Upgrade to High Output Alternator?

[Piper Cub]

Heya. I have a 98 Mountaineer w/ 4.0L V6 SOHC. I am currently using a 130 amp Duralast DL3406-16-4. It is dying and I need a replacement. I saw that 200 amp alternators are available for this truck on RockAuto and Amazon, and I wondered if it is worth upgrading? I don't think I even come close to using the full 130 amps right now, but I have heard that a higher amperage alternator doesn't have to work as hard and may last longer if not used to its full potential; is that right? Also, I have heard that the pulley sizes can be different; if that is true, would I need to get a different belt length, or should I swap pulleys with the old alternator?

Should I just not even bother, and get another 130?

I have looked around on the forums here and Google but I am still confused. Thanks for your help!

 

[Blown]

A heavy duty Alt. is harder for the engine to turn. I ran one and it did not last two years. It toasted the built-in voltage regulator. The small pulley immediately caused the belt to slip and squeal. I transferred the larger pulley off the old unit and it quit slipping but I am sure that lowered the output. I thought I needed it to run several cooling fans and was actually having grounding problems in the electrical system. I went back to a stock type, lifetime warranted alternator. I run four cooling fans, 2 X 80watt + 2 X 160watt =480watts or 57amps, Stereo with sub amp, and a small inverter to run a computer. The alternator keeps up.

 

[donalds]

I'd stick with the 130a

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto, the aftermarket high amp alternators don't always make more current at idle, that's the big thing I discovered. The 4G model has very few upgrade possibilities, few businesses make anything for them. So unless you really need it, stick with the 130-140 amp stock level models.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Unless you have a TON of lights, a HUGE winch or over 2000 watts the factory 130 is fine.

 

[Jeff213]

I have a 250 but I also have a big inverter and 2 extra deep cycle batteries that are isolated except when engine is running. The inverter can be used to give 120 to the camper even with the truck off then the alternator will charge all the extra batteries as well as the camper batteries while driving.