If you maintain it properly, you can expect a couple more years. IMO, that includes keeping a trickle charger on it.
My buddy got 11 years our of a set of golf cart batteries. But that's probably the exception.

 

This can vary greatly. Heat and cold kills batteries. A drained battery can freeze and lifespan is shortened. Severe heat can also affect lifespan. Overcharging can affect it too. That said I got 8 years out of my original battery in my 2013 Silverado 5.3.


2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD CC 4wd Z71 6.6 Duramax

 

The OEM battery in my 15 lasted 4 years. I didn't expect more. The Texas heat kills batteries.
Replaced it with a Duracell AGM. Have them in several vehicles and watercraft now.

 

My son is an electrician with a master's license and is currently running a job in Temple, TX. for Big State Electric where they are building a plant to produce AGM batteries. They are currently in phase one and when it's up and running they will start phase two.

 

I got 2.5 years out of my OEM battery until it had a dead cell.

 

I replaced the original batteries in my 2015 last year. And only one of them died. The other one is currently in my brother's truck doing good so far.

 

Most battery warranties last 3 years with a few at 4 years for free replacement. After that your on your own. It is perfectly fine to keep a battery in your truck even when signs of slow starting are showing IF you are ok with one time it not starting and you are stuck. Probably when you need it most. Been there and did that. My 2017 Silverado is getting a new battery this week.

 

Too many factors involved to say what "normal" life is. But there's going to be a bell shaped curve on life, probably centered at 5 years.

Anecdotally, you're more often going to hear from pissed off customers who's batts die earlier than expected than those who's batts never have issues and then shit the bed 6-7 years later out of the blue.

I think what I'm trying to say is buy a Tesla. The new 4680 Li-ion pack they use is supposed to last 1,000,000 miles.

 

I think what I'm trying to say is buy a Tesla. The new 4680 Li-ion pack they use is supposed to last 1,000,000 miles.

That's fewer than 4 years for me, which is what I get from batteries in Texas, anyway.
As far as electric vehicles, there was an article just this week in the news where a woman rolled her Tesla, hit a tree and the car caught fire. The FD couldn't get her out because they could not extinguish the fire; the batteries kept igniting.
No thanks!

 

Just yesterday ..on a long ride home...I noticed the battery gauge ...dipping down to around 10 volts for most of the ride...then when I stopped and restarted -it was back to 14 volts...does this indicate the battery is starting to quit ??? normal is 14 volts constant....any help appreciated

 

You don't say what year your truck is. If it's newer than 2005, it's not normal to have constant 14 volts charging. Google GM Battery Load Management or Electric Power Management

 

I would suggest doing some diagnosis, to determine if it's a wiring problem, or an alternator problem, or a battery problem or a instrument panel problem, or a computer problem.

And you need to indicate what truck you have, as how the system works varies.

 

2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD CC 4wd Z71 6.6 Duramax

 

I'm disappointed if I don't get 7 years out of a battery.

Stored in high temps is harder on them than stored in low temp.

Some of the batteries GM currently uses are AGM, some are flooded.
1500/2500/3500 trucks use both, depending on year and engine.

https://gm-techlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/TechLink-Battery-Ratings-2019-2022-062021A.pdf

 

I'm disappointed if I don't get 7 years out of a battery.

Stored in high temps is harder on them than stored in low temp.

Some of the batteries GM currently uses are AGM, some are flooded.
1500/2500/3500 trucks use both, depending on year and engine.

https://gm-techlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/TechLink-Battery-Ratings-2019-2022-062021A.pdf

I have a flooded battery based on that chart...so i'm guessing since I live in a moderate temp zone (4 seasons,not extreme) ..and use it on long trips mostly (2 hr ride each way ) If i get 5 yrs -i'm doing great...but 4.5yrs with 39k -is probably a good time to change soon

 

It's normal on the newer vehicles for the volt meter to fluctuate. It has a smart system that determines how much charge the battery needs and adjusts itself.

 

I put an additional voltmeter next to the OEM one on my dash...which is wired right to the battery terminals. It varies by load all day long between 13-15. According to it, my OEM measures up to .5v on the LOW side. So when the OEM gauge reads under 14v, it's actually 14.4v.

We've discussed this many times, but the cables - both B+ red and ground - in the GMT900's can go bad causing all sorts of issues. I had to replace mine recently. GM used crummy welding copper cable stock back in the day.

 

Get you one of these,throw it in the console and use it when you need to. My volt meter in the dash sucks as does the engine temp and oil pressure gauges. I take them with a grain of salt!
My OE dash volt gauge always shows over 14v=15V all the time! My temp gauge always reads over 210F, and my oil pressure reads somewhere between 25-55psi depending on rpm's.
Actual numbers are read with an OBD2 scanner if I have a question or I use one of the batt volt meters you see pictured. Only time I really need that is when I am towing to make sure my trailer batteries are being charged as I drive in "Tow/Haul" mode! (just a piece of mind thing)!

 

Part of the description of the way the charging system is managed:

Alternator output of 12.75V too low?

I have a 2017 Silverado 1500. Over the last month or so I've noticed that the voltage monitor in the dash is showing a voltage very near the bottom of the accepted range. I pulled out my voltmeter and measured with the truck running (idling). I was getting 12.75–12.9 volts. It didn't change much...

www.silveradosierra.com

 

Also depends on the battery if you buy a cheap one it will not last as long .

 

This helped me correct a "laggy" starting condition on my 2016 Tahoe. $40.00 vs an AGM battery.

How To: Strange electrical issues with 14-18 Sierra/Yukon? Do this test first! - 2014 - 2019 Silverado & Sierra - GM-Trucks.com

 

measured voltage after the truck had been sitting overnight ..12.678 volts...everything i've read says if you have at least 12.6 you're still good for a while ..???

 

2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD CC 4wd Z71 6.6 Duramax