New Batteries

[BoeingDiesel]

It’s time to replace the batteries and I want to stay with AGM. Reading reviews on Optima, Odyssey, Interstate etc. seems like a flip of the coin with so many positive and negative reviews.

Any thoughts or recommendations are greatly appreciated.

 

[TFucili]

I am a Deka fan. I have sold them, and I use them. Our warranty rate was pretty much zip.

 

[Timd32]

I went Optima yellow tops, got the dual posts, just to figure out my brand new OEM hold downs hit the side posts, so that was a waste unless I make new hold downs.

I have new battery cables like the ones Genos carries but I went direct to that vendor they use, which was more $, and sprung for the Military posts which work great.

I was going to run the plow and stuff off the side posts, but the MIL posts took care of that easily. I just kept the little plastic plugs in the batteries.

 

[BigPapa]

I’ll second the Deka’s. I, too, have used and sold them for years.

-Scott

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Never heard of the Deka brand...is it a decent power source with some longevity?

 

[TFucili]

East Penn/Deka has been around for ages. Made in PA. They make CAT's batteries, and Freightliner, I think. Top shelf IMHO.

 

[Timd32]

East Penn / Deka also made the Duracell at Sams Club when I replaced mine in '17.

They have some really nice local delivery trucks. The plant is not far from where I live, it is an excellent battery.

I had a good discount on the yellow tops with my business account (made in mexico) I checked eariler the vendor I used seems to have gotten out of car batteries alltogether. www.Atbatt.com. They got 2 factory fresh units for me, took about 2 weeks for them to do that, I wanted the matched set for mfg date. The local advanced auto carrried the yellow and red tops, but the date codes could not find a matched fresh set.

Again I was going for a special purpose with those dual posts and the yellow tops worked great for that, but the Sams Club Duracell, if still made by East Penn was a close 2nd. It came down to a few $ in my case back then.

I would just check with what ever you go with on those date codes and try to do a matched set if able. I opted to wait a few weeks for that. I dont know if it super matters but from what I was seeing at my local.stores they moved very little product these things were 6 to 7 months apart.

 

[ofelas]

I've had great luck with Odyssey, compared to recent Optimas, Deka & Northstar.

 

[NIsaacs]

Lots of good info here: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/posts/2574045/

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Thanks all...I think I'll give Deka a try.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I have good luck with optimas ! I have gotten 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 years out of them. No problem fitting in my 96. Autozone has good price on them. ( used to buy from wholesale company).

 

[Cummins12V98]

Had Optimas Red Top, they SUCKED and did not make two years. Returned to Costco for a full refund.

Have had good luck with whatever Costco sells in the regular battery line.

 

[GAmes]

I have Optimas in both of my pickups, the boat and the RV, for a total of 8. I've never had to replace one that was less than 5 years old.

 

[GrantP]

I have Optimas in both of my pickups, the boat and the RV, for a total of 8. I've never had to replace one that was less than 5 years old.

Same here.

 

[Joe Mc]

Looks like I'm the odd ball here. I've used MAXXStart from wallymart after the originals gave out. I've gotten 6 years out of each set of the MAXXStarts. The factory ones did last about the same. My $0.02.

 

[BillBaker]

I just had a pair of Duralast golds last almost 8 years. Just replaced with the same.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

From what I've been told Deka makes Napa batteries and decided to go with the Legend AGM...$ 385 out the door. I might go with the Odyssey or Optima on the newer trucks but I think this will be satisfactory for the Ol' girl that that isn't driven everyday.
The next thing coming up is marine batteries...that's going to cost me some serious dinero.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

I have Optimas in both of my pickups, the boat and the RV, for a total of 8. I've never had to replace one that was less than 5 years old.

GAmes, I see "boat" in your comment...is that a fresh or saltwater craft? As I commented in the previous post marine batteries are in the near future.

 

[dblake]

I’m on my second set of these(since 2001). Had to modify my hold downs to get them to fit. I love them.
https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/yellowtop-deep-cycle-battery/d31a

 

[GAmes]

GAmes, I see "boat" in your comment...is that a fresh or saltwater craft? As I commented in the previous post marine batteries are in the near future.

Freshwater bass boat. Two batteries for the trolling motor and one for the engine and electronics (two Humminbird Helix graphs) , live well pumps and bilge pumps if needed. All of them D31M blue tops. Never had one go dead during a day of fishing, even on windy days.