If you drive a truck then as part of your emergency preparedness you should have a good quality set of jumper cables to use in case the truck’s battery is drained flat.
With that said, what gauge of jumper cables can you use safely with a truck? What’s a good length of jumper cables to use and why?
You can use this post to guide you in the selection of a suitable gauge and length of jumper cables to safely use with your truck.
The gauge of Jumper Cables to Use for a Truck
use heavy-duty 2 gauge or 4 gauge jumper cables to jumpstart your truck in the event that its battery has been drained flat. They’re able to handle the high starting current demands of the truck that can go as high as 300 amps without smoking or melting.
Will 10 Gauge Jumper Cables Work?
10 gauge jumper cables are thinner in diameter and have lower current handling ability. Using them poses a high risk of burning or melting when you attempt to jump a truck whose starter has a high current draw.
Related Questions
What Length of Jumper Cables?
The longer the better. If you can go for at least 20 – 25 feet long of jumper cables. Depending on the length of the truck, you may be able to pull over in front of the truck and run the jumper cables from the front of the truck all the way back to the car parked behind or vice versa.
While shorter, 15 ft or shorter length jumper cables can work too, they’re limited to jumpstarting a car or truck that you’re parked alongside to.
The longer jumper cables are particularly useful if it is not possible to park alongside the car you plan to jump to or from.
What Gauge Jumper Cables for a Semi-Truck?
To be on the safe side for semi and larger trucks, you can consider 0 gauge jumper cable. Some of these can handle starter current draws as high as 1,000 amps.
Alternatives to Jumper Cables
You can also use a jumpstart box instead of jumper cables. With a charged jumpstart box, there is no need to wave done a passing car as it holds the charge to start the car with a drained battery.
Additionally, they usually feature several advanced features that protect against damage to the car that would otherwise happen if you accidentally connected the jumper cables the wrong way and maybe spark proof too!
Closing Thoughts
To jumpstart a truck with a flat battery, you can use 4 gauge or 2 gauge jumper cables. Longer cables allow you more possibilities to jump from another vehicle whether it is parked in front, behind or beside the vehicle with a good battery.
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