Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry JNC660 Review: A Purchasing Admin's Fleet Story
Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry JNC660 Review: A Purchasing Admin's Fleet Story
In March 2024, our shop foreman called me at 6:42 a.m. from a jobsite 40 miles away. A 2016 diesel box truck wouldn't crank. The service tech had a cheap jump pack in the van—the kind we'd bought years ago—and it wasn't enough. That call is when I stopped treating a clore automotive jump starter as just another catalog line and started doing an actual Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry JNC660 review for our fleet.
I'm the office administrator for a 120-person equipment services company. I manage fleet and shop supply ordering—roughly $180,000 annually across 11 vendors. I report to operations and finance. I'm not a mechanic. My job is to make sure the techs have what they need, the invoices match, and nobody calls me at 6:42 a.m. because a truck is dead.
Why a Jump Starter Became a Procurement Problem
When I took over purchasing in 2020, jump starters were an afterthought. We had two old units in the shop. They worked for a while. By 2024, our fleet had more diesel trucks and more techs doing roadside calls. The old packs were heavy, slow to recharge, and—honestly—unpredictable. One day they'd start a van; the next day they'd click and die.
The upside of buying cheaper units was obvious: save maybe $80 per pack across six trucks. The risk was sending a tech out in January with a jump pack that couldn't start a diesel. I kept asking myself: is $80 worth another 6 a.m. call? No. That's when I started looking at Clore.
What I Ordered and How We Tested It
We bought one Clore Jump-N-Carry JNC660 as a pilot. The specs list 1,700 peak amps and 425 cranking amps for 12V systems. I'd seen higher peak-amp numbers on cheaper boxes, so I didn't trust the label alone. The real test was our own yard.
We charged it overnight and kept it in the shop for two weeks. It started a 5.4L gas van with a weak battery, a 6.7L diesel service truck that had been sitting for three days, and our yard truck after someone left the lights on (ugh). It didn't magically recharge the batteries—that's not what a jump starter does—but it got them running so we could drive to the shop.
Honestly, I'm not sure why some jump starters with higher peak-amp labels struggle where the JNC660 doesn't. My best guess is cable gauge, clamp contact, and battery quality matter more than the biggest number on the box.
What I liked
- It feels like shop equipment, not a toy. The clamps bite hard, and the case has survived being dragged around our service trucks.
- Built-in charging is simple. We keep it plugged in between uses, so it's ready when we need it.
- It starts what we bought it for. For 12V fleet trucks and vans, it's been reliable since 2024.
What I didn't love
- It's heavy. Around 18 pounds. A tech carrying it up a ladder or across a muddy lot won't call it lightweight.
- The cables are short. You need to park close. That's fine in a shop bay; it's annoying on a roadside call.
- It's overkill for small jobs. Jumping a compact car in a driveway? You're paying for capacity you don't need.
Where the Clore JNC660 Isn't the Right Buy
This is the part most reviews skip. The JNC660 is excellent for fleet shops, service trucks, garages, and distributors who deal with 12V vehicles regularly. If that's you, it's a strong fit.
But if you're a one-car household, a golf course with a single utility cart, or a small office that needs to jump a sedan once a year, the JNC660 is probably too much. It's heavy, it takes up shelf space, and you'll pay for starting power you won't use. A smaller Clore unit or a quality compact jump pack might be better. I recommend the JNC660 for the 80% of B2B cases where a dead 12V truck is a real operational problem. If you're in the other 20%—occasional light-duty use—look smaller. And if you're dealing with 24V systems, check the exact model; this isn't a universal solution.
The Same Lesson from a Torque Wrench, a Scissor Lift, and a Tow Hitch
That same quarter, I had two other purchases that taught me the same lesson.
First, our grounds crew stripped a lug nut on a golf cart. I ordered a torque wrench for golf cart wheel maintenance because the old impact gun was guessing. Then I had to arrange scissor lift hauling to a second yard. I called a rental company and asked, 'What kind of tow hitch do I need?' The guy asked me five questions back: gross trailer weight, tongue weight, hitch class, ball size, and wiring. I didn't know half of them.
It was the same pattern as the jump starter. The spec sheet doesn't tell you if it fits your situation. You need context: what are you towing, what are you starting, who's using it, and what happens if it fails?
For procurement, check the safety listing on the exact SKU. UL 2743 is the standard often cited for portable power packs and jump starters; some Clore models are listed to it, but don't assume every model is the same. For trailer hitches, SAE J684 is a common reference; the hitch class and rating must match your tow vehicle and trailer. For torque tools, ISO 6789 covers hand torque tools—ask for a calibration certificate if the work is safety-critical.
What I'd Do Differently
- Pilot one unit before rolling out six. We saved time and avoided buying the wrong thing across the whole fleet.
- Verify the exact SKU's safety listing and warranty terms in writing. Not the family name. The SKU.
- Match the tool to the job. Biggest numbers aren't always better. The JNC660 is right for our trucks; it's wrong for a lawn mower battery.
- Ask the boring questions early. Cranking amps, cable gauge, tongue weight, torque spec. The boring questions prevent the 6 a.m. calls.
We now keep four JNC660 units: one in the shop, two in service trucks, and one at the main gate. Since 2024, they've started gas vans, diesel trucks, and the yard truck more times than I want to count. I've only had to replace one charging cord after a tech ran over it (unfortunately).
This worked for us, but our situation is specific: we run a 12V fleet, we have a shop where units can stay charged, and we're usually starting trucks with weak—not completely dead—batteries. If you're a mobile mechanic with no charging access, or you're dealing with 24V equipment, the calculus might be different. For our fleet, the Clore JNC660 earned its place. But it earned it because we tested it, not because the box had the biggest number.