The Delco finally died. I'm going, I think to a dual battery setup. Question is what kind/brand of battery to buy. What are you running and why? Is an Optima really that much better?
CK5
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What kind of Battery?
- Thread starter cbbr
- Start date
In one rig I have a 7-year-old Duralast Gold from Autozone that's still going strong. 3 Die Hards in a row crapped out in 13-15 months before it. 
A friend had an Optima last 9 years in a rarely driven Land Cruiser.
A friend had an Optima last 9 years in a rarely driven Land Cruiser.
I am running a Duralast Gold (800 Cold Cranking apms) that I bought from Autozone for $60. The Sears Die Hard Gold line of batteries are made by the same company that makes the Duralast Gold, but the Duralast's are $20 cheaper...with the same warranty. When I originally bought the my truck it had a red top Optima, which was 7 years old.
79GMC4x4
Newbie
I can attest to Optima's being okay when treated well. However, they are absolutely no better when somewhat abused by non-use. Had two go bad. The only advantage is when you want to mount them in a position other than straight up. There are a couple of rip-offs of Optimas, which you may find cheaper.
For now? I just use cheap Walmart batteries. Sounds stupid I bet, but they work fine if the truck doesn't get used enough. For a vehicle that gets used every day, go ahead and spend your money on the Optima, Interstate, Sears Gold......
For now? I just use cheap Walmart batteries. Sounds stupid I bet, but they work fine if the truck doesn't get used enough. For a vehicle that gets used every day, go ahead and spend your money on the Optima, Interstate, Sears Gold......
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I run 1100cca interstate batteries. Never had an issue with them yet.
mudhog
THEGAME
i have a yellow top optima in my blazer and it has always done great for me.
walla2k5
1/2 ton status
Been using Interstate batteries for many years, never had a problem...Depending on how many off-road lights,winch,stereo ect... might go deep cycle.
I'm cheep...
I pay 15 bucks for a battery at the junkyard I go to a lot--I look for a fresh arrival in a late model wreck--most of them have fairly new batteries in them..opposed to the scrap vehicles hauled in that have a junk one or none..They have a box truck body FULL of batteries all the time--but you have to sift thru them to find one the right size and not too old--I have come away with nearly brand new Die-Hards,Duralast,Ever Starts,etc for 15 bucks!..
They have a "if it dies we give you another one free" gaurantee for 30 days!--but they wont take the first one back IF its junk!--they consider batteries a neusance,they dont even remove them from the cars most of the time,and they bring sqat at the scrapyard--and they get fined by the EPA if they get caught with a lot of them littering the place--so they just assume sell them cheap,and get rid of them!
I'd like to be rich enough to buy brand new batteries,but since my trucks get used only sparingly now,I cant see paying nearly 100 bucks for one,then having it go dead from sitting...I've had excellent luck with "hardly used" batteries in my trucks..for a lot less than new!..
I pay 15 bucks for a battery at the junkyard I go to a lot--I look for a fresh arrival in a late model wreck--most of them have fairly new batteries in them..opposed to the scrap vehicles hauled in that have a junk one or none..They have a box truck body FULL of batteries all the time--but you have to sift thru them to find one the right size and not too old--I have come away with nearly brand new Die-Hards,Duralast,Ever Starts,etc for 15 bucks!..
They have a "if it dies we give you another one free" gaurantee for 30 days!--but they wont take the first one back IF its junk!--they consider batteries a neusance,they dont even remove them from the cars most of the time,and they bring sqat at the scrapyard--and they get fined by the EPA if they get caught with a lot of them littering the place--so they just assume sell them cheap,and get rid of them!
I'd like to be rich enough to buy brand new batteries,but since my trucks get used only sparingly now,I cant see paying nearly 100 bucks for one,then having it go dead from sitting...I've had excellent luck with "hardly used" batteries in my trucks..for a lot less than new!..
If ya go with the dual battery setup, you'll need some kind of isolator system to do it right. My system is composed of Red and Yellow top Optimas, a PowerMaster 140amp alternator and the Hellroaring dual battery isolator/combiner with remote switch. 12k Warn winch, CB, cheap MP3 player. It's a sweet set up. The switch has 3 different positions. 1 for both batteries combined and charging. Truck runs off both batteries. Second position for both batteries isolated from each other and charging, but only running off the main battery. And position #3 completely removes the backup battery from the system. Also, my cables are almost all 2/0 or 1/0 welding cable. The cables from the hellroaring unit to the battery are 2 gauge. Everything else is the welding cable. Battery to frame, battery to block, block to frame, winch to frame, winch to battery, block to body.
