Hi all,

So the other day I stopped to gas up my truck. Jumped back in and turned the key...nothing. Turned the key again, it fired up and off I went. The odd thing was the seat belt light (which I've been meaning to reset for a while) reset and the clock was wrong. However, the radio did not ask for a code or loose it's preset channels. I made a mental note to check it out and have the battery tested when I didn't have my family with me.

So yesterday we went out. The truck started fine, we drove about 10 miles to the mall, stopped the truck and it wouldn't lock. Battery was totally dead <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> At that point I remembered that I jumped my neighbor the day before and lent him the jumper cables that I normally keep in the truck...doh!

Anyway, long story short my neighbor brings the cables to me but to no avail. So I splashed out on an Optima red top battery that was almost twice the price of the Advance 3yr 'Titanium' battery.

My question is, did I do the right thing? Are these batteries that good? I went for it because I've heard good things about them. They have the same warranty as the Advance battery, but that's no good to me if I'm stuck by the side of the road. What's your experience with the red tops?

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Yes they are a great battery. Won't spill acid if you are upside down. Deepdraw for lots of power. I don't know how much they help if you have an electrical problem.
Bob

IMHO, and with the research I've done, they're not worth the money. You could spend a little more and get an AGM battery, like what Frank has. The technology in the AGM is far superior to the Orbital/Spiral cell. According to Consumer Reports, the NAPA Legend 75 is the best battery for the money, as far as standard technology batteries go.

Also, there have been alot of people that have reported Optima's having shorter lifespans than they used to. Something about the company getting bought out, can't recall off the top of my head. In my personal experience, the key to keeping an Optima going is a good slow charge every so often, after a long slow discharge. It rejuvenates the cells.... Hope that helps <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I thought you had to actually modify the vehicle charging system to get best results from those.... they dont like the rate of charge provided by the alternator

Never owned one, that's just what I heard

Optima's are an AGM type battery. All of these type batteries will have a short life if charged on a conventional charger. If one uses a charger that specifically says it is for AGM, the lifspan is unhampered.

I have a yellow top in mine.

I put a red top in my Montero about 4 years ago. It cranked the starter better, ran the winch faster and longer, and has never let me down. I have jump started vehicles without turning my truck on. I will get another one or an Exide when this one dies. I am happy with them.

Just try to avoid draining the battery completely. A friend of mine had one in a Sammy with a carb. He stalled on a ledge and drained the battery completely winching off. The battery never held a charge after that.

I guess that's when a deep cycle (yellow top) would be better, right? As I understand it the red tops are starter batteries and don't like being drained like a regular battery.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Put mine in the Raider 3 years ago still running strong. Drained it a few times and had it jumped and took a charge right away. I will replace it with another one when it dies.

I have a Yellow top and have had it for 3 yrs so far. No starting problems and have jumped a dozen or so people off. So far so good <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I use whatever is cheapest at Autozone. I've never gotten less than 3 years out of one, and I jump start vehicles all the time. Now, I do no winching, and I never drive upside down, so in those cases maybe the extra cost of an Optima is justified. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> I usually leave my lights on at least once a month too, and nearly kill the battery. But the drive home seems to charge it up like new. I sure have no reason to spend more than what I do on a battery...yet. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I think a dual battery setup would be cool, even if I never used it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />