Any particular brand battery best these days?

[Ranger16]

I've bought from everyone listed and they were always wet....no-one ever added acid to them at purchase... So they are effectively on the clock... Years ago you could find replacement acid to freshen them up but I haven't seen that in years.
I do know they make it as our old SEPSS systems at Motorola housed 300+ wet cell batteries for our UPS Data Centers... Guys were always out replacing the acid...

I have bought batteries and been given acid to add along with it, but that was many, many moons ago.

 

[Mike67]

Ya that's a thing of the past, industrial applications excluded..but they are going to agm...

 

[Lelo 500]

Didn't read though the thread but the NAPA batteries have been recommended to me a lot.

 

[oldbee]

Thanks Biomedtechguy & Oldbee for the reply, I may need to get another maintainer for the Optima battery. The charger I have now doesn't have an AGM setting.

I’m probably wrong, but a maintainer/trickle charger shouldn’t change for an agm? The chargers we used were the big 150-200(?) amp chargers. Typically putting out 15+volts when at full charge.

 

[YY1]

I've had REAL good luck with combo deep cycle/starting RV batteries by Exide lately.

If you have a Rural King, they have loosely store branded batteries made by them, and they're VERY cost effective.

The first Exide branded one I bought for the Satellite is still going after more than 5 years and got moved from part time to full time service in the Dakota about a year ago.

Prior to that I had good luck with Interstate, but the last two didn't last the warranty period and the last one only lasted 2 years.

 

[SublimeSixpack]

A couple days ago I mentioned that I've had good results with the Mopar Group 27 #BB027750AA battery. One member didn't think this battery would be enough for a big block (if I understood him correctly). I said I'd make some calls and get the low-down so to speak.
So this morning I called the two dealerships I've bought that particular battery from and asked if it was indeed the Mopar battery recommended for my big block cars? Their reply was yes, it's the most powerful Group 27 battery we carry.
And the one guy (Parts Manager) knows the older Mopars very well and actually said that back in the day the 440 powered cars came with a battery that was at 400 cca.
Frankly, it doesn't matter to me where people buy their batteries or for that matter what battery they buy. My intention was to be helpful.
I'm not sure why batteries seem to last so long for me. But the 12 year period mentioned by me is true.
For example: The battery in my (bought new) 2005 Dakota was still going strong in early 2017, I replaced it just to be safe. The old battery is in the shop and still holding a charge.
The battery in my run-in stand is the Mopar Group 27 battery #BA027750EX (EX= made by Exide), dated Jul. 05. I ran this battery in my Super Bee with 440 engine for several years before putting it in the run-stand. It's still going strong and I use it fairly often.
I replaced the the 12 year old battery in my Charger R/T about three months ago because one day it gave up the ghost.
The Mopar 027750 batteries have performed very well for me in my 440 cars.
Even the AC Delco battery in my '79 Trans Am is 10 years old now and still cranks it's 403 just fine.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I’m probably wrong, but a maintainer/trickle charger shouldn’t change for an agm? The chargers we used were the big 150-200(?) amp chargers. Typically putting out 15+volts when at full charge.

When you spend the kind of money an AGM battery costs, it's best to get a charger (of ANY variety) that has an AGM setting!
I've mentioned the desulfating phase of non-AGM chargers several times in this thread. Not worth the risk of damaging a $200 battery!

 

[YY1]

Be aware that walmart batty warranties don't carry over to the exchange.

You get the time of the original warranty period.

If it fails on day 300 of 365, the replacement is only warranted for those 65 days remaining on the original warranty.

I've had a few and found that the 5 years ones tend to only last 3 years and the 3 year ones tend to last only 1 year.

They must be doing their math to figure they can afford to give you two or three batteries for the price of one and still make money if they truncate the warranty like that.

 

[Fran Blacker]

A couple days ago I mentioned that I've had good results with the Mopar Group 27 #BB027750AA battery. One member didn't think this battery would be enough for a big block (if I understood him correctly). I said I'd make some calls and get the low-down so to speak.
So this morning I called the two dealerships I've bought that particular battery from and asked if it was indeed the Mopar battery recommended for my big block cars? Their reply was yes, it's the most powerful Group 27 battery we carry.
And the one guy (Parts Manager) knows the older Mopars very well and actually said that back in the day the 440 powered cars came with a battery that was at 400 cca.
Frankly, it doesn't matter to me where people buy their batteries or for that matter what battery they buy. My intention was to be helpful.
I'm not sure why batteries seem to last so long for me. But the 12 year period mentioned by me is true.
For example: The battery in my (bought new) 2005 Dakota was still going strong in early 2017, I replaced it just to be safe. The old battery is in the shop and still holding a charge.
The battery in my run-in stand is the Mopar Group 27 battery #BA027750EX (EX= made by Exide), dated Jul. 05. I ran this battery in my Super Bee with 440 engine for several years before putting it in the run-stand. It's still going strong and I use it fairly often.
I replaced the the 12 year old battery in my Charger R/T about three months ago because one day it gave up the ghost.
The Mopar 027750 batteries have performed very well for me in my 440 cars.
Even the AC Delco battery in my '79 Trans Am is 10 years old now and still cranks it's 403 just fine.

Had a battery in my Lincoln Towncar 13 years. The only reason I changed it had doors open and radio running 4 hours while I cleaned inside. Battery wouldn't start the car and I was going to NYC next day, didn't want to get stuck.

 

[SublimeSixpack]

Had a battery in my Lincoln Towncar 13 years. The only reason I changed it had doors open and radio running 4 hours while I cleaned inside. Battery wouldn't start the car and I was going to NYC next day, didn't want to get stuck.

Smart move! 13 yrs. is really pushing it.

