Use-case guide · 2026
Pickups are the vehicles most likely to be asked to do real winter work — plowing, towing, unplowed job sites, gravel roads — and they have the two things that make winter prep different: big engines that need serious cranking current, and big, high roofs nobody clears. A rear-wheel-drive pickup with an empty bed is also one of the worst vehicles on ice until you add weight or chains.
Jump starter size
2,000A+ (V8 gas) · 4,000A-class (diesel)
Must-haves
Truck-size chains, roof broom, 4 AWG cables
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2,000A covers V8 gas pickups and diesels to 6.0L with margin, the clamps bite truck battery posts, and it has the 12V port for an inflator. Diesel owners in deep cold: step up to the GBX155.
~$200 typical price
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The light-truck/SUV Auto-Trac gives real link-chain bite with self-tightening ratchets, and the 0232805 size band covers many half-ton tires — verify yours on the chart.
~$85 typical price
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A dense 17" foam pad on a telescoping handle clears a crew-cab roof from the running board in a couple of minutes and can't scratch the paint.
~$24 typical price
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Trucks are the vehicles other people ask for a jump. Twenty feet of 4 AWG reaches across a lot and starts most gas engines from a good donor.
~$28 typical price
Buy on AmazonA 2,000A-class lithium pack (NOCO GB70 or equivalent) for gas V8s up to about 8.0L. For a 6.6L or 6.7L diesel, especially in sub-zero cold, use a 4,000A-class pack like the NOCO GBX155. The budget alternative is an 18-lb lead-acid box like the Clore JNC660 if it can live plugged in.
Legally, often yes — most mountain chain-control jurisdictions require chains to be carried in 4WD vehicles and require them to be fitted at the highest control level. Practically, 4WD helps you go but not stop or turn; chains on the front axle (check your manual) add grip for both.