Portable jump starters rated for diesel pickups
NOCO Boost Pro GB150 takes the top spot, rated for gas and diesel engines up to 10 litres with clamps that bite corroded posts. HULKMAN Alpha 85 covers most half ton pickups in a far smaller body. For repeated diesel starts, Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry JNC660 holds current longest.
NOCO Boost Pro GB150 is the safe pick for a diesel pickup. Its 10 litre engine rating leaves headroom on a 6.7 litre diesel at 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and the clamp jaws cut through terminal corrosion. Roughly seven and a half pounds makes it a toolbox item rather than a glovebox one. Gas V6 drivers can drop to the HULKMAN Alpha 85 and lose nothing they will notice.
Peak amp figures on box art tell you almost nothing, since a pack labelled 6000 amps can still stall on a cold diesel. We compared manufacturer engine displacement ratings, published cranking amps, cable gauge and battery chemistry. Owner reports on winter starts and self discharge in storage broke the remaining ties.
The top picks, ranked
NOCO Boost Pro GB150
Rated to 10 litres in both gas and diesel form, which clears almost every pickup and work van on the road. Thick cables and oversized clamps take back to back attempts without heat soak. A 500 lumen light and USB power bank cover the rest of a roadside stop after dark.
Pros
- Rating clears 6.7 and 7.3 litre engines
- Clamp jaws bite through terminal corrosion
- Spark proof design with reverse polarity cutoff
Cons
- About seven and a half pounds to carry
- Too bulky for under seat storage in a crew cab
HULKMAN Alpha 85
Two thousand peak amps cover gas engines to 8.5 litres and diesels to 6 litres, which lands squarely on half ton pickups. A colour screen reports pack charge and clamp status before you crank, so nothing is guesswork. USB-C moves 60 watts in both directions, letting one cable refill the unit or a laptop.
Pros
- Display shows charge state and clamp status
- 60 watt USB-C refills it between jobs
- Fits a door pocket or centre console
Cons
- Diesel rating stops short at 6 litres
- Clamp jaws are smaller than the NOCO Pro units
Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry JNC660
An AGM lead acid pack delivers 425 cranking amps, the figure that decides whether a cold diesel turns over. Cables run 46 inches in #2 AWG, long enough to reach a battery tucked behind a fender liner. Bulk is the trade, so this one lives in a shop or a bed box instead of a cab.
Pros
- Publishes cranking amps, not just a peak figure
- Long #2 AWG cables reach awkward batteries
- Sustains current across repeated attempts
Cons
- Heavy and wide next to the lithium packs
- No USB output or work light
NOCO Boost X GBX155
Peak output reaches 4250 amps while keeping the same 10 litre engine rating as the GB150. Recharging runs over 60 watt USB-C, which cuts the wait between jobs to a fraction of the older Boost line. Cold weather specification is the real reason to move up from the GB150.
Pros
- Highest peak figure among the NOCO picks
- USB-C recharge instead of a barrel plug
- Holds output better in freezing conditions
Cons
- Larger footprint than the Alpha 85
- Still wants storage above freezing for cell life
DEWALT DXAEPS14 Jump Starter
Sixteen hundred peak amps sit beside a 120 PSI compressor, covering the two failures that strand a truck. Reinflating a light truck tyre takes minutes instead of a slow limp to a station. Sealed lead acid construction adds weight, so a bed box or garage shelf suits it better than a cab.
Pros
- Fixes a flat battery and a flat tyre
- Onboard gauge for accurate inflation
- Housing survives knocking around a truck bed
Cons
- Heaviest unit in this group by a margin
- Peak amps trail the lithium leaders
GOOLOO GT4000S
Four thousand peak amps and a 10 litre gas rating suit big block V8 pickups and older work trucks. Smart clamps refuse to spark on a reversed connection, which matters when jumping by flashlight. Diesel coverage tops out at 8 litres, a step below the two NOCO packs.
Pros
- Strong peak output for a compact case
- Clamps block reverse polarity sparks
- Power bank output for phones and tablets
Cons
- Diesel rating below the class leaders
- Plastic housing feels lighter duty than DEWALT
AVAPOW 6000A Car Battery Jump Starter
Claimed peak output reaches 6000 amps, though no engine displacement rating backs that headline up. Kit arrives with a carry case, clamps and a flashlight that includes an SOS mode. Clamp size and case quality sit a step under the NOCO and HULKMAN packs, and hard frost exposes the gap.
