TRIBUTE100
Active Member
Just replaced the original battery in my 2021 Ram 1500 5.7L eTorque Big Horn Crew Cab with 12,600 miles. I don't drive it much except to pull a TT, but the original was approaching 4 years old and I don't like to go much longer than that. The book calls for an H7 size but I decided to upsize to the H8, based on posts by members on this Forum. I'd been watching at my local Walmart and saw one with a mfg. date of 9/24. The total cost with tax was $192.50 with core exchange for their EverStart Platinum AGM with 900 CCA and a 4 year free replacement. I used an old battery I had for the exchange and kept the one I took out as a backup. An H8-AGM at Advance Auto would have been $278 total with exchange. They only have a 3 year free replacement. I did put the new battery on my electronic Battery Minder charger to make sure it had a full charge prior to installation.
In preparation for the changeover I had my wife on standby since I'm old and have shoulder rotator cuff problems. I detached the hood strut connection right at the battery and taped it to the hood above and used a paint roller ext. pole to hold the hood up at the hood latch area. I slid another battery under the front end and ran up a cord with alligator clips attached to a hot positive terminal in the fuse box and the ground at the eTorque generator to keep the system energized during switch over. I disconnected and removed the old battery and removed the clip in the bottom of the tray to allow the H8 to fit. Note in one picture I found the bottom of the tray filled with water (the truck stays outside, not sure how water got in but we did have a recent thunder storm with high winds) I thought about drilling a 1/4" hole in a couple places but decided not to because I could not see what was right below and also thought there was a reason why there wasn't drain holes already.
I was able to get the new battery in with my wife's help (had a heavy towel and cardboard taped to the top of fender to prevent a dent or paint scratch). I did not buy a larger battery blanket I just cut the original on the fender side to get it on. Mice had already chewed at it just below the negative terminal. Connected up the terminals, disconnected the alligator clips, reconnected the hood strut, and started up the truck. No warning lights showed up and all is good.
In preparation for the changeover I had my wife on standby since I'm old and have shoulder rotator cuff problems. I detached the hood strut connection right at the battery and taped it to the hood above and used a paint roller ext. pole to hold the hood up at the hood latch area. I slid another battery under the front end and ran up a cord with alligator clips attached to a hot positive terminal in the fuse box and the ground at the eTorque generator to keep the system energized during switch over. I disconnected and removed the old battery and removed the clip in the bottom of the tray to allow the H8 to fit. Note in one picture I found the bottom of the tray filled with water (the truck stays outside, not sure how water got in but we did have a recent thunder storm with high winds) I thought about drilling a 1/4" hole in a couple places but decided not to because I could not see what was right below and also thought there was a reason why there wasn't drain holes already.
I was able to get the new battery in with my wife's help (had a heavy towel and cardboard taped to the top of fender to prevent a dent or paint scratch). I did not buy a larger battery blanket I just cut the original on the fender side to get it on. Mice had already chewed at it just below the negative terminal. Connected up the terminals, disconnected the alligator clips, reconnected the hood strut, and started up the truck. No warning lights showed up and all is good.
