You are correct, there are only 2 or 3 different actual battery manufacturer's still around. They just slap a different label on the outside for whomever they are building for that particular day.Everstart batteries at Walmart are good a lot of different brand batteries are made by the same manufacture
If it never gets cold where your at, you might be able to get by with one battery. As far as the Everstart battery, we call them neverstart at work. I see more of them bad than good. I use a lot of A/C Delco batteries and they are made by the same company that makes them for my local Autovalue auto parts, but I see more go bad from the auto parts than Delcos. They can be made by the same company but to different standards.I have a 94 and a 06 Dodge diesel trucks, do they really need two batteries? I can 900 cca 3 year battery from WalMart. Opinions?
This is what I really meant and should have said in my previous post. Although there are only a couple of manufacturer's around, they build the batteries to the spec of the company that ordered them and then slap the proper label on for that company.They can be made by the same company but to different standards.
The 840 CCA marine battery was the biggest I could find locally. The Walmart batteries (900's) didn't last as long as the Delco's did. Usually when the batteries in the diesel start getting a bit weak, they work for a good while in a V6 Dakota lol. Also have been having good results buying 'refurbished' batteries. Bought my second one (900 CCA) a few weeks ago and the 1st one has been going fine for nearly 3 years now. Might get a couple for the diesel and see how it goes. They are 65 bucks each and was 65 bucks almost 3 years ago.Yes, both trucks need two batteries. Diesel engines need more power to start, especially in cold weather. One battery might not be enough. If one battery is weak, it can make starting harder.
A 900 CCA battery is good, but you still need two. Make sure both batteries match in size and power so they last longer. Walmart batteries work, but some brands last longer.