Anyone found a particular brand that last more than a year?

How old is the one that is dead? I would almost bet you that the regulator has quit charging the battery. I just put a new one on my sxs that about 6 years old.

I think my son picked it up at the wal-mart maybe year and a half ago

I have a test light with a volt meter on it guess I better check it see if it's charging

alternator should be kicking out about the same voltage as a car. 14.5-15.5.

How long is it normally sitting without use?

2 weeks bout the longest it gets to sit without cranking

I’d get it started and check the voltage with a meter. Check any non factory wiring for a short that’s draining it. My 07 rancher is on its second battery, the factory one lasted for years, then I replaced it with a Walmart and it’s several years old as well. I don’t remember ever having to jump it off. I think they charge off of the magneto, I don’t know of any that have an actual alternator but then again I’ve never had a larger or newer bike.

Edit: I did have a pair of 14 recons. No alternator.

Everlast is good, have a 8 year old one on the mule. Never had to jump it.

I installed a digital voltmeter on my side by side. Only paid about $10 for it, works like a champ.

Put a cut off switch on it or leave it on a battery tender. Something is drawing it down I would bet.

I can’t imagine not having a battery tender on any piece of equipment not driven daily!

Most modern electronics put some type of draw on a battery all the time. I have read many times that modern vehilces can kill a battery if they sit for more than a few weeks without running, I would assume the atv's are similar. I would either install a battery disconnect, put it on a tender, and/or check the charging system out put on the atv, it should last longer.

On my mule, original battery lasted 6 years, but I kept it on tender much of the time. It finally would not hold a charge for more than a day or so, so replaced with a Duralast Gold a few months ago. They are surprisingly expensive. Amazing though how much easier it starts with a fresh battery.

I think one of the issues with ATVs is for a lot of people, during normal usage, there is a lot of stopping and starting, so the battery never gets a full charge and is frequently being drawn down by cranking. I also power things like a spreader or sprayer from the accessory plug and these will pull power down quickly.

You may have a short or something drawing power when it's sitting. My buddy had this happen with his 4 wheeler that had frayed some wire and was shorting out slightly draining the battery. I'd check that.

Checked voltage putting out 14.5. Charged it up overnight starts up good now been sitting a couple days may just need a maintainer like y'all said.

Yep - trickle charger works great. My Mahindra SXS battery failed after 3 years. It has some digital components and think it was draining the battery. Now I keep it on 2 amp trickle charger when not in use. If I don't charge it, after 3 days it will run down to about 70%. I also keep a portable power pack charging unit ready when I head out to the ranch.