Pros
- Lightest route into a lithium jump pack
- Case keeps clamps and cables together
- Small enough to stow behind a seat
Cons
- Thin jaws slip on corroded posts
- Output falls off noticeably in hard frost
How they compare
| # | Model | Peak amps | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NOCO Boost Pro GB150 | 3000A | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | HULKMAN Alpha 85 | 2000A | Best value | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry JNC660 | 1700A | Best for heavy diesel use | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | NOCO Boost X GBX155 | 4250A | Best for cold climates | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | DEWALT DXAEPS14 Jump Starter | 1600A | Best with an air compressor | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | GOOLOO GT4000S | 4000A | Best for large gas engines | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | AVAPOW 6000A Car Battery Jump Starter | 6000A claimed | Best budget | 8.0 | Check price |
What to look for
What to look for in a truck jump starter Engine displacement rating comes first, since it reflects the mass a starter motor has to turn. Cranking amps beat peak amps for comparison, because peak lasts milliseconds. Jaw size and cable gauge decide how much current actually reaches the post, and #2 or #4 AWG beats thin wire. Cable length matters on trucks, where batteries hide behind fender liners or under a bed floor.
Lithium packs vs lead acid jump starters Lithium units weigh a few pounds, refill over USB-C and double as power banks. Lead acid boxes like the JNC660 and DEWALT DXAEPS14 weigh far more but hold current through several attempts in a row. Shops and fleets lean lead acid for exactly that reason. One driver carrying one pack is better served by lithium, topped up every three months.
Diesel engines and cold cranking High compression means a diesel needs more turning force than a gas engine of the same size. Cold oil thickens and makes that worse, which is where undersized packs quit. Owners of a 6.7 litre diesel should match or exceed that displacement rating, pointing at the GB150, GBX155 or JNC660. Bringing the pack indoors overnight preserves usable output on a subzero morning.
Extras that earn their weight in a truck An air compressor pays off on rural routes, where a slow puncture happens more often than a dead battery. A 500 lumen light beats a phone torch under a raised hood. Sixty watt USB-C turns the pack into a laptop charger on a job site. Ignore strobe and SOS modes; a 12V accessory socket and a hard case matter far more.
Common questions
How many amps do I need to jump start a diesel truck?
Work from the engine displacement rating rather than the amp headline. A 6.7 litre diesel wants a pack rated at or above that size. In practice that means around 3000 peak amps on a lithium unit, or 400 plus cranking amps on lead acid.
What is the difference between peak amps and cranking amps?
Peak amps describe a surge lasting milliseconds and are easy to inflate in marketing. Cranking amps describe sustained current over several seconds, which is what turns an engine. JNC660 quotes 425 cranking amps, a figure most lithium packs never publish.
Can a lithium jump starter start a V8 pickup?
Yes, provided the pack carries a rating for that displacement. NOCO Boost Pro GB150 and GOOLOO GT4000S both cover large gas V8s. Trouble starts when a 1000 amp pocket pack gets used on a truck it was never rated for.
Do portable jump starters work in freezing weather?
Lithium output drops as temperature falls, so a pack that worked in autumn may struggle at 10 degrees Fahrenheit. NOCO Boost X GBX155 is specified for cold use. Keeping any lithium unit indoors overnight during a cold snap makes a measurable difference.
NOCO GB150 vs GBX155: which suits a truck owner?
Both carry the same 10 litre engine rating and the same heavy clamps. GBX155 adds 60 watt USB-C recharging, a higher peak figure and a better cold weather specification. GB150 stays the sensible choice in a mild climate.
How often should you recharge a jump starter in storage?
Top up a lithium pack every three months, because it loses charge slowly even unused. Lead acid units prefer a maintenance charge monthly. A pack found at 20 percent on a frozen morning will not turn a diesel.
Is it safe to leave a jump starter in a truck all summer?
Heat is the main enemy of lithium cells, and a cab in direct sun can exceed their rated storage range. Stow the pack under a seat or in a bed box rather than on the dash. Lead acid units tolerate heat better but still prefer shade.
Can a jump starter charge a dead battery?
No, these units deliver a short burst to crank the engine and then hand over to the alternator. A battery flat for weeks needs a proper charger or replacement. Repeated jumps on the same battery usually point at a failing cell.
Which jump starter is best for a fleet or shop?
Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry JNC660, because AGM lead acid sustains current through back to back starts. Its 46 inch cables also reach across a bay without moving the vehicle. Lithium packs need a cooldown after a few hard attempts.
Do these jump starters work on 24 volt trucks?
None of the seven here output 24 volts. Class 8 trucks running two batteries in series need a dedicated 12 or 24 volt unit. Every pick above targets the 12 volt systems used in pickups and work vans.
The verdict
Put the NOCO Boost Pro GB150 in the truck when the engine is a diesel, because a 10 litre rating and heavy clamps leave headroom on the worst January morning. Drivers of a gas half ton can carry the far smaller HULKMAN Alpha 85 and free up a door pocket. Anyone jumping several vehicles a shift should skip lithium and take the Jump-N-Carry JNC660 for its sustained 425 cranking amps.
Tony Russo
Tony trained as an automotive technician and spent years in service and parts retail before moving into writing. He focuses on garage tools, car care products and accessories from a hands-on maintenance perspective.
