ATV Battery Life

Hey guys, I am in need of a replacement for my ATV battery. I run a Polaris Sportsman 700 and the last couple of batteries that I have put in it have not made it two years. I have used the maintenance free lead acid and the last one was an AGM from Fleet Farm. This wheeler does not see hard use – ice fishing and pulling a couple of deer out a year along with mowing trails, etc – no high speed rough riding or mudding – so I am a little puzzled by the lack of longevity for battery life. What have others found in this regard? Any recommendations on batteries that have really impressed you in this application?

Yours is not the first post on this subject. I have had batteries from Mills Fleet Farm, Wally World, Batteries Plus and they all disapoint. I have been told a Battery Minder will extend the life so I installed one. Too soon to see if that helps.

If not used often a tender will give you 3-4 years max-I don’t think the quality is the best on the small batteries- Yamaha brand that I use 2-3 years max-same as deep cycle bats 2-3 years and you are on borrowed time

Your atv has a computer drawing power 24/7. Unless you use the atv more than once a week the battery will always be less than peak condition. I have a Arctic. Cat and have the same problem with short battery life. I started using a battery tender and my current battery is 3 years old. My previous went about 18 mos.

Mwal

The OEM battery on my 2006 Polaris 500HO lasted just over a year. I then bought a battery from Batteries Plus and was told a Battery Tender would extend the life a LOT. I put one on and am still using that very battery since 2007. I plug the tender back in as soon as I park the ATV after a day of use. I’m sold on this technique for other small batteries I have in yard equipment.

You answered it yourself.. you dont use it but a few times. If you dont use it consistently (every couple days) it needs to be on a smart charger. Otherwise it is like storing your boat batteries at no charge between trips. Add in the cold and you are asking for you battery to go. It has already been said, your ATV is drawing power 24/7/365 unless you disconnect the battery after each use. You are slowly drawing it down and then leaving it without a top charge, the worse thing you can ever do to a battery.

Interstate Cyclatron or YUASA have treated me very well. I’m getting at least 3 years out of my ATV batts. Time will tell how many total. Maybe 2-3 for the one I plow with but I have improved that by bringing it indoors when not in use.

Do you leave outside in the cold? The very best thing you can do for ATV battery longevity is put a tender on it. I have leads connected to all my ATV batteries so I can use one battery tender jr for each occasionally. If conveinient you can just leave it on all the time.

Thank you all for the input. Looks like a battery tender is in my near future.

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Interstate Cyclatron or YUASA have treated me very well. I’m getting at least 3 years out of my ATV batts. Time will tell how many total. Maybe 2-3 for the one I plow with but I have improved that by bringing it indoors when not in use.
Do you leave outside in the cold? The very best thing you can do for ATV battery longevity is put a tender on it. I have leads connected to all my ATV batteries so I can use one battery tender jr for each occasionally. If conveinient you can just leave it on all the time.

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Bingo! Here’s the answer for extended battery life.