Battery suggestions ..... on a budget please...

[The patriot]

My truck was cranking real slow this morning. (It's only 20 out right now....)The batteries were in there since 2011, so I guess it's time.
I currently have 2 group 31's shoehorned into the tray and I'd like to stay on that size. I believe they're 950 cca's but if the exterior size is the same I'd prefer the 1150's.
I dont have the $$$ to drop $300 per battery....hell....$150 ea will hurt right now, but I guess it's got to be done.:{
Any suggestions on decent quality for....cheap?

 

[phantomusa]

I like interstate battery's they are affordable

 

[mwilson]

Alliance / Freightliner Batteries. Made by East Penn / Deka. 1000 CCA in the threaded post version, 950 CCA in the lead post version.

Do your parents ever come to Bangor??? We find many batteries turned in as cores are perfectly fine after a 24 hour trickle charge. Would you be interested in a pair of those for like "Free"......Do you need lead post because I don't have so many of those as cores.....

 

[mwilson]

Do you have a Freightliner or Western Star dealer near you??? Not all of them carry the Alliance Branded battery so check first. Another option might be the CAT group 31 batteries, those are East Penn / Deka as well.

 

[mwilson]

Navistar dealers have a deal going on Exide right now, $89.00 each I believe.......not sure of CCA.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks Mike, Theyre kind of snowed in right now. They go there about once a week, but theyre not usually there in the winter and are sticking to home mostly.
I will give it some consideration.
Yea, it needs to be a post type. I dont think there's a decent way to convert them.
There is a dealer who sells F liners locally, I'll check. Not sure on Navastar. Thanks!

 

[B.G. Smith]

Replaced my originals with Walmarts best, satisfied so far. probably 4 years old now, about $100.00 each then. bg

 

[Jim W]

I purchased my batteries from Napa they are now 3 to 4 years old and still working great, reasonable price.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I just replaced my optima batteries. Went to Sams they had been selling for $199 but were closing them out for $144. So I headed where I usually buy them, Interstate wholesale warehouse/distributor but they were closed. Headed to their retail place they were selling for $229 and only had one.
Sunday I brought batteries and starter to Auto Zone to be tested. Starter tested fine, one battery was fully charged the other was low but charge able.. I saw they had optimas for $185. since it was the end of Nov. and the batteries would be 6 years old in Jan I decided to replace them especially at that price. I also bought a relay to replace the starter relay( good price on it.). I got Mule put back together and he is craning fine.

This my 4rth set of optima'.My 1rst set lasted 5 1/2 year my 2nd lasted 6 1/2 yrs. my last set lasted almost 6 years.( and if I had the one charged the last set mite of made it over 6 years.

 

[fest3er]

I bought a pair of Optima red tops years ago for my '98. They lasted 14 years. Might've lasted longer if the alternator had been charging properly. They ain't cheap. If I'd expected my truck to last another 5 years, I might've bought another set. Instead, I bought a pair of Advance Auto's Silver 'budget' batteries. They're doing just fine so far after a year.

Unrelated, the Allied intake heater relays I installed lo those many years ago are *still* behaving like new. They've been in 10-14 years now.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks guys.
The freightliner dealer in town have batteries for $125 ea.
They claim they are 1300 cca's ea. I think she meant 1260@32 degrees. I cant find one @ 1300......
I inquired about a sale, but not there....

Navistar is 1 hour away. I'm calling them today.
I'd love to get the Optima's. I remember there was a guy selling them on ebay cheap a long time ago. Theyre generally $200+ ea now days.
There is a sams club about an hour in the other direction. They have AGM group 31's for $180 ea. I believe theyre Duracells. They have good reviews....

 

[mwilson]

What Dealer??

I can't find any 1300 CCA in Alliance either. The biggest is 1125 CCA. I don't even stock that one, the 1000 CCA I keep is plenty big enough for our cold climate.

Probably you found it already but if not here is the Alliance Battery part number sheet....you need part numbers that end in "XPMF" or "PMF"..."P" equals lead post style.

http://www.alliancetruckparts.com/Parts/Electrical/Batteries

 

[bigceltic]

I went with Autozone Duralast Golds and they have been fine for going on 3 or 4 years now.

 

[GrantP]

I'd love to get the Optima's. I remember there was a guy selling them on ebay cheap a long time ago. Theyre generally $200+ ea now days.

FWIW, summitracing.com sells them for well under $200 and shipping is free.

 

[The patriot]

GrantP The only group 31 Optima I saw in Summit was $250+. There's another that turns up under "group 31 battery" search, but it's 730 CCA's. That one is $157.
Mike, I think she quoted me a 32 degree cranking amp number (and incorrectly at that). That same battery (assuming she meant 1260@32 degrees) is 1125 CCA's at 0 degrees. That's the biggest gr 31 they make.....and I believe as an industry standard.
Yes, I saw that sheet. That's how I came to this conclusion.
Didnt get to call navistar today. It was 71 degrees. The other morning it was below zero.

 

[Regcabguy]

Interstate makes Costco's batteries.
Their price and warranty are hard to beat.
42 month replacement warranty.

 

[GrantP]

Patriot - Here's a link. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ult-9004-003/overview/

 

[The patriot]

Ok, I got batteries.
Exide premium extremes. 925CCA's. $79 each.
Same ones as I replaced.
The last ones didn't last as long as I'd like, but in their defense, I did run them dead one time so......
The ones I replaced were weak. Didn't want to crank @ 40 degrees after the grid cycled once.

 

[SAndreasen]

Exide makes the John Deere batteries but I don't think they are as good as they once were

 

[The patriot]

I installed them 12/12 @128K miles.
4 years and only 13K miles.
Could have....should have been a bit longer. But cheap is cheap.....