Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

Just in case you all were considering Cat batteries.

We replaced the bank of three starting batteries with new Caterpillar batteries in June of 07.

Two of the three had bad cells. Since they were joined to the coach batteries (my default switch position which I am now rethinking), they ran the other six down to their level. Only by merging with the WalMart truck battery in my generator could I start the coach.

Here's the kicker. The distributor says Cat batteries "normally" carry a one-year warranty. The WalMart battery warranty runs for five.

They haven't heard the end of this.

Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...

Windows Liveâ¢: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check it out.

I've been running almost exclusively on walmart batteries for some time now. The bateries themselves are ok, but the warranty seals the deal. They do seem to manage to fall out of spec before the 3 year free replacement period ends, resulting in a new battery with a new warranty, repeat every 30 monts...

DH

77fc35

30230

On Feb 12, 2009 10:41 PM, "brad barton" <"bbartonwx@hotmail.com"> wrote:

Just in case you all were considering Cat batteries.

We replaced the bank of three starting batteries with new Caterpillar batteries in June of 07.

Two of the three had bad cells. Since they were joined to the coach batteries (my default switch position which I am now rethinking), they ran the other six down to their level. Only by merging with the WalMart truck battery in my generator could I start the coach.

Here's the kicker. The distributor says Cat batteries "normally" carry a one-year warranty. The WalMart battery warranty runs for five.

They haven't heard the end of this.

Brad Barton 00LXiDFW "bbartonwx@hotmail.com"

Windows Liveâ¢: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check it out.

An update: Caterpillar said they would replace the batteries within two years of purchase and pro-rate a new battery in year-3 of the three-year warranty, but ONLY if the owner presented a receipt. Since mine were put in at Mr. Olivers and THEY bought the batteries with another shipment of parts, a specific receipt for those particular batteries proved impossible. They're just group 31 starting batteries, not very expensive. Mr. Olivers is giving me a break on the replacements which will be bought specifically at Sams and I'll keep the receipt this time. 'Learn something old every day.'

Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...

To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
From: dorn@...
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:02:09 -0500
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Caterpillar Batteries Bad

I've been running almost exclusively on walmart batteries for some time now. The bateries themselves are ok, but the warranty seals the deal. They do seem to manage to fall out of spec before the 3 year free replacement period ends, resulting in a new battery with a new warranty, repeat every 30 monts...

DH
77fc35
30230

On Feb 12, 2009 10:41 PM, "brad barton" <"bbartonwx@hotmail.com"> wrote:

Just in case you all were considering Cat batteries.
We replaced the bank of three starting batteries with new Caterpillar batteries in June of 07.
Two of the three had bad cells. Since they were joined to the coach batteries (my default switch position which I am now rethinking), they ran the other six down to their level. Only by merging with the WalMart truck battery in my generator could I start the coach.
Here's the kicker. The distributor says Cat batteries "normally" carry a one-year warranty. The WalMart battery warranty runs for five.
They haven't heard the end of this.

Brad Barton 00LXiDFW "bbartonwx@hotmail.com"

Windows Liveâ¢: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check it out.

Windows Liveâ¢: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. See how it works.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Dorn Hetzel wrote:
>
> I've been running almost exclusively on walmart batteries for some
time
> now. The batteries themselves are ok, but the warranty seals the
deal. They
> do seem to manage to fall out of spec before the 3 year free
replacement
> period ends, resulting in a new battery with a new warranty, repeat
every 30
> monts...
>
> DH
> 77fc35
> 30230

Walmart Batteries? I thought they only had in 6 volt batteries
garden tractor batteries in 6 volt. How do you get them to order you
six volt batterys??? Would be interested in knowing as like you said
they do have a great guarantee. Jon
>
> On Feb 12, 2009 10:41 PM, "brad barton" <bbartonwx@...> wrote:
>
> Just in case you all were considering Cat batteries.
> We replaced the bank of three starting batteries with new
Caterpillar
> batteries in June of 07.
> Two of the three had bad cells. Since they were joined to the coach
> batteries (my default switch position which I am now rethinking),
they ran
> the other six down to their level. Only by merging with the
WalMart truck
> battery in my generator could I start the coach.
> Here's the kicker. The distributor says Cat batteries "normally"
carry a
> one-year warranty. The WalMart battery warranty runs for five.
> They haven't heard the end of this.
>
> Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> Windows Liveâ¢: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check
it
> out.<http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?
ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Faster_022009>
>

Walmart carries a full line of automotive batteries in their automotive department. They will also install them in their service center, if you wish.

