staying with my cables.

 

[Brewbud]

Me carrying cables is usually more of a benefit to help someone else. A GOOD quality jump pack allows me to help myself as well as someone else.

 

[AL.WVSN]

I carry both when I'm out exploring. I just try to not have to worry about waiting from others and the cable is my last resort if my jumper dies for whatever reason.

 

[JimBill]

I carry a jump starter only most times. On road AAA card is my backup. Off road usually I'm with a group and one in the party will bring cables.

 

[Anak]

I have one of those jump kits with the fancy battery that is supposed to have what it takes to start a diesel. It is the Micro-Start XP-10. Supposedly one of the big ones. I tried it on my Duramax. No dice. I will continue to carry my jumper cables.

 

[Downs]

I've got one of those small lithium jumpers that I carry around with me but I still carry a light duty set of cables under my seat. It rides with my factory tire changing stuff so it really doesn't take up any extra space so I'm ok with it.

 

[PNW EXPLR]

I have one of those jump kits with the fancy battery that is supposed to have what it takes to start a diesel. It is the Micro-Start XP-10. Supposedly one of the big ones. I tried it on my Duramax. No dice. I will continue to carry my jumper cables.

I also just carry a good heavy set of cables. I do a lot of solo tripping. Because of this, I added a third battery with an isolator to run my fridge and other accessories. I also just bought a Renogy 100 solar panel kit that could be used to slow charge the starting batteries if they get drained.
I suppose the packs are ok for smaller gas rigs, but diesels motors require much higher compression which requires more cranking amps. Another point to think about is weather conditions. If you store the pack in your vehicle it will suffer when extreme temps occur. Winter is hard on batteries so I would caution anyone that solely depends on a pack. My 2 cents.

 

[CR-Venturer]

Doesn't have to be either/or.

If you're wheeling alone, there's little point in carrying jumpers when you have a jump box. If you're with a group, however, one person can carry cables, someone else can have a jump box, etc. Spread the gear between the group and everyone benefits without excessive redundancy.

 

[PNW EXPLR]

Doesn't have to be either/or.

If you're wheeling alone, there's little point in carrying jumpers when you have a jump box. If you're with a group, however, one person can carry cables, someone else can have a jump box, etc. Spread the gear between the group and everyone benefits without excessive redundancy.

Unless another lone wheeler happens to come by to help......but also used that reasoning....

As a rule, I do not rely on someone else to save me. If it happens to work out that someone has a piece of gear that I forgot, fine, but I really try to ensure I can sustain myself. Just the way I'm built.

 

[CR-Venturer]

Unless another lone wheeler happens to come by to help......but also used that reasoning....

As a rule, I do not rely on someone else to save me. If it happens to work out that someone has a piece of gear that I forgot, fine, but I really try to ensure I can sustain myself. Just the way I'm built.

Note that I said, when you have a jump box. If they used the same reasoning, they'd have a jump box lol. Personally, I do carry jumper cables when solo, but I don't have a jump box yet.