Optima Batteries

[Dave Remillard]

Any of you have them. Are they worth the extra $$$? What sold you on them? Thanks

 

[ImagesThatSing]

Originally posted by Six. Shooter

Any of you have them. Are they worth the extra $$$? What sold you on them? Thanks

I put them in my 99 after the factory batteries went the way of the dinasaur, because I play music through my laptop a lot in the mountains using the truck batteries. They performed very well. I bought them because of the fleet guys indicating that these were the replacement battery to get, (noted repeatedly on this site).

Then I traded for the new truck, and wanted to trade the batteries (put the Optima batteries in My 03, and the new 03 batteries in my trade) but the sizes wouldn't work, so that sort of bumbed me out.



I will buy them again when these stock batteries wane.

 

[Tom W]

Check out Sam's Club. They sell the Champion XLT, which is spiral wound construction like the Optima and the specs, warranty, and price ( $99. 00 ) are better. Mine work great.



Tom

 

[Bob Wagner]

Costco also sells the red tops for $99

 

[jrobinson2]

My father in law found out the hard way that the main wiring harness runs under one of the battery hold down bolts, when he installed his Optimas he screwed one bolt through the harness under the battery tray and caused a bunch of electrical problems.

Jared

 

[Whitmore]

I have 2 Optimas in my ride and I will never use anything but now, all I had to do was shorten the holdown bolts a bit as the Optimas are not near as tall.



Cheers, Kevin

 

[Whitmore]

here is a pic of one of them



#ad

 

[illflem]

At last count I've installed over thirty Red Tops in various vehicles and equipment I maintain. A couple are still going after nine years, none have failed

What sold me on them is reliability and no corrosion, the extra money sure beats wire brushing a battery terminal at 20 below zero.

I've also seen my fair share of damaged cruise control actuators and ruined inter fender paint jobs from leaking acid on CTDs with conventional batteries, many times unknown to the owner till it's too late...

 

[Thomas]

"What sold you on them?" They don't leak!

 

[TomGolden]

How about Oddessey batteries?

How about Oddessy batteries? I just read an article in the latest Petersens 4 Wheel magazine about 24 volt winches, and their setup used 2 dedicated Oddessey batteries for the winch. They sound like pretty powerful batteries. Of course they may be traditional lead-acid type that leak... .



Tom

 

[jrollins]

i posted this same question about a year ago, and i decided to go with the high end wal-mart wet cell batteries, i do like some of the optima features but the price is the killer, i paid $50 a piece for the biggest and best battery at wal-mart which comes with either a 5 or 7 year warranty and have had no problems, yes they might not last as long but there are wal-marts nation wide so if i am away from home warranty service will be easy. but to answer your question, yes the optima's are great but for the price you can get 2 wet cells for the price of 1 dry cell. now if you are a avid 4x4er then the dry cell would be worth the extra change for sure

 

[OTRPU]

My thinking exactly. . . Wallys best. Save the paperwork, if they die they'll replace for free, and later into the warranty they prorate. Batteries are like filters to me. . . disposable. What I think would help me out is a hemungus alternator. I run all day with several extra lectric thingies plugged into to either inverters or 12v. Both my Furd and the Ram eat alternators. So much so that I carried a spare for the Furd. Looking for a better answer for the Ram.



Be Safe,

Steve J.



#ad

 

[jjohannessen]

Wal-Mart Batteries here also. Been in a year and no problems as of yet

 

[Matt42]

Heat Kills Batteries

Here in balmy Phoenix, regular wet-cell (the kind you can add water to) batteries last 18 to 24 months. Sealed wet cells evaporate and won't last as long as that. When a battery dies here, it normally does so with no warning. It's OK at lunchtime, and then a half hour later, dead and can't be charged. When that happens 25 miles from pavement in July at 119F, the back country tow cost is breathtaking.



Yeah, I can get a pro-rata wet cell battery for $25. But when that happens I've had to change all my plans for the day, or maybe pay someone several hundred dollars to extricate my truck.



The OEM batteries on my `96 lasted 16 months. I replaced them with red top Optimas. Last year, before two round trips St. Louis, I replaced the Optimas thinking that maybe there was a chance they might possibly be potentially weak, maybe. (Silly me. ) I put them on my travel trailer 's tongue and began using them as deep cycle batteries. The old Optima red tops, which are not deep cycle batteries, are in perfect working order, and in used condition have held up better than any new wet cell deep cycle battery I've ever had on the trailer.



Since I went to Optima, I have not had a battery failure in six years. It's worth the extra money to me. I make up for the extra cost by eating ramen noodles instead of regular food.

 

[Camara]

What sold me was they don't leak. Also after being in the truck for almost 2 years the terminals are still clean.

 

[nickleinonen]

how long do these optima gel cell batteries last?



when i get my 04 HD, i will like to relocate batteries to under the truck [probably outside passenger side frame] i like the gel cell idea cause i don't have to check water level on them, but the price is too high [at least in canada red $179 yellow & blue $210]

 

[Thomas]

The Optima batteries are not gel cells.



Take a look at the Optima website.

 

[Dave Remillard]

Thanks for all the replies. I think for me the Optima is the way to go. The battery in my Jeep died without warning, got a jump from the dentist I had just had an appointment with. When removing the jumper cable he flashes them together and takes out my stereo. Many $$$ later I've got tunes again and I still need the battery. I run a winch off this vehicle so the Optima would probably be a better choice for that also. Thanks again for the replies.

 

[illflem]

The Optima batteries are not gel cells.

Optima's Spiralcell technology is better than a gell cell.





What is a Gel Cell Battery?

A gel battery design is typically a modification of the standard lead acid automotive or marine battery. A gelling agent is added to the electrolyte to reduce movement inside the battery case. Many gel batteries also use one way valves in place of open vents, this helps the normal internal gasses to recombine back into water in the battery, reducing gassing.



How does a Gel Cell compare to Optima's deep cycle?

Most gel batteries have a much higher internal resistance, meaning they will not be able to deliver and receive current as efficiently. This is especially apparent at higher amperage levels. For example, most gel batteries will not work successfully in engine starting applications.

 

[crabman]

Pay The Price Once!

YELL & SCREAM ABOUT THE PRICE!!:-{}

Then forget it!!!!