Looking about for 'decent' jumper cables.
The old cheapies I've had for 30+ years still might work if pushed to it...yet I prefer something little newer.
I have a set of cables from AutoZone or Advanced Auto, can't remember which one. Had them for about 10 years. Used several times on many different vehicles. Just used them a few weeks ago on my buddy's minivan when the alternator went, just to get him home. Tried to convince him it was time for a Jeep!
I have this and love it. I charge it up every year or so. Once I went two years without charging it back up and it cranked my 6.0L Chevy engine without a problem.
+1 on the jump box instead of cables. I bought the cheapie jump boxes so I have to charge them about every 2 months but they have never failed. With vehicles today jumper cables scare me when the person I'm jumping has good intentions to HELP even though I volunteer to do it and a cable comes off are goes on in the wrong order. No thanks. I just hand them the jump box.
I'm barely adjusted these past few months, to using a 'smart phone'.....somewhat.....and not sure of the advantages it theoretically bestows.
Are those of you with 'jump box' experience saying something horrid melts if the cables cross or the little spark-fest of tradition, somehow fries the Jeep gizzard, if you don't have some Chinese box???
I bought a dbpower like Rudawg linked and haven't looked back (left the cables in the focus pack) it is so much easier to use.
Much more convenient to simply walk over with a little pack and start the car without worrying about bad parking spots, blocked cars short cables etc etc
~edit and since it's also just a jumbo battery pack it's been a great hit at tailgates for the folks with phones and tablets streaming all afternoon
So how do extremely minimal time and effort (yes cables aren't bad but this is still faster), lack of other vehicles needed to jump own, and ability to always be able to reach their battery without shuffling vehicles and or cables sound?
As for vulnerability I know the dbpower I have shuts itself off after the jump so no sparks or accidentally removing wrong cable first
Jumper cables are really a thing of the past. They rely on your battery dying next to decent people that are willing to help you out. Get a jump box and be self-sufficient.
That Stanley jumper box won't fry. It will beep angrily at you whenever you reverse the polarity and won't apply a current. All you do it hook (+) to the positive terminal, (-) to the negative terminal, and turn the switch to on. Thats it. Turn it back off once it cranks.
My alternator once went out in my truck and I used this thing as a parallel battery to limp me home. It was worth every penny that day.
How well do those small jump boxes work? No sense in getting one of those large ones like the Stanley listed above imo. If it does not hide away in the glovebox or rear hatch it will just get stolen on topless days. Would be good for people with trunks though.
I jumped a friend off last week with no issue to my jeep. Jumper cables have always worked for me over the years. 90% of the time I'm the one jumping someone else. I would be interested in those small boxes though. If they work well.
I've used my cables plenty in the woods.
It's usually a hipster or young parent from the city who has ventured into the wild, played their stereo too long, and is bordering on panic.
I jump them and tell them to pay it forward.
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