best batteries?

[wormgod]

I have one of the old military blazers with dual batteries and they are coming up on a couple of years old now. I think I had better replace them while I am doing all my other mods. what are the best batteries out there right now? I plan on adding more lights and a winch to this truck so some extra power would always be good.

 

[shady]

Interstate would be my vote. They make an AGM battery now too. Pretty decent price from what I've seen

 

[MrSchaeferPants]

Warranties are more important IMO. Think I paid $89 (on sale from $129) for my Super Start Extreme 1000 cranking 800cca. Unfortuantly it's not their AGM version. But till it's ready, running, and I take it on trails that's not important to me.

But about batteries, I see a lot of threads about getting new ones.. how often are you guys replacing your batteries? It seems there's a lot of people changing them out very often. They usually last me a very, very long time. What are you guys doing to them.

 

[wormgod]

I have no idea how old the ones are in my blazer. they came in there when I bought it 2 years ago.

but I did notice this past winter that it did not want to start. battery always died too soon. might have to look into replacing the glow plugs too.

I have these old things in there now:

 

[Fordum]

Right now, the best game in town is the AGM battery. There are several makes.
I like Odyssey.
http://www.odysseybattery.com/index.html

AGMs ain't cheap.
But I consider them worth it.
Not only do they eliminate corrosion of the battery box, and spillage, but their service life is rated longer than regular batteries.
They will tolerate deep discharge better than standard batteries, and most models will have more capacity and CCA than regular batteries in a given size.

In your case, whether you replace your batteries or not, you need to do some cable work.
Just from the pictures, I can see several problems with the connections, and upsizing of a couple of the cables would not hurt.

Get the cables in shape, and you might not need batteries for a while.

 

[4xcrazy]

Warranties are more important IMO. Think I paid $89 (on sale from $129) for my Super Start Extreme 1000 cranking 800cca. Unfortuantly it's not their AGM version. But till it's ready, running, and I take it on trails that's not important to me.

But about batteries, I see a lot of threads about getting new ones.. how often are you guys replacing your batteries? It seems there's a lot of people changing them out very often. They usually last me a very, very long time. What are you guys doing to them.

As much as alot of people hate Autozone, and I'm really not that far off from them, I have rarely ever had a problem with the gold series batteries. They have a 3 yr free replacement warranty, and for asking why people are changing them out so often for? I'm not sure in some areas, but I know in the desert climate areas like Phoenix, you're lucky to get more than 3 years out of a battery. They just don't like the extreme heat for several months, then real cool night the other half of the season.

After a couple of years of hot summers, they usually die out on the 3rd or so winter when it starts to get colder at nights.

 

[MrSchaeferPants]

As much as alot of people hate Autozone, and I'm really not that far off from them, I have rarely ever had a problem with the gold series batteries. They have a 3 yr free replacement warranty, and for asking why people are changing them out so often for? I'm not sure in some areas, but I know in the desert climate areas like Phoenix, you're lucky to get more than 3 years out of a battery. They just don't like the extreme heat for several months, then real cool night the other half of the season.

After a couple of years of hot summers, they usually die out on the 3rd or so winter when it starts to get colder at nights.

I suppose. I've lived in MD, with normal 4 seasons. Upstate NY, two seasons, cold, and fridged with -35 degrees, and WA, 2 seasons, rain and spring, usually barely making it below 32, and only for short bursts. Never had problems any of those three places, but none of them were extreme heat for a long period of time. I always thought of cold killing batteries more. I dunno, guess I should count myself lucky never having batteries fail on me and be happy and shut up.

 

[TerryD]

I've had an Autocraft "Gold" battery from Advance Auto in my XJ for 6-7 years now. Still cranks strong in sub-freezing weather and in the recent 100* heat. I just recently this winter put a trickle charger on it for a bit to bring the base charge back up. It would crank slowly the first try of the day but after building a surface charge running the rest of the day would be fine. I noticed the voltage meter reading a bit higher than normal so I tossed a quick trickle charge on it and the volt gauge dropped back about a volt or so to where it had been running since the battery was new. We have 2 of their 75 groups in our Suburban but they take more charges because the kids are constantly leaving map/reading lights on (why did that thing need 6 sets of overhead reading lights?!?).

Batteries are like anything else, you have to do maintenance on them or they die. New sealed and AGM batteries are easier, but still require a maintenance charge every now and again to maintain power levels. Regular terminal cleanings are also required. I try to do it during a fall oil change around September.

 

[diesel4me]

I've still got 2 Duralast's that came in my '82 K2500 when I bought it,one was a "gold" and the other the basic black one--both looked old THEN,and that was 2003!--I have let the truck sit months at a time,yet it starts nearly every time,its only when its been 20 degrees it didn't want to fire up last winter gue to glow plug problems..

I've had a few red top Duralasts go south on my fairly quick though,but I did buy them used from a boneyard--they were less than a year old though when I got them--got maybe 2 years out of both of them,they came from a GM diesel pickup..

My '85 Suburban has 2 big "Continental" batteries in it that look old too,think they are group 27's,top post..that thing has sat in my yard alomst 2 years and I do start it weekly or at least a few times a month,and it often refuses to start and I drag them down--but they always recharge quickly and will crank the thing over a good while until it starts...till I got them I never heard of Continental batteries..

Some guys who plow commercially here buy group 31 batteries if they will fit in the stock battery tray,they seem to hold up better than regular passenger car batteries..they have a lot of plates and withstand deep discharge and uses like winches and a lot of additional lights..

