i was just wondering if yall think optima batteries are the best way to go. and if so, the red top or which kind. i will be having a winch and 5 lights hooked up to them.

I think they are worth the money.

I just use the std. black top battery.

Some of those guy's with big stereo's is see red and yellow tops.

Check out the website http://www.optimabatteries.com/home.php

there is a spot for off road application on the left tab bar.

Riddler

red top is the standard starting battery.....the yellow top is a deep cycle/starting battery....I would use red tops for replacing the the two under the hood and if it is for a auxiliary battery i think yellow

RB

i use yellow myself, have had no problems. cranks alot faster than the old ones. they were starting to bulge though.

thanks, i thought the red top was better, its was i already replaced one of them under the hood with. now the other one is going bad.

I have one in my boat. Been the best battery I've ever had. Lot's of starting when you are skiing and the reserve power for the stereo is great. Just remember if you have to charge them, they are a "gel" battery not "wet". Some chargers are not made for "gel".

o ok i did not realize bob213, thanks.

i have had two sets of yellow tops i don't know what i have wrong but they seem to go out right after my year is up so i went to oriellys and got there version of the optimas and they have a 3 year full replacement and 86 months prorated

Older optimas seem to be better than the newer ones. I've seen quite a few over the last year that failed. Seems like they are either running into a bad batch, or quality has gone down. (The latter is my opinion)

For your use, you don't need anything real special.

if you going to use the winch a lot then the yellow tops are what you want if you are just going to be using every once and awhile then the red tops will do just fine

ok well i use my winch about 3-5 times a month and one of my batteries is a red top and im about to replace the other. so you think i should get a yellow, or stick to red?

Older optimas seem to be better than the newer ones. I've seen quite a few over the last year that failed. Seems like they are either running into a bad batch, or quality has gone down. (The latter is my opinion)

The original Optima battery manufacturer was purchased by Johnson Controls a few years ago. There's been a noticeable decline in not only the warranty periods for the batteries, but also their dependability. Coincidence...I think not!

I have two yellow tops in mine right now and they work great. I think that a couple of Odyssey batteries would be even better, but for now, I'm very happy.



Gar

A lot of people have used the CAT batteries with great success. That will be my next set of batteries...originals are still going strong in the PHX heat!

ya if you use the winch that much i would get the yellow tops if you are stuck on the optima batteries

I've run a single red top for over a year now in my S10 (sig) and it sees plenty of winching. I recently bought a second one to run a dual setup just in case.

I also just recently replaced both batteries under the d-max hood with red tops.

best brand I've ever worked with IMO.

FIRST OFF YOU SHOULD HAVE REPLACED BOTH BATTERIES AT THE SAME TIME.

second, optimas have lasted me about six months,will not go back!!!!

of Odyssey batteries would be even better, Gar
That's what I run in my Jeep. It sees some pretty hard abuse, lots of winching, lots of vibration and just general abuse, plus I often drive it to work and down the highway.

The Odyssey batteries are awsome. Completely changed how my winch performed. The amount of punch they give last much longer than any other battery I've used. Sure they are pricey, but if it lasts as long as they say it should, it will be cheaper than the Optima in the long run.

ok well i use my winch about 3-5 times a month and one of my batteries is a red top and im about to replace the other. so you think i should get a yellow, or stick to red?

FIRST OFF YOU SHOULD HAVE REPLACED BOTH BATTERIES AT THE SAME TIME.



as irish yankee said replace both batteries together.... and always use the same type all reds all yellow or all Odyssey dont mix

Had a red-top in my 01 gasser that died in about a year as well. Fed up with $125 batteries, I got a wal mart special for $59 and to my knowledge is still in that truck 5 years later.

I've got 2 wal mart specials in my 06 also. Tells you what I think of Optimas.

well guess i have been lucky... I have a red top that i had in my 03 gasser and took it out in 05 has been in the tool box of my trailer since then .. I use it to jump toys and run my air compressor I charge it when I think of it and have had no problems yet.....I also run a yellow top in my UTV it is sill new so i guess we will see how it does..

thanks for all the suggestions, guess im going to spend so more money

I've got 17 Optima batteries bought over the last 6 years in various pieces of equipment. Have yet to have one fail.

