Bought my 04 in August of 04 and it has about 77k on it. Battery has never been replaced and it still starts up fine. I've never had a battery, much less a factory installed battery, last this long before. However, I remember one experience I had in a previous vehicle where it cranked like a champ until the minute it wouldn't even try anymore. I was at a mall out of town and when I came back out, nothing. Before that it showed no signs of getting or being weak.

Just thinking, for peace of mind, to just replace it and not have to worry about it. Just wondering what anybody else's experiences have been on battery life? Do you have one as old as mine that is still going strong? Or even older? Or should I consider myself lucky that I got this much out of it and just replace it before it leaves me stranded somewhere?

 

Personally i would leave it but carry a set of jump leads in the truck just in case it wouldn't start, but if you have a bit of spare cash go for it, peace of mind factor

 

Ours did just like the one you had prior- it worked fine right up until it quit. I would replace yours just for piece of mind!

 

Mine is an 02 model and the build date was june 01 and the battery is original according to the date on the battery, which is also june 2001. Still starts in the cold just fine. (knock on wood).

 

I've still got the stock battery, it has the little window to show status on the top which still shows "green". I have a few aftermarket battery drainers too like cab lights, a pair of 130 watt off road lights and of course a winch, which I do use a fair bit.

I plan on keeping it until it don't show green anymore. Hopefully it'll crank the truck on "yellow" before it shows "red", LOL.

Regardless, I carry a jump start box in my toolbox which I remove and charge to full monthly, so I'm not too worried about a dead battery...

 

I still have the stock one in my 2004. I'm looking at getting a new one in the next few weeks because it does seem to crank slow. I don't remember it cranking this slow last year. I don't want to get stranded somewhere.
I'm not sure about other places, but around here if most places have used batteries. They're like 50-70 dollars and they say that they are straight out of newer cars and trucks that upgrade their batteries. I know the owner of the local interstate up here and I have a used battery in our van that's almost a year old now.

However, if you don't know the owner, they could easily be selling you junk that wont last you a week. Make sure you check the manufactures warranty.

 

Mine in my 04 was replaced last year. Carry cables if you have no funds. If you have the funds and wont be missed then go ahead and replace it.

 

I had a 2000 Dodge dakota that the battery was stamped 9/1999 .... The battery lasted me until i got rid of the truck (july 2009) (Still going as far as i know).. It had 156,000 miles on it and was the MOPAR battery.... On the other hand my 2004 ram 1500 battery went this summer with 96k on it .... Just keep a jump box or cables on you and you wont have to worry too much.

Edit: Also, use the code LC123 at advance auto, you can save up to 40% on your order when u need a new one. I went with the best one they offered which was 108 i believe (Besides the optimas and the fancy ones of course).. Chose in store pick up, got out of there for under 75$

 

Is the stock battery 750 or 850 CCA?

 

I have a 2003 with just over 50K miles on it still running the original battery. Starts just fine but I'm looking at replacing it soon as the voltmeter is almost near red when ignition is off with the truck not running. Although it starts right up, I can't possibly imagine that, that can be very good for the alternator.