Calling all OPTIMA battery owners

[craftybigdog]

Hey guys I just had enough with the stock batteries and went out and bought 2 red tops do you guys like yours I just put them in alot smaller I hope they do the job and last along time thanks guys!:--)

 

[work2muchplay2little]

They're great! Worth the money. I've had them in different vehicles for years. The only truly "maintenance free" battery out there that I'm aware of.

 

[Justbeamn]

Once you have them you'll never go to anything else. I love mine.

 

[MikeBeggy]

Ditto on the red tops. I've had them in my truck and Airstream for years. They last much longer when dry-camping and seem to have the ability to recover following long periods of use.

 

[JGK]

Yep! Good, strong batteries. Only had them about a year, but I'm sure they'll hold up a long time. Mine are Interstate - same thing now.



I put a piece of 1X8 under each of mine to make it work with the stock hold-down clamp.



-Jay

 

[radar doctor]

OPTIMA BATTERIES

I just added two Blue tops in my Boat for the Trolling Motor and Plan to Buy 2 RED TOPS for the TRUCK, I gave 340. 00 and would like to find a better price. . Anybody know where to get a good price???

 

[Chipstien]

Don't flame Me

I had 1 red top that I used in a boat. I know, should have bought a blue top for marine purposes but the red was considerably cheaper. Anyway the thing didn't last 7 months. I have ran regular auto batteries in boats all the time and get 3 years out of them. Not saying it was Optima's fault, just haven't seen a reason to spend that much more for those batts. Curious though, has anyone tried the other manufacturers that produce gell cells. Ie. Exide, Interstate etc. Oh wait doesn't interstate own Optima? Anyway, I think I will stick to the Group 27's.

 

[jsimpson]

I bought three Red Tops at the Dania Marine Flea Market from the Optima dealer for $40 each. One is still in my 78 Vette after two years. The other two died when they got overcharged in my camper. They do NOT take well to overcharging. The dealer offered no help at all, other than to test them to see if they are good, but hey; what can you expect from a $40 battery?

 

[BV]

Optima

8 years and counting on the RED TOP that is in the boat as a starting battery for an 90hp outboard. The boat doesn't have any fancy electronics or trolling motor but if they did I would go with a BLUE or YELLOW top Optima.



Shop around and you will find a descent price. We have a few auto supply stores here that put the Reds on sale once in awhile for less than $100

 

[TMorris]

I had a yellow top in my old 98 s-10 zr2 truck. I didnt have any problems with it in the year or so i had it in.



I have dual optima yellow top batteries in my 97 jeep wrangler, and again, i havent had any problems with them.



I have found the best prices on the optimas at a local Farm & Fleet/CostCo. Last time i checked the red tops were going for $100, and the yellow tops were around $130.



I bought the yellow tops for $150 each online with free shipping. I didnt know that the local Farm & Fleet sold them, otherwise i would have bought them there. But with tax, it would have probably been a wash.



Tim

 

[WyoJim]

craftybigdog... . Am I missing something with my batteries. They are 4 years old and seem to work fine. On my previous truck the OEM's were still in when I traded it at 6 years.



Just what were your batteries doing or not doing to get you so down on them. Maybe I should get rid of mine. Dam if I know. I need help? What should I look for?

 

[Koa Man]

Costco here sells the Redtops for $99. Is it OK to use marine batteries in a vehicle? Costco here only sells marine batteries in group 27 size.

 

[HVAC]

Red Tops

I have used a single Red Top in my race truck for several years.



First thing I bought for my recently acquired dually was a set of Red Tops.

 

[Crash_AF]

I have a Red Top in my 89 Comanche off road toy that's five years old and I have beat the pi$$ out of it. I melted the negative side post off of it while winching , completely discharged it repeatedly and it's been subject to HEAVY offroad use/abuse. The only problem I have with it is that if I don't start the truck for a week, the battery goes dead. Other than that, it's still as good as when I bought it.



Later,

Joe

 

[jsimpson]

WyoJim, you're doing everything right. You're operating in a cool climate and heat is the enemy of batteries!

 

[Cobra]

batteries

Hey guys

Am I living in the dark ages or what. What in the world are you all talking about. Red tops yellow tops blue tops. What.



TMorris

Why do you have two batteries in a 97 Jeep wrangler?????



Help me out here.

 

[BCFAST]

BE CAREFUL!!!

I found out the hard way about putting in "smaller" batteries... the Optimas are shorter than the stockers. I used the factory hold-down clamps and tightened them down. What I didnt know was, on the drivers side, I ran the long bolt/rod down into the wiring harness on the frame rail (because it now goes down farther!) and after a couple thousand miles, it shorted out the cruise control, the horn and something else, I cant remember... . I couldnt find the problem but a shop did by load testing all over till they narrowed it down. Be careful of what you cant see!

 

[weatherbyman]

Hey Cobra

Optima batteries are a high capacity battery designed with spiral cells that actually absorb all of the liquid electrolyte when they are built. They can be mounted in any direction (even Upside-down) and are 100% maintenance free. The Red top is for Automobile Starting and the Yellow top is a "Deep Cycle" style for winch and accessory use. The Blue top is for marine/RV applications that come in two styles... . starting and "Deep Cycle". I have two Red Tops in my Jeep..... one for starting and one for the accessories such as Winch, Off-Road Lights and Stereo. They are wired with an isolator so that they both get charged and the starting doesn't get drained while winching in the dark. I have a "Deep Cycle" Blue Top in my camper, and a Blue Top Marine Starting in the boat since I don't have any accessories.



Awesome Batteries, but you have to look around for the best deal.

 

[Matt42]

Here in the Phoenix area, regular ol' lead-acid batteries last 18 to 24 months, on average. It doesn't matter if you buy a "36 month" battery or a "72 month" battery. Two years will be all you get. Then they fail with no warning at all. The factory batteries on my 1996 lasted precisely 18 months. I replaced them with red top Optimas, which now have just over four years on them.

 

[TMorris]

Cobra,



I put dual batteries on my jeep because i want the extra juice to power my winch, hella aux. lights, cb, york air compressor, etc... Two batteries are better than one.



Tim