i have been running a variation of an optima since the early 90s...

back then, they were the unknown in the car audio world...

I'm a big fan of the Odyssey batteries. The one I had in my '86 is now in my '97 4runner and still works great. It gets plenty of abuse from getting drained too far when it sits too long and from winching, but I haven't killed it yet. I was always going to install a second one like Roger's setup, but this single one works well enough that I have never gotten around to it...

When I bought it, Batteryweb.com seemed to have the best prices with shipping and it arrived quickly.
http://www.batteryweb.com/odyssey-list-auto.htm


I had an Orbital in my old 4runner for a while. It didn't last very long (just over a year?). I warrantied it and then sold the new one.

I had an old red top Optima in my T100 that lasted about 8 years. It has a newer one in it now, but I haven't heard many good things about the newer ones. The new one is working fine so far for the last couple of years, but it doesn't get abused.

I hate messy old liquid lead acid batteries. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />
ALL my vehicles batteries get replaced with AGM type or similar!

That's the one I have, and no, the terminals are not extra.

Erik, how did you mount yours? I think the PC1200LMJT is smaller than the one I have in there right now, which is a Series 25, I think, more like the size of the PC1400. in fact, I just looked it up. they list the Group 25 as "optional".

I ordered a pair last week from TNR Batteries out of Florida, one for my truck and for my car. I just wanted to say, this was one of the absolute BEST vendor experiences I've ever had. Wayne is the owner, I think. He was very responsive, his prices are good, offers instant rebates, AND free shipping. Not only was the shipping free, but it was FAST, too. I ordered late on a Wednesday, and my batteries arrived by FEDEX on Saturday afternoon. Nice surprise.

I don't exactly remember how I did it in the '86, but IIRC it was pretty similar to how I did it in my '97, which there is a picture of at the bottom of this post:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10167760&postcount=448

Just made a bracket that fit the top (it fits into the notches in the battery), bolted one end to the core support and used a generic J-bolt from the parts store on the other end.

ah, another fabricatorizer
you guys blow me away with the stuff you come up with.
weld? ha, I can hardly solder!

Just pick yourself up a 110v mig and start sticking stuff together. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Small projects like this are the perfect place to learn.
Soldering skills are a good start.

I made my dual battery tray in welding class about 10 years ago. We were practicing oxy-gas welding, so I cut up all the pieces and took them into class and stuck them together.

I suppose it's just a matter of time before I decide to give it a shot

speaking of fabrication, I drove up to Fredericksburg, VA yesterday afternoon to pickup my OME suspension kit at Iron Pig Off Road (IPOR). their shop is INSANE!!! gonna head up there again later this fall and this time will bring my camera. they've got some really neat projects going on in there, mostly old Land Cruiser restorations, but they've got all sorts of fab tools and they're all set up for the big jobs like motor and axle conversions. the shop looks like it's in an old carriage house or railway depot or something.

Rog, I've been thinking about taking a welding class, myself, at some point. did you find it useful?

Best time/money I ever spent. I think it ran about $100/semester for the class and that included all the welding rod, wire and gas we could use in 3 hours/night, 2 nights per week. Really nice exposure to different welding machines and you know what works for you and what features you want in a welder and what things to avoid.