Modern jump Packs - Are they all rubbish??

[cptsideways]

Getting fed up with rubbish jump packs for occasional starting duties. have been through 3 or 4 in the last few years, they all work for about a month, then become tyre pumps or USB ports only!


I'm very tempted to source a big car lead acid battery, some decent jump leads (essential imho) & make a big box or modify a toolbox & build my own own one. Has anybody done similar?? if so post up your creations.


Unless anyone can suggest a unit that is 100% reliable & WILL start big stuff like my 4.2L TD Landcruiser if need be - not that it goes wrong just sometimes I leave the headlights on for 6 hours

[miniman]

Clarke Jump Start 4000 is what you need I bought mine about 6 years ago and it is as new in terms of ability to start stuff. It would happily crank over a dead-flat TVR and had no problems with my Disco TD5.

[motco]

As with many rechargeable products, the weakness is the cheap rubbish batteries they use. I have a jump-pack bought from Farnell years ago. The battery failed so I opened it up and sourced a decent replacement. It's now fine. Likewise a wind-up torch, but the new NiMh cells cost more than the torch did. However it will now work properly for a lot longer.

[AJordan]

Picked up one a while back for quite cheap and it worked fine, can't remember the brand though!

Have you considered something like a mains plug trickle charger, or a solar equivalent? (The first is only really appropriate if the car is garaged though)

[Ozzie Osmond]

Better to spend money on decent batteries than fancy chargers IMO.

[motco]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Better to spend money on decent batteries than fancy chargers IMO.

It's not a charger, it is a portable jump-starter.

[Major Fallout]

I know what you mean, they are all useless.

The best thing to do is the get a large racing battery, on a paddock battery trolley. A large racing battery is still small but they pack a punch.

Something like this

[touching cloth]

Also got bored of cheap ones, bought a Ring 210 like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automotive-RPP210-Com...

Been very good and started everything I have chucked at it, including 6.75 litres of Bentley.
Handy inverter built in and have taken it camping etc. Only thing lacking is a built in compressor, but of course it will run one so just bought a separate standalone.

[Faust66]

Another vote for the Clarke 4000 from me.

Starts my 2.9 Sierra, my girlfriends 2.5 V70 and my 2L Amazon with ease - my neighbour’s also used it a couple of times on his 2.8 diesel Shogun which also starts first time with it.

I’ve had mine about a year now and it’s still going strong... I’ve bought cheap ones before and they’re a total waste of money.

They’re also a good way to get to know your neighbours!

ETA: they're supposed to be good for petrol engines up to 6 litres and diesels up to 4 litres so you should be ok.

Edited by Faust66 on Monday 12th November 18:07

[EDLT]

Snap On do one, it is (very) expensive but you'll realise why when you try to pick it up.

[V8RX7]

miniman said:

Clarke Jump Start 4000 is what you need I bought mine about 6 years ago and it is as new in terms of ability to start stuff. It would happily crank over a dead-flat TVR and had no problems with my Disco TD5.

^^^This - Dad (a trader) has used the same one for probably 10 yrs. It's never failed to start anything Inc 3ltr+ diesel and 6ltr + petrols and easily does multiple cars a day.

Also if you visit a Machine Mart they regularly have "returns" in - I think I only gave £85 for mine - best £85 I've spent.

[rehab71]

I would say you get what you pay for to a large extent with jump packs. Having been in the trade for 10 years I have used and thrown out plenty of st jump packs, the Snap On jump pack is by far the best I have ever used and I wouldn't buy anything else!

[V8RX7]

rehab71 said:

I would say you get what you pay for to a large extent with jump packs. Having been in the trade for 10 years I have used and thrown out plenty of st jump packs, the Snap On jump pack is by far the best I have ever used and I wouldn't buy anything else!

The ONLY ways in which the Snap On is better than the Clarke 4000 is that it is a lot smaller and lighter - but it costs at least twice as much.

[Riley Blue]

As everyone suggests, get a far larger one than you think you'll ever need. Those advertised as 'for cars up to 2 litres' rarely live up to the clai, I took two back to different shops after they failed to start my A4 TDi; one of them couldn't even turn over my Riley 1.5.

[davepoth]

A 4.2 diesel is a pretty manly engine for a jump pack to turn over. I've got a Ring one, which has done pretty sterling service on 1.8 litre petrols, jumping them about a dozen times before needing a charge.

[Astra Dan]

As said above - the case doesn't matter, but buy a decent quality replacement battery for it and swap it.

[williredale]

I have one from Halfords which apart from being yellow looks identical to the Clarke one. I've had it two years and for the last six months has been used regularly as I haven't got round to replacing the duff batteries in my MG.

[DonkeyApple]

miniman said:

Clarke Jump Start 4000 is what you need I bought mine about 6 years ago and it is as new in terms of ability to start stuff. It would happily crank over a dead-flat TVR and had no problems with my Disco TD5.

That's what I had and it was superb.

However, I let go completely flat a couple of times and it was buggered.

[V8A*ndy]

touching cloth said:

Also got bored of cheap ones, bought a Ring 210 like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automotive-RPP210-Com...

Been very good and started everything I have chucked at it, including 6.75 litres of Bentley.
Handy inverter built in and have taken it camping etc. Only thing lacking is a built in compressor, but of course it will run one so just bought a separate standalone.

I've one of those. Same spec but with the compressor. Was only £80 in Halfrauds.

Works well.

[Astra Dan]

DonkeyApple said:

That's what I had and it was superb.

However, I let go completely flat a couple of times and it was buggered.

Yes, in my experience, gel/ dry batteries like to be run fairly empty and fully recharged, with a bias to charged. Wet batteries like to be kept topped up, but a large load when empty causes plates to warp.