This may be a DIY forum question so feel free to move if you want.

What is the best way to hook up the jumper cables when jump starting another vehicle? Does it matter that our trucks have 2 batteries? Just checking if there is anything "unique" to the process with our trucks, don't want to ruin someone else's vehicle.

On the drivers side of the engine is a red box and a flat metal thing that says "GROUND" on it. Black to the ground, red to the bolt inside the box. just that easy. I even jumpstart humvees at work, just work one battery to a bit of a charge then swap over to the 2nd battery (24v system on military hummers) and whala it'll start.

I have used the one on the drivers side to jump a Freightliner once. It shouldn't matter which battery you use though, the one up front and on the drivers side works best for me.

I fly rc airplanes and have a DC field charger for charging the batteries in the planes. I used (tried) the red box but couldn't get power to the charger. Hooked up directly to battery terminals and it worked fine. Do I have a problem with the red box? Or would my vehicle charg system not work if I did??

Dave

It may be total bull****, but I was told to use the red box so that there isn't fear of somehow shorting or throwing too much current to the PCM and frying it. Like I said, it could be total B.S.

On that note, I try to always get a ground when jumping vehicles/equipment instead of just placing both cable clamps on the battery terminals.

I fly rc airplanes and have a DC field charger for charging the batteries in the planes. I used (tried) the red box but couldn't get power to the charger. Hooked up directly to battery terminals and it worked fine. Do I have a problem with the red box? Or would my vehicle charg system not work if I did??

Dave
Chances are the ground bracket has enough paint on it that it won't allow the grounding to occur. I took the bracket off and removed the paint and it has worked better since then. The red power box and ground terminal, do not allow enough current through when using my winch under a heavy load. When winching I go straight to the battery terminals.

i couldnt get enough current thru the red box and grounding prong to jump a buddy of mine's car off the other day, i think i will try the paint scraping idea.

Hook up the negative cable last and remove it first to avoid arching. Later! Frank

PS:Turbo, tell me again how you jump a 24V system with your 12v.