Looking for battery recommendations

[Steve]

I need to get a new battery for Jamie's bronco.

What are your thoughts on the current best and the current best bang for the buck?

Her bronco doesn't have a winch and wont. The sound systems is just an amp and decent 6x9s so not a lot of draw there. She probably drives it only twice per month so it does sit between starts.

I seem to remember @12-Pack Jeff that you always had an opinion on batteries.

Looking forward to everyone's responses.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[jim@wildhorses4x4]

Over time I have tried more batteries than I care to mention. I prefer AGM types like Optima and others. One thing I have found very useful is a complete disconnect if you are going to let the rig sit for any amount of time. You could just pull the cable but we use disconnects on a couple Broncos and the batteries just last a lot longer in those Broncos. I did not have good luck with Odyssey. Disclaimer: we don't sell batteries so I don't have a dog in this fight. Right now we have rigs running Optimas and a few Bosch AGM. I'm interested what others might suggest.

Jim

 

[Dusty]

Optima has gone through some well-publicized quality issues but that's been a few years back. The yellow top in Coco has finally shit the bed after about 8 years, so I'm not disappointed. I'll be watching this thread too, as I need a new one also.

 

[12-Pack Jeff]

I need to get a new battery for Jamie's bronco. What are your thoughts on the current best and the current best bang for the buck? Her bronco doesn't have a winch and wont. The sound systems is just an amp and decent 6x9s so not a lot of draw there. She probably drives it only twice per month so it does sit between starts. I seem to remember @12-Pack Jeff that you always had an opinion on batteries. Looking forward to everyone's responses. Cheers, Steve

I used to use optima, but switched to Sears Platinum. I forget the exact name they called it. It was like $300 but 5 year no questions asked exchange if it died. I exchanged 3 or 4 no questions asked. They got rid of the platinum and went to gold.. after about 3 years I went in to exchange again and they said the platinum didn't exist anymore and they gave me $150 and a new Gold battery with 3 year exchange.

I'm not an optima fan. Interstate is also good.

I'm no battery expert, I look for what i can exchange longest without questions.

 

[Patrick]

For what it's worth, Consumer Reports top 3 recommendations are: Delphi BU9065 MaxStart AGM Premium 65 ($200.00),
Super Start Platinum AGM 65PLT ($190.00), Interstate MT7-65 ($280.00).

 

[Steve]

I ended up going with an AC Delco AGM. A guy from my church has a battery store and I just went with his recommendation. Told him I might get hard time about the AC Delco thing - he said the same company makes the Motorcraft batteries but that the Motorcraft cost a lost more. I paid for $200.00 and he threw in a batter for our gate opener.

Ill report back on my experience.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[KD6TAV]

Odyssey batteries have seems to work for me for a starter battery. Deka batteries i use for deep cycle/dual battery starter battery.

 

[ntsqd]

Platinum's used to be re-badged Odysseys, but I read somewhere that this has changed and they aren't the battery that they used to be. I'd investigate this before taking it as the gospel.

Initially I put Platinums in our CTD, which does sit a lot. However I have the camper battery charging system set-up where once the camper batteries are topped off the VSR closes and sends charge to the starting batteries. After an appropriate number of years, but not a huge number of miles they died dead. I needed batteries NOW as we were packing to leave on a trip when they died so the starting batts are now vatozone's "premium battery", whatever that means.

I put a Odyssey Group 65 (ouch!) in the starting battery position on the Blanc-Oh! and moved the 'BLEM' hot-stamped Motorcraft Group 65 that it came with to the house battery position.

I have 3 deep cycle Blue tops that have been sitting on a 'Smart Charger' for a couple of years. I got them used out of a battery bank at work and the project that I bought them for has evaporated. At the time I did a CCA test on them and all exceeded their rated CCA. I've been maintaining them, but I should find a home for them where they'll get used.

 

[KD6TAV]

Platinum’s were made by odyssey, but not anymore. I had blue tops when they were made in the USA and they lasted 12 years, now they don’t. They say they make so many more that you hear about more going bad, but they say the quality is not. I didn’t have a good experience with the new ones so i would stay away with them.

 

[ntsqd]

We got good service out of the blue tops in the battery bank at work (something like 2 pallets worth of them). They only sold them off because that bank didn't have enough power and we went to super capacitors for that test station. I don't know if that was an anomaly or not.

 

[Oldbronc]

I have had good luck with Optima batteries. I have a red top with 7 years on it and it is still going strong in the Bronco. I have used them in my boat too with no problems. I have used Odyssey batteries in my ATVs and in my side by side which has 12 years on it and still works. AGM is the best I think you have to spend more up front but you get more years of service, also no corrosion at the terminals.