Truck Battery Talk
 

Winter time is here and it's time for a new set of batteries. I want some Optima's but they have mixed reviews. It seems that when you get a good one they are the best there is, but they seem to have some quality control problems. Many of them seem to drop cells and need to be replaced. Although this is done under warranty now you have one new battery and one used battery. I don't like this idea either.

So give me some opinions. This was no big deal in the old days, run out and spend $60 on a decent battery and call it good. In this case though if I go with the Optima's I'm lookin at over $300 worth. This makes it a little bigger decision in m world.

Don't forget to include suppliers if you got a special place to save money from.

Thanks

id go with optima...

I run a single Optima. It seems from the internet hearsay I have read that most of the people that have Optima problems are having them with the yellow tops. (The standard ones, not the commercial) I think what's doing it is that these are partially a deep cycle battery and also a starting battery. The deep cycle batteries I've had in my life don't like to be constantly charged (i.e. In a auto application). They prefer to be drained completely then recharged. I'm guessing that this is the reason they are having problems but I can't say for sure.

This is my second vehicle I've had Optima in and have been very happy.

Odyssey also makes dry-cell batts and they are very good batteries too.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

Im just getting ready to buy some Group 31 Commercial Optimas. These are the Mac daddys and the only thing better I know of is the Odysseys, which are $300 each.

D31M: http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/

I have been using Group 31 Deka conventional acid type batteries and they SUCK: http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/assets/base/0010.pdf

Call me crazy, but I buy my batteries at costco, and have had nothing but great luck with them.
Scott

I have had the optimas in my 01 since it was new I put the oem ones in my hoe


I got the Optimas from the same place as Doc has linked there

havent had no troubles at all and will never use anything but now .two thunbs up :U::U:

We run Interstates in everything at the shop I work at and have had nothing but great success with them. OK, so there is the occational one that gets replaced under warrentee, but maybe once a year we get one of those. I personally have never had any experience with the Optima's but I've heard they are the Caddilac's of batteries.

I've run about every cheap battery they make and can't say that I have ever had any real problems with any brand. With it gettin dark early now I tend to use my headlights to light up work areas around the farm quit a bit. Sometimes the truck is running and sometimes it's not. I just want the strongest batteries I can get so I make sure I don't run em down and end up stuck in the middle of know where in the middle of the night on a cold wintery night.

Optimas being a sealed battery is great.....aint had no acid problems at all.......................thats real good

Well thats an option if you dont mind battery acid running down the inside of your fenders - makes a big mess. This is why many guys go to an optima, that along with NO corrosion on the battery terminals and clamps. Cheaper is rarely better.