which one?what color?lots of winching for a trail rig.ive heard optima red top but ive also heard problems with the optimas.any other options?
CK5
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optima vs orbital
- Thread starter twoslo4five0
- Start date
dfl701
1/2 ton status
I heard the blue top. It's the marine version. It's suppose to be a mixture of both red and yellow top
NVR-ENUF
Newbie
Red Top = Cranking Battery
Yellow Top = Deep Cycle
Blue Top = Marine - Mixture of both.
The key to Optima's is not letting them go dead. If you keep them charged they will be a very good battery for a long time. If you let them go dead they basically become paper weights.
Yellow Top = Deep Cycle
Blue Top = Marine - Mixture of both.
The key to Optima's is not letting them go dead. If you keep them charged they will be a very good battery for a long time. If you let them go dead they basically become paper weights.
NVR-ENUF
Newbie
Anything like winches, lights, stereo's that need a lot of power for an extended amount of time I would go with the Yellow Top.
x2
As to orbital vs. optima just buy the one that will be easiest to get warrantied. In my area it's just about impossible to get an optima warrantied so I buy orbitals. I don't think one battery is really any better than the other.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
If you go with a redtop make sure it was manufactured recently. There was a bad batch at the beginning of 08 I believe it was thats still floating around on some shelves.
I got 2 from work....
I got 2 from work....
the red top I agree on great battery just never let it go dead. The yellow top on the other hand I have fortunately had great luck with it has been dead a couple of times and has been brought back no problem
four_by_ken
1/2 ton status
Yellow is what you want.
I have two next to new ones that I will be trying to being back from the dead. Wish me luck!! They have been sitting.
I have two next to new ones that I will be trying to being back from the dead. Wish me luck!! They have been sitting.
sandawgk5
3/4 ton status
I run two orbital blues and have had zero issue with them. Have never run an optima though so can't compare.
Dik
Dik
I have both optima blue top and orbital marine batteries that I use for a trailer winch and my trolling motor. I've swapped them around for both purposes and they both work exceptionally well and last a long time between charges. If I had to choose between the two I would buy the orbital simply because it was almost $50.00 cheaper the the optima.
89yimmiJ
1/2 ton status
I have had Optima's in probably 8 cars/ trucks. Never ever had one fail. I finally replaced one last year in my DD that has been there since '01.
Look at battery warehouses that sell Blem's. Roughly $55 for Red Tops and $65-70 for Yellows. They perform the same but usually have scratches or marks and they have a white sticker on top that says Blemish. I believe the warranty is shorter, but have never had an issue.
Look at battery warehouses that sell Blem's. Roughly $55 for Red Tops and $65-70 for Yellows. They perform the same but usually have scratches or marks and they have a white sticker on top that says Blemish. I believe the warranty is shorter, but have never had an issue.
Mountain_man
1/2 ton status
I've had great luck with orbital. Had one for quite a few years until I sold the truck to a friend who still has no problems. Plus they're cheaper with near same design. Both a good battery imo
DR
1/2 ton status
Maybe Im just lucky.. I have two red tops in my K5. Thanks to an unknown electrical issue I had for a while, they have died several times. They have always come back just fine. One is 6 or 7 years old and one is about 3 years old... Absolutly zero complaints. My nephew runs the orbitals in a low rider and has had very good luck as well. I think I would go with what Tabb89k5 said... I would go with the orbital based on price.
just to be a douche.... 
get a Lifeline, or better yet a Rolls-Surrette....
all kidding aside...... I've heard noone bitch about the Orbitals, but I don't see many of them..
I see a fair amount of Optimas, and they've performed fine for me.. tho that talk of swapover, cheap materials, etc period awhile back had me wondering....
get a Lifeline, or better yet a Rolls-Surrette....
all kidding aside...... I've heard noone bitch about the Orbitals, but I don't see many of them..
I see a fair amount of Optimas, and they've performed fine for me.. tho that talk of swapover, cheap materials, etc period awhile back had me wondering....
i ended up scoring a interstate megatron deep cycle marine battery for 25 bucks brand new!this will hold me off till i can buy 2 optimas or orbitols
I run 2 freebie grp 27 Interstate Megatrons in mine.. We see TONS of Interstates..
need to "acquire" a pair of nice AGM's.....
need to "acquire" a pair of nice AGM's.....
original balzer
1/2 ton status
For those of you who have dead redtops......
Put them on a 1, 1.5 or 2 amp trickle charger that does NOT automatically shut off and leave them on there for about 2 days.
When I worked in a wreaking yard we used to revive red tops all the time. (well any color top optima honestly)
when they go dead they are hard to charge but very low amp and a few days has always worked for me.
I have one thats about 10 years old that still holds a charge and still cranks an engine over.
ALSO those RV solar batt maintainers work well to revive dead optimas.
Put them on a 1, 1.5 or 2 amp trickle charger that does NOT automatically shut off and leave them on there for about 2 days.
When I worked in a wreaking yard we used to revive red tops all the time. (well any color top optima honestly)
when they go dead they are hard to charge but very low amp and a few days has always worked for me.
I have one thats about 10 years old that still holds a charge and still cranks an engine over.
ALSO those RV solar batt maintainers work well to revive dead optimas.
info?i might be able to get some.basically the interstate man comes up to my buddies dealership and gives him deals on batteries.he has gotten 5 optimas for 50 bucks a pop.but they are only here and there
Batteries are free for me... Every couple months or so, a pair, or 4 will be available..
we have quite a few customers who want there bats replaced all the time, when nothing is wrong with the old ones.. sometimes every year... better safe than sorry when it comes to boats is the mantra... fine by me..
I'm looking for a pair of those Lifelines in grp 27 right now... rediculous quality... I'd never buy, about $260 a piece... but free, hey....
we have quite a few customers who want there bats replaced all the time, when nothing is wrong with the old ones.. sometimes every year... better safe than sorry when it comes to boats is the mantra... fine by me..
I'm looking for a pair of those Lifelines in grp 27 right now... rediculous quality... I'd never buy, about $260 a piece... but free, hey....
orangebeast74
Registered Member
I always buy my Optima's at Costco since if anything ever does go wrong you can just go switch out real easy. I have a few red tops, never had any problems with them, just like the peace of mind.
