Battery question

What do you do when stuck way off road where cell phones won't work ? I would rather have a better battery.

 

I just got one of these a month ago and it seems great - heavy as hell! ...hasn't been in the truck long enough for a true assessment. but you are basically getting the performance of the optima, something that fits w/out a 'spacer plate' or other retrofit, and Sears is pretty good about their warranties.

I can't say for certain, but I've heard if you have a problem with your optima the process isn't always as simple as going into a store and just 'swapping them out'

 

Personally I think Optima batteries are overrated, and they did have some quality issues a few years back. Hopefully they have resolved them, but I have been running a Duralast Gold and it's performed EXCEPTIONAL. I don't have a garage that I can park it in, so it endures HOT Texas 120*+ summers and outside elements all year round. When this dies, I will be buying another.

 

I have 2 wheel (okay, it's really 1 wheel) drive, so no far off-road trips for me...

 

define "better battery."

my last optima yellow top - which was my third - lasted only 2.5 years, and i offroaded it all the time. they would not warranty it either because at that time the warranty was only 24 months. i bought it at costco, thinking costco takes everything back. well, not optimas, learned that one the hard way. optima has since changed the warranty to 36 months on the yellow top (believe it was always 36 months on the red top), but i'm no longer a believer in optimas.

 

That would be the one that starts every time and does not leave you stranded. So far optima has been
the one for me.I put 3 batteries to the test, left lights on played music,winched some logs I was able to kill a napa legend,Kragen super start 96,and factory Toyota in 1hour 45 min.The optima was @ 12.1 volts after 3hours and started.

 

Optima's are awesome batteries. On the expensive side, but they last forever.

 

I currently have a interstate "black" battery. Warning to those who run any accessories...these batteries die QUICK. I have had two now, the first died (my fault) and I got it replaced pro-rated..and now the second one is dead. I left the dome light on for 2 hours, and now a mildly-cold night will kill it. I have to keep my truck on a trickle charger until I get my first pay check.

I have heard that the interstate green/white batteries are pretty good...but I will be avoiding them for now on.

 

Look at Deka extreme... Buy USA made!!!!! i have one for years, and wont own anything else

 

bump because I'm about to buy a new battery

I have some kind of POS battery in my truck now that I installed in 2003. Can't complain getting 9 years out of it.

It still cranks fine etc but I'm sensing a disturbance in the force and think it's time to replace it.

I was thinking of going with an Optima yellow top, and would buy it from Amazon for $150 or so. But, like anything, there are a lot of mixed reviews about it on TW.

I like the idea of a deep cycle dry cell battery. I will eventually be adding a small amp to my stereo system as well as some auxiliary lights. Doubt I'll ever add a winch.

What's everyone's thoughts?

 

I have bought just one battery for my truck ever. I bought my truck new in 04. In 2007 i got an everstart from walmart. 60-70$ It died in almost two years. But it was replaced for the increased cost of the battery. (10 bucks at most) In 2009 the same thing happened. (10 dollars) In 2011 same thing happen but this time they were out of the everstart, so I paid 15 dollars extra for the champion battery which also has a 3 year coverage. Everytime you bring the battery back you get new warranty. "but I'm sensing a disturbance in the force and think it's time to replace it" i did the same thing with my bad batteries, I never got stuck because of a bad battery. Also they keep track of your warranty for you so no paperwork to keep. For 105$ at the most over five years and I have a less than a year old battery with 2+ more years of wally coverage.
I cant speak for optima. For the price I would need it to last at least 7 years.


http://instoresnow.walmart.com/EnhancedRenderContent.aspx?id=101631

 

* I use Optima group 34/78 batteries.
but don't compare/associate all Optima mfgr'd battery design, as the same.
I personally don't like the group 35 model... and feel it's less industrial

am purdy pleased with muh Optima YT...
so much that... I now have another
now I just need to see if the new mfg'r (johnson ctrls) is up to snuff
with the old... Muh existing YT is going on 8 years old

The Red Tops... I'm not as big of fan of...
tho' acceptable for a daily driver/starter batt...
muh last RT survived 7 years...
so's I guess I shouldn't complain.
^ as of late... muh junk sits idle for extended periods...
...the RT didn't like that... and wouldn't hold its charge.
tho' maybe a battery tender might help some.

the yellow tops do equally fine as a starter battery...
but also can be deeply discharged and recharged without issue.
so that = more abuse, during it's consumable life.

the RT is a little more finicky...
and doesn't like to be deep discharged below 10.5v
if that occurs... it will need the recovery method re-charge
in order to save it. ...If that works

 

while I have read the mixed reviews on the Optima, I did have the red top in my stang that lasted from the fall of 2003-2009. got it at Costo of all places for 99 dollars....
I would just worry about buying a battery from Amazon, if it went bad or something it would suck having to send to back to get a new one.
Honestly the way the industry has consolidated, there are only a few large manufactures for auto battery's for retail, I would look for a deep cycle but also easy to exchange if it failed.

 

Have a red top Optima still working fine that I purchased in 2006. I lived in Tucson for 10 years and tried the top end of a bunch of the name brands. None of them lasted longer than a year until I went to Optima.

 

well I would be getting me a new battery every year. free.

 

It really sucks being stuck out in 110 degree heat trying to push a jeep up a hill to clutch start because not many battery retailers deliver.

 

I had a optima red top. only lasted 2 years! Will never buy again. I highly recommend diehard platinum! Very heavy but the charge last ALONG time!

 

I've run Interstate batteries in my vehicles for years, and never had a problem with them. I'm currently running an MTP-24F in my Tacoma. (No issues yet - 3 Colorado winters and counting...) It's one of the most powerful commercially available (1000 CA / 800 CCA) and came with a 30 mo free replacement / 85 mo pro-rata warranty. Shopping around will likely yield one for around $100.

 

Optima batteries used to be much better before 2000 when Johnson Controls bought them. They're now mostly made in Mexico with other Johnson Controls batteries (they make many private-label batteries including most of the Walmart brands, some of the DieHards, all Interstates, etc.).

I had one of the old pre-2000 Optimas and it was great, it lasted just over 11 years and a bad starter stressing it is probably the only reason it didn't last even longer. A co-worker had a newer Optima and it only lasted 3 years. There are many others who've had better luck with the newer ones, but the odds of getting another 11+ year battery are low now. Manufacturers weigh the cost of materials and tighter process control vs. the cost of warranty/reputation and decide which balance fits them best. Johnson Controls has been fine-tuning that balance for a very long time and has found the one that works best for them and their shareholders.

The previous poster who mentioned Deka batteries (last post before this thread was revived) was on the right track. Deka (East Penn) is one of the last remaining USA manufactured batteries. They make the Duralast Platinum AGM batteries for Autozone so they're fairly easy to find. You won't find many bad Deka reviews. I tried.

I now have a Duralast Platinum AGM and my starter hasn't slowed at all in any weather, but it's only 2.5 years old so time will tell. I did a lot of research before buying it since I'm often not where I can easily find a parts store or Walmart. I wanted another AGM battery like the Optima, but the Deka/Duralast had better specs and better reviews (and it's made in the US).

(Note: not all Duralasts are Dekas; there may be others but I was only interested in AGM so the only one I'm aware of is the Platinum AGM. I know they have others that are made by Johnson Controls.)

 

Thank you. Very informative post.