Poor man's Northstar NSB-AGM24M?

[Moab]

I understand this is about the best battery you can buy. What would a poor man's Northstar NSB-AGM24M be? I'd like to eventually put in a dual battery system. But I can't afford two of these at $400 each. Thought I would buy one battery first. And then the second one once my priorities reached a dual battery system. As I don't need one as much as I "want" one. I'm not even sure two of these would fit.

SO I guess it would have to be a sealed battery that could eventually ride on it's side. IS there anything like the Northstar that would work? Say in the $200 range? Or am I dreaming?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

First, few of us ever actually need two batteries. I've been wheeling a TJ since 1996 and even with lots of winching and camping never killed the battery. I even had to winch my Jeep off the trail 2-3 times without the engine running but not even that killed the battery. But for a less expensive battery, I can only say stick with an AGM which won't care if it's sideways. The only AGM battery I would specifically not recommend is Optima.

 

[pagrey]

I run a Duralast 34-AGM from Autozone. I know Autozone and Duralast are bad words but at $200 it works.

 

[Moab]

First, few of us ever actually need two batteries. I've been wheeling a TJ since 1996 and even with lots of winching and camping never killed the battery. I even had to winch my Jeep off the trail 2-3 times without the engine running but not even that killed the battery. But for a less expensive battery, I can only say stick with an AGM which won't care if it's sideways. The only AGM battery I would specifically not recommend is Optima.

That's what I figured. I just wanted the dual battery for camping/hiking/hunting. Just to give myself a little extra juice when I need to run or charge stuff off the battery. But it's pretty low on my need to do list. In fact it's not even on my "need" to do list. More like my "want" to do list. I still need tires and a whole host of things before I ever get a dual battery set up.

If I bought an AGM battery other than a Northstar what specs are must have?

 

[Moab]

I run a Duralast 34-AGM from Autozone. I know Autozone and Duralast are bad words but at $200 it works.

I'll check those out for sure.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

If I bought an AGM battery other than a Northstar what specs are must have?

Absolute minimum CCA is 650 amps, more like 800 CCA is better. Group 34 is the usual size for a Wrangler TJ. Dual connection points are good... top plus aux front connection points are recommended if you run a winch.

One of those new small lithium ion jump start batteries in a nylon zip carrying case would be a good alternative to spending $200 for a second battery.

 

[Moab]

Absolute minimum CCA is 650 amps, more like 800 CCA is better. Group 34 is the usual size for a Wrangler TJ. Dual connection points are good... top plus aux front connection points are recommended if you run a winch.

One of those new small lithium ion jump start batteries in a nylon zip carrying case would be a good alternative to spending $200 for a second battery.

Thanks for the specs. Much appreciated.

Great idea on the small jump starters. Great idea. And a lot less expensive.