I'm not sold on any "spiral cell" batteries like an Optima or any other hi-tech gee whiz ones..most of the ones friends bought were a huge dissapointment as far as retaining a charge if you let them sit more than a few days..I think getting a battery thats got enough capacity is more important than name brands,one with more plates always last longest and performs best..

 

[4X4HIGH]

My vote is for Interstate batteries as well. I've been using them for years now and I get at least 10-12 years out of them.

 

[ryoken]

for lead-acid, x 2 on Interstate.. we're a dealer for em, you see TONS in boats... for AGM's, I like Lifelines...

 

[AJMBLAZER]

We use Interstate at work but not sure what that means other than they are a bulk distributor and can meet our odd needs.



Only thing I can comment on is NOT to buy more of the stock CUCV batteries unless you are really planning on keeping that battery configuration. I had one on my M1008 go bad (my fault...sparks...smoke...hair standing on end...whoopsie...) so I went out and bought two new batteries. A while later I realized instead of those two huge batteries I could have gotten two Optimas or other AGM batteries and fit them on ONE battery tray instead of those two honkin' battery trays the CUCV's have.
I know my civy Blazer's 2 batteries take up a lot less space than those huge Group 81 batteries or whatever.

Don't involve massive weight lifting either.

 

[shady]

As much as alot of people hate Autozone, and I'm really not that far off from them, I have rarely ever had a problem with the gold series batteries. They have a 3 yr free replacement warranty, and for asking why people are changing them out so often for? I'm not sure in some areas, but I know in the desert climate areas like Phoenix, you're lucky to get more than 3 years out of a battery. They just don't like the extreme heat for several months, then real cool night the other half of the season.

After a couple of years of hot summers, they usually die out on the 3rd or so winter when it starts to get colder at nights.

I've still got 2 Duralast's that came in my '82 K2500 when I bought it,one was a "gold" and the other the basic black one--both looked old THEN,and that was 2003!--I have let the truck sit months at a time,yet it starts nearly every time,its only when its been 20 degrees it didn't want to fire up last winter gue to glow plug problems..

I've had a few red top Duralasts go south on my fairly quick though,but I did buy them used from a boneyard--they were less than a year old though when I got them--got maybe 2 years out of both of them,they came from a GM diesel pickup..

My '85 Suburban has 2 big "Continental" batteries in it that look old too,think they are group 27's,top post..that thing has sat in my yard alomst 2 years and I do start it weekly or at least a few times a month,and it often refuses to start and I drag them down--but they always recharge quickly and will crank the thing over a good while until it starts...till I got them I never heard of Continental batteries..

Some guys who plow commercially here buy group 31 batteries if they will fit in the stock battery tray,they seem to hold up better than regular passenger car batteries..they have a lot of plates and withstand deep discharge and uses like winches and a lot of additional lights..

I'm not sold on any "spiral cell" batteries like an Optima or any other hi-tech gee whiz ones..most of the ones friends bought were a huge dissapointment as far as retaining a charge if you let them sit more than a few days..I think getting a battery thats got enough capacity is more important than name brands,one with more plates always last longest and performs best..

Autozones Duralast batteries are made by Interstate

 

[4xcrazy]

From what I heard, all batteries are made by one or two battery manufacturers in the U.S. and each company calls them to make their own "brand" with their specific specifications on how they want it made.

 

[6.2Blazer]

I've had good luck with the Duralast Golds from Autozone. Had about 8-9 years on the first set I put in my 6.2 Blazer and they had a hard life as they spend half of that time in a trail rig that would sit for weeks or months at a time without being started and were killed many times trying to start up the diesel in the winter with bad glow plugs. The second set is probably 4-5 years old now.

Just replaced the OEM battery in my '03 2500HD this last fall with 100,000+ miles, though daily driving is better for a battery than sitting for long periods of time. Never had any trouble with this battery until I left on my auxilliary backup lights all night and completely drained it (couldn't even trigger the power door lock when I hit the remote the next morning). Tried one of the Advance Auto batteries because I was in a tiny town out of state, they had one in stock, and was able to get about 25% off through an internet coupon.

 

[shady]

Even though I voted interstate I bought a duralast yesterday for the 2wd I bought. I've had good luck in the past with 'em too. I usually dont own a vehicle long enought to replace a new battery though I do know my uncle got an old ford truck years ago and it had an interstate in it. The batt looked old when he got it and he had the truck for 11-12 years and never changed it. it started right up the day he sold it too. thats what got me interested in the interstate batts

 

[79rustyk10]

Ill never buy one that isnt an Interstate

Ive had people say "buy one at walmart for half the price and replace it under warranty when you need to" I would rather buy it once and not have to worry about it for many years. Thats why I vote interstate.

Isnt there something where you have to charge a AGM battery differently than a normal lead acid bat? maybe I'm just delusional again.

 

[sniperthx1]

Most batteries are manufactured by Johnson controls.

Including Optima, Interstate, Duralast, Diehard, Kirkland, and some wal mart batteries.

Delphi manufactures ACdelco, and some wal mart batteries.

Exide manufactures Champion, Exide, Napa, and some wal mart batteries.

 

[MrSchaeferPants]

Isnt there something where you have to charge a AGM battery differently than a normal lead acid bat? maybe I'm just delusional again.

The only thing I know reguarding this is some of your higher end battery chargers have an 'AGM' selector switch. What it does I'm not sure.Your cheapo chargers wont have this option, generally.

 

[ryoken]

pre AGM, gel batteries required different charging parameters, thus why they are no longer out.. what a clusterf*ck they where....