4:13 pm
April 9, 2015
Offline
I guess it's time for a new battery as the truck would not start after I drove it to my other driveway and shut down for about an hour. It's the original battery 6 years old. Any suggestions as to what batteries are good and what to avoid?
5:31 pm
Club Trailmaster
March 13, 2015
Offline Since you don't have a winch yet and you don't strike me as a teenager who spent more money on the stereo than the truck you are safe with any generic battery. If you go generic then be sure to get one with a decent warranty and keep the paperwork. I use kirkland in my diesel since their warranty is pretty hassle free to deal with and i have to buy 2 batteries for it.
If you want to step up a bit then you start getting into the AGM market. AGM or Absorbed Glass Mat batteries are different from typical wet cell batteries that you dont need to worry about filling them up with water and can be mounted pretty much any angle. Optima used to be the king of the hill in this market but after 7+ years on one red top I only got 3 out of the next yellow top. Internet rumors indicate that Optima was bought out and production was moved to mexico where the quality of lead has suffered. Odyssey is the new player in AGM town and is now arguably as popular as Optima.
Since Optima and Odyssey batteries are pricey I ended up going with the Sears Die Hard Platinum 34M in the Jeep. Which is simply a rebranded deep-cycle marine Odyssey for a nice discount with the benefit of having extra wing nut terminals. 2.5 yrs so far with no issues, BUT, I haven't done any long winch pulls on this battery which take their toll quickly.
7:10 pm
April 9, 2015
Offline I think I am leaning towards an AGM battery. So far, I like the Odyssey and have heard the Sears Die Hard Platinum P-2 is, in fact, a rebranded Odyssey. My research shows the Odyssey group 65 is $260 and the Sears is $250. Not much difference. Since I do plan to add a winch, hopefully within the new battery's lifespan, I want to get a battery that will be up to the task. I don't want to spend a lot , but I will if I need to, to get what I really need. Thanks for your input Kris. Anyone else with experience to share?
7:42 pm
Club Member
January 20, 2009
Offline I've been happy with my Odyssey so far. They didn't have the DieHard Platinum for my Jeep. Could be the reversed poles.
8:38 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline Either get something from Sam's or Costco for the warranty, or buy a premium battery like a yellow top.
Sam's allows unlimited returns for the full warranty period, not pro rated.
8:43 pm
December 13, 2015
Offline BKGM Jeepers said
Either get something from Sam's or Costco for the warranty, or buy a premium battery like a yellow top.
Sam's allows unlimited returns for the full warranty period, not pro rated.
this is good info for the future for me!
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Its a Gee(p) thing
8:46 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline davesjk said
BKGM Jeepers said
Either get something from Sam's or Costco for the warranty, or buy a premium battery like a yellow top.
Sam's allows unlimited returns for the full warranty period, not pro rated.
this is good info for the future for me!
Let me add on. Costco Allows returns too but they require a receipt. Sam's does not require a receipt for an exchange.
I only buy yellow tops. They are pricy but offer a lifetime free replacement through either Marc or 4 wheel parts. I pay for that piece of mind.
10:08 pm
Club Member
February 26, 2014
Offline I also have a yellow top and have never had an issue with it the last 4 years. And the piece of mind the warranty give you is priceless
10:10 pm
April 23, 2012
Offline 
I hit 7 years on my red top with some good winch use and for about the last 2 years of its life it was running the charging system for my 24 volt set (it was just an alternator controller but still put a load on the battery). I could also tell when it was failing by both the volt meter and how the vehicle started. It ran like that for about a month so I already had the new battery ready, it didn't just all of a sudden stop working. I just replaced it with a yellow top
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