Put an Odyssey battery in our new pulling tractor and I am very unimpressed. Even bought their high dollar charger for it. Doesn't have near the deep cycle capability it was bragged up to have.

Best batteries I have ever purchased.

Two red tops in the truck. Red is a quicker recovery with higher amps needed for truck starting but any of them will work. Have had them for over 3 years.

Have 2 deep cell blue tops in the trailer. Perfect for running everything on the trailer and has a larger recharge life then the red tops. I have completely drained these batteries atleast a dozen times, had charging issues (I'm not very bright), and they have recharged each time with no issues. Have had them in the trailer for over 2 years. I went through 6 regular marine batteries in 2 years before I purchased the optimas. I would never go back.

If you're running a winch and off-road lights then the yellow top optima is the one you want. Although it does have lower CCA's (Cold Cranking Amps), it's not going to cause any problems.

I joined the optima club last fall. I happened to get one that was bad and it would drain the other battery. Since it has a 3 yr warranty on the Red Tops it was replaced at no charge. Ever since then I think they are great. 800 CCA works well in the -30 deg temps.

I think Yellow tops only have a 1 yr warranty though.

They just came out with a blue top starter battery so Im running [2] blue tops, 1 starter and 1 deep cycle.. Both have the same cranking amps as the best red or yellow top..

Older optimas seem to be better than the newer ones. I've seen quite a few over the last year that failed. Seems like they are either running into a bad batch, or quality has gone down. (The latter is my opinion)

For your use, you don't need anything real special.

The original Optima battery manufacturer was purchased by Johnson Controls a few years ago. There's been a noticeable decline in not only the warranty periods for the batteries, but also their dependability. Coincidence...I think not!
Back in May of '06, I bought a Optima for my '99 Monte Carlo, thinking they were the best battery out there. One week ago, Sunday morn, the battery went dead. Temp was in the low 20's, as it has been cold all winter. I fixed my other car, 89 Buick, also with batt. problems, took my Optima to Pep Boys where I got the battery new, gave him the receipt, he put the battery on a machine, an it responded with a "Bad Battery". He then gave me a new one, and I asked him about the Optima's, and he responded with a "Do you want the truth, and I was sort of surprised with such a question, and I said yes, and he replied, "They are junk". He said they will get a load of them within a month or so. He said maybe the cold weather we have around Cincinnati, Ohio must have a effect on the Gel in the batteries. Maybe freezing the gel and it does not recover.The battery was 2 1/2 yrs. old. But I did get a new one that carries on with the old warranty of my old battery. I also have two Optima's in my truck that I put in last October. I want the Optima's batteries to do a good job, but I will have to see what happens now. Just my story, hope it has a good ending...

I could be wrong but I think napa's premium battery is made by odyssey. Mine oems are about toast not sure what I'm gonna get though.

I could be wrong but I think napa's premium battery is made by odyssey. Mine oems are about toast not sure what I'm gonna get though.

DieHard Platinum P-4 is made by Odyssey. They are cheaper than the Odyssey label and have a better warrenty. I wish I knew this when I bought my Odyssey's

After the experience I had with Optima batteries :thumbsdow I will not be purchasing another one for anything that I own. Best of luck to those of you purchasing them but I will not be recommending them to anyone!

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2989835&postcount=6

Has anyone with the 2007.5+ found a good alternative to standard wet cells?

Well I had bought a yellow top optima battery to power my 6 PIAA 520 series lights, and that battery died after about 6 months of constant use. I then went back and bought a second yellow top optima, and that one lasted about a year! I wasted $400 of my money in a year and a half, they won't get any more of my business again either! I am using the Wal-Mart special now too, and this is the 3rd season for it. OPTIMA SUCKS A$$:mad:

I've had the same yellow top in my boat for about 7 years now, and one in my 69 Camaro for 6 years - both get near complete discharge every year from sitting through the winter and both are still working perfectly. You won't find many batteries that do that. The Reds are not as good as the yellow tops for recovering from discharge - yellows can be run dead and come back fine with a charge - Reds don't.