 

[ykf7b0]

Be aware that walmart batty warranties don't carry over to the exchange.

You get the time of the original warranty period.

If it fails on day 300 of 365, the replacement is only warranted for those 65 days remaining on the original warranty.

I've had a few and found that the 5 years ones tend to only last 3 years and the 3 year ones tend to last only 1 year.

They must be doing their math to figure they can afford to give you two or three batteries for the price of one and still make money if they truncate the warranty like that.

Oreilly's prorates their batteries too. I'm not sure of the other chain stores.

 

[mopwrd340]

I have bought a couple of the yellow maxi start walmart batteries and they still spin the engine over fast and were over 7 yrs old , I just bought one for my caravan It has a better replacement warranty than advanced or auto zone and about 50 dollars cheaper .

I forgot the cheaper walmart batteries don't have a very good warranty .

 

[YY1]

I thought a "pro-rate" was when you only got credit for the amount of value still left- IE you return a defective 5 year battery after 2 years, and they sell you a new one for 3/5 of the price, but you still get a 5 year warranty on the new one.

 

[Dan]

Interstate batteries at Costco. Just bought 2 for my diesel pickup for $178. O'rielys wanted $180 plus for 1.

 

[YY1]

The last Rural King/Exide 650 cca deep cycle/hybrid I bought was $55 with a $15 rebate, making it $40.

 

[not so famous bob]

The last Rural King/Exide 650 cca deep cycle/hybrid I bought was $55 with a $15 rebate, making it $40.

o reilies and Walmart neither one have good waranties any more around here .

 

[toolmanmike]

I was desperate on a Sunday when I had my tool truck and bought a couple Wal Mart "Never Start" batteries. I thought if I ever needed warranty a Wal Mart is always around. What a piece of garbage those were. One lasted just 6 months and the other shorted within a year and boiled the acid out. They didn't want to warranty it because it was almost empty. "You should have pried the caps off and filled it up" said the clerk. I pointed at the "Maintenance Free" sticker on the case and it was case closed. I replaced them with Interstate's and got years of trouble free service from them.

 

[WileE]

I was desperate on a Sunday when I had my tool truck and bought a couple Wal Mart "Never Start" batteries. I thought if I ever needed warranty a Wal Mart is always around. What a piece of garbage those were. One lasted just 6 months and the other shorted within a year and boiled the acid out. They didn't want to warranty it because it was almost empty. "You should have pried the caps off and filled it up" said the clerk. I pointed at the "Maintenance Free" sticker on the case and it was case closed. I replaced them with Interstate's and got years of trouble free service from them.

Can't buy the cheap value line batteries. I did so on my wife's car & it crapped before 2 years, but they gave me full credit, so I got the maxx line. Those are Johnson control batteries.

 

[Budnicks]

optima
got one going for over 11 years worth every penny

Yeah Optima is a great battery ! A little more money and if you want to use a charger you need one that is for that type type battery .

Optima: Red top in the GTO, Yellow top (because the color matches, otherwise would have got Red top) in the Lemon Twist Roadrunner, Blue deep cycle for the travel trailer, Blue deep cycle for the car trailer electronic jack. That's almost $1,000 between the 4 of them and ZERO regrets, they're GREAT! I'm going to get 2 more for my bass boat, one cranking and one blue top for the trolling motor. Wal-Mart better grade starting/charger with AGM setting. AGM setting is a MUST! Also have lithium batteries by Shori in the 2 HD V-6rods, with their own Shori chargers/maintainers.

I agree with all the above

from this point on it's the only battery I will use...

the battery in my Dakota SLT 4x4 is an Optima Red top,
newish, like 2 years

I had one that was in my Yamaha Gas Golf cart for 14 years
& a couple years in my Dakota too, it finally died
I sold the golf cart & took the battery out, put it in my truck
took the battery out of the Dakota put it in the RR trunk

I just a couple years back, bought another 2 Optima's
for Ford f-350 7.3 Powerstroke Diesel Dually too
that thing eats batteries, so far so good

My RR has the org. "warranty replacement" battery that was in my 99 Dakota
from 2002-ish {?} so far so good, it doesn't hold a charge as well,
but it's not driven enough mostly, ran pretty much every weekend...
But when it does go bad, I'll buy another Optima too...
I'm sold on them...

I've used a regular wet cell lead acid charger on Optima battery
in the past too,
only on 2 amp trickle/maintain,
I haven't noticed any early failures or any noticeable damage...
I know Optima doesn't recommend it !!
& I wouldn't recommend it for a long term charge option,
BUT so far on 2 amp trickle, it hadn't done anything I noticed "yet"...
But; I also own an Optima AGM smart charger now
it was like $159 from Summit Racing a couple years ago...

From what I understand the std charger it won't bring back
an AGM low battery to full charge, like the AGM specific charger will,
but after driving for a while it was back to full charge anyway...

My dad bought an maintenance free Interstate Battery for the boat,
"long story" I won't go into,
for an old 1977 Glasspar tri-hull bow rider & a 90hp Merc Outboard
it's a deep-cycle group 24 {?} too, it didn't last maybe 2-1/2 years,
even on a battery tender...
I use to love Interstate Batteries,
BUT IMO they aren't what they use to be...

Some of my stuff, just doesn't get driven/used enough...

I've used a few Optima's usually dual batteries
in my many racecars too, I like there's no acid, no spills
& you can mount them almost anywhere...
I even used the std. charger always between rounds,
they seemed to do just fine...

For me it's not about price as much as how long it lasts
& how well it performs, I find something that works & I stick with it...
Loyal like a good dog...

My $1.25 worth

 

[biomedtechguy]

Loyal like a good dog..