Hellroaring website
This is what the unit looks like installed in my truck-
It's not cheap- $179 for the model I got and and extra $40 for the remote switch option. Better safe than sorry though- the electrical system isn't something to skimp on as far as I'm concerned. If ya wanted to know how to do it right, thats one way.
Hellroaring website
This is what the unit looks like installed in my truck-
It's not cheap- $179 for the model I got and and extra $40 for the remote switch option. Better safe than sorry though- the electrical system isn't something to skimp on as far as I'm concerned. If ya wanted to know how to do it right, thats one way.
blazerpunk
1/2 ton status
Optima red top. The best money I've spent so far. I didn't even notice when I threw my alt. belt, probably 5 starts and 10 min. with lights on still started no prob. when I put a new belt on.
BlitzK5
1/2 ton status
Here This is what I asked a optima rep. and this is his answer
Question:
I am going to purchase one of your batteries however I'm not sure which one
would be better for my application. I have a 1982 Chevy k5 Blazer with a
12K pound winch used for extreme 4X4. Which battery is better, The Red of
the Yellow top?. What the best battery I can get which will fit my
application and what is the battery ID# of this battery?
Answer:
Since you have a winch, you would need to use a yellow top deep cycle
battery for your application. Unfortunately, we do not have a battery for
your application. Although, you can measure the dimensions of your
existing stock battery versus that of an Optima battery and see if one
would work for you. Below is the link to our product specs where you can
find the dimensions of Optima Batteries.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publ...ical_specs.html
I dont know if this helps but I just posted it anyways
Question:
I am going to purchase one of your batteries however I'm not sure which one
would be better for my application. I have a 1982 Chevy k5 Blazer with a
12K pound winch used for extreme 4X4. Which battery is better, The Red of
the Yellow top?. What the best battery I can get which will fit my
application and what is the battery ID# of this battery?
Answer:
Since you have a winch, you would need to use a yellow top deep cycle
battery for your application. Unfortunately, we do not have a battery for
your application. Although, you can measure the dimensions of your
existing stock battery versus that of an Optima battery and see if one
would work for you. Below is the link to our product specs where you can
find the dimensions of Optima Batteries.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publ...ical_specs.html
I dont know if this helps but I just posted it anyways
justwhatido
1/2 ton status
Dual Optima Marine Batteries
I want the screw top terminals and DEEEEEEEEEP draw.
I want the screw top terminals and DEEEEEEEEEP draw.
Hey Joe, if you want to do it right make sure you get a grommet on that hole in the firewall or you're asking for an electrical fire.
afroman006
1/2 ton status
I have only bought one battery in my life, an Optima red top. Since then, its been in 3 seperate vehicles, all my daily drivers. Other than that, I just get my batteries from parts trucks for free. $15 for a battery! Are you crazy? I'm too poor for that kind of splurging! 
no1uknow
1/2 ton status
I'm happy with my optima yellow top. My truck sits for long periods of time and when I go to crank it over it never fails.............
blownout
Registered Member
just use some .
use some ones car to jumpe start the truck its cheeper then buying one thike about it
use some ones car to jumpe start the truck its cheeper then buying one thike about it
4X4HIGH said:Hey Joe, if you want to do it right make sure you get a grommet on that hole in the firewall or you're asking for an electrical fire.
I know....I didn't have time to find a 2" grommet before Blazer Fest, so I just lined the hole with electrical tape. Got any idea where I could find a grommet for a 2" hole?
I am using a battery from autozone.... 1000ca (900cca I think) and am going to get a second one......
question for you people with duals and an isolater... I understand that an isolator will keep them seperate but what if you want to use both?
my Ramsey Patriot 15k is currently 298 miles from me
then when I get it I will be camping at asetique or chinketique (sp?) for the weekend.. so next week I am going to start my dual battery swap and winch install....
I want to be able to use both batteries for the winch..... so just hook it up like a diesel?
I dont care about one only used to start the truck.. that is what my battery jump box is for
question for you people with duals and an isolater... I understand that an isolator will keep them seperate but what if you want to use both?
my Ramsey Patriot 15k is currently 298 miles from me
then when I get it I will be camping at asetique or chinketique (sp?) for the weekend.. so next week I am going to start my dual battery swap and winch install....
I want to be able to use both batteries for the winch..... so just hook it up like a diesel?
I dont care about one only used to start the truck.. that is what my battery jump box is for
Seem to be more Optima's than any thing else. Are they a problem when you only drive the truck on weekends? I have been told that they need to be charged frequently or they have problems.
cbbr said:
If you plan on parking it for a while, disconnect the batteries from each other(dual batteries if this is your plan) and from the truck itself. Kind of a PITA but it helps the life of any battery whether it be optima or something else.