The engine batteries used on the newer WLs are 12 v type 31 (I have three of them on my coach) so they're relatively easy to find.

Many older WLs use the 6-volt "golf cart" batteries available at Sam's Club (and I assume from Walmart as well) for the house batteries.

My own experience was that I had my toad battery die of old age (after 7 years) a couple years back, and I got a replacement from Sears. Due to an error on my part, I managed to seriously run down (and damage) the toad battery this last fall (multiple jump starts kind of got my attention). I wasn't anywhere near a Sears store (but there were Walmarts everywhere). So I bought a new Walmart battery for the car -- and it works great. Three year warranty -- and a Walmart in every major community. What more could I ask for?

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Feb 13, 2009, at 3:57 PM, Jon wrote:

<snip>Walmart Batteries? I thought they only had in 6 volt batteries
garden tractor batteries in 6 volt. How do you get them to order you
six volt batterys??? Would be interested in knowing as like you said
they do have a great guarantee. Jon

<snip>

Pete,

Right. I don't have a Sam's card but I don't think you can go wrong with WalMart. I think we'll take the remaining good Cat battery and put it in the generator compartment. Put the WalMart generator battery on the shelf for now. I think the batteries are Sam's are Interstate and I've always had good luck with them. At least they were the cheaper starting batteries rather than the AGM's. I don't know whether Lead has come down any but they got awfully high there about a year ago.

Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...

To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
From: aeonix1@...
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:17:44 -0800
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Caterpillar Batteries Bad

Walmart carries a full line of automotive batteries in their automotive department. They will also install them in their service center, if you wish.

The engine batteries used on the newer WLs are 12 v type 31 (I have three of them on my coach) so they're relatively easy to find.

Many older WLs use the 6-volt "golf cart" batteries available at Sam's Club (and I assume from Walmart as well) for the house batteries.

My own experience was that I had my toad battery die of old age (after 7 years) a couple years back, and I got a replacement from Sears. Due to an error on my part, I managed to seriously run down (and damage) the toad battery this last fall (multiple jump starts kind of got my attention). I wasn't anywhere near a Sears store (but there were Walmarts everywhere). So I bought a new Walmart battery for the car -- and it works great. Three year warranty -- and a Walmart in every major community. What more could I ask for?

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Feb 13, 2009, at 3:57 PM, Jon wrote:

<snip>Walmart Batteries? I thought they only had in 6 volt batteries
garden tractor batteries in 6 volt. How do you get them to order you
six volt batterys??? Would be interested in knowing as like you said
they do have a great guarantee. Jon

<snip>

Windows Liveâ¢: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.

Yes, to be clear, I'm using the 12 volt starting batteries because they have, by far, the best warranty.

3 years free replacement, 9 years prorated, and as long as the battery has the month/year sticker, they don't even ask for a receipt.

You show up, they test the battery, it fails, you get a new one. They test on "cold cranking amps", but any battery that is damaged seems to fail this test most of the time.

Regards,

Dorn Hetzel

77FC35
Hogansville, GA

On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 6:57 PM, Jon <"jipjob@yahoo.com"> wrote:

--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", Dorn Hetzel wrote:

>

> I've been running almost exclusively on walmart batteries for some

time

> now. The batteries themselves are ok, but the warranty seals the

deal. They

> do seem to manage to fall out of spec before the 3 year free

replacement

> period ends, resulting in a new battery with a new warranty, repeat

every 30

> monts...

>

> DH

> 77fc35

> 30230

Walmart Batteries? I thought they only had in 6 volt batteries

garden tractor batteries in 6 volt. How do you get them to order you

six volt batterys??? Would be interested in knowing as like you said

they do have a great guarantee. Jon

>

> On Feb 12, 2009 10:41 PM, "brad barton" <bbartonwx@...> wrote:

>

> Just in case you all were considering Cat batteries.

> We replaced the bank of three starting batteries with new

Caterpillar

> batteries in June of 07.

> Two of the three had bad cells. Since they were joined to the coach

> batteries (my default switch position which I am now rethinking),

they ran

> the other six down to their level. Only by merging with the

WalMart truck

> battery in my generator could I start the coach.

> Here's the kicker. The distributor says Cat batteries "normally"

carry a

> one-year warranty. The WalMart battery warranty runs for five.

> They haven't heard the end of this.

>

> Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...

>

>

>

> ------------------------------

> Windows Liveâ¢: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check

it

> out.<http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?

ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Faster_022009>

>