Opinions on the best battery for a '78 FJ40? Thanks!
Battery Suggestion
- Thread starter NCNole
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I don't know about the 40 specifically, but the Odyssey is generally recognized as the best battery. The DieHard Platinum batteries are made by Odyssey and are a close second in most circles and much less expensive, especially when Sears is having a good dale on them. I couldn't even begin to guess what size, but the "bigger is better" mentality applies to batteries. I've heard of AGM batteries having problems if you don't have enough charging amperage coming from your alternator though, so that's something you might need to look into.
Generally the list goes
odyssey/die hard - they are exactly the same. Only difference is odyssey only makes a small amount of their range for sears. Brett just picked up the biggest die hard they make at 83lbs. The normally run $250 plus.
interstate mega tron plus about half the cost of the die hard but not half the battery. I've had the same one in my rig for 5 years now and run it dead multiple times and it still hasn't gotten a dead cell from it.
Walmart/cost co - both extremely good for the money with one of the best warranties out there
Duralast - about the same as above
odyssey/die hard - they are exactly the same. Only difference is odyssey only makes a small amount of their range for sears. Brett just picked up the biggest die hard they make at 83lbs. The normally run $250 plus.
interstate mega tron plus about half the cost of the die hard but not half the battery. I've had the same one in my rig for 5 years now and run it dead multiple times and it still hasn't gotten a dead cell from it.
Walmart/cost co - both extremely good for the money with one of the best warranties out there
Duralast - about the same as above
I must also note optimas once they were easily number 2, almost number one. Those things would last forever and could be mounted any way you please. When interstate shifted their production to Mexico it all went down hill.while they can still be a decent choice there are many bad "batches" that come out of them that will leave you stranded.
There are also batteries better than die yards but you better have a huge wallet for those.
And to elaborate on my first post.... If you are going to wheel it and take it to remote places then get the number 1 or 2.
If you are going to drive it back and forth to work get number 3 or 4. They have better warranties and have stores everywhere.
Buy that will be little consolation sitting on Portsmouth island with a dead battery.
And the best thing. Buy 2 and a dual battery controller.
There are also batteries better than die yards but you better have a huge wallet for those.
And to elaborate on my first post.... If you are going to wheel it and take it to remote places then get the number 1 or 2.
If you are going to drive it back and forth to work get number 3 or 4. They have better warranties and have stores everywhere.
Buy that will be little consolation sitting on Portsmouth island with a dead battery.
And the best thing. Buy 2 and a dual battery controller.
I've got an optima red top, its a winner every time...sooo did you....?
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- #6
What size did you put in yours? I keep getting different answers on this....24/27 come up most often.
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- #7
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- #9
So how do I join? 
SCORE!!! More pics! go here for sign up https://forum.ih8mud.com/nc-olde-no...ate-6-30-12-membership-registration-info.html
and let me be the first to give you the official club salute
Welcome to the mud-ness - boy you are in trouble now!
and let me be the first to give you the official club salute
Welcome to the mud-ness - boy you are in trouble now!
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- #11
Thanks! Very excited! I am about the wash and detail him then I'll put up more pics. He's been in a garage for 2 years and isn't looking his best yet. Haha
Congrats, you have choosen well. Nothing better than giving your new girl some love with a wash, my daughters did the same. Here is their first day with "Brutus"...
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Could you please send your girls over here next time...I need some helpers!
I've killed 2 red tops under warranty now, and I'm not that tough on batteries beside not driving Dozer regularly. When I finally have to replace on my dime, it's going to be Die Hard Platinum. Lots of folks will tell you the same on the red tops... Other people will swear by them because they are brand loyal or one of the lucky ones that didn't experience premature failure. I have heard the blue tops are much better, but have zero personal experience.
R
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I had an Optima Blue Top in Moonshine from 2007 until December when we killed it by constantly draining, recharging and draining again. I put in a Sears Die-Hard Platinum P2 ( Group 64 ) because it comes with what's touted as a great warranty, super high CCAs and a higher capacity than the Optimas.
If you're OK with spending ~$230 on a battery, go with the Sears Die-Hard Platinum, whatever the largest one is that you can fit in your battery tray. You won't regret it.
If you're OK with spending ~$230 on a battery, go with the Sears Die-Hard Platinum, whatever the largest one is that you can fit in your battery tray. You won't regret it.
One thing one should do with an AGM battery regardless of manufacturer from what I can tell is to get a battery minder / tender. Especially in vehicles that aren't driven daily. As most alternators and the battery charging diodes aren't designed for different charging voltages / profile (it's slightly higher than regular lead acids).
I have an OMAX20 that I try and hook up to my 100 series once a week. I drive maybe 30 miles in a day and don't typically get on the highway during the weekdays. My charge has been between 95-97% of capacity. If can get on the freeway I'm closer to 97%.
http://www.odysseybattery.com/documents/US-ODY-CM-02_0107_000.PDF
Good reading info here in regards to the required charging of the Odyssey / Diehard Platinum. I fit a size 65 since at the time my OEM battery croaked, Sears wasn't having a sale and they didn't have any PM1 (Group 31 series) in stock. I believe the PM1 (31 series DHP) is the biggest one that Sears has. But not the biggest battery that Odyssey makes.
http://www.odysseybattery.com/documents/US-ODY-OM-011_0213.pdf
I have an OMAX20 that I try and hook up to my 100 series once a week. I drive maybe 30 miles in a day and don't typically get on the highway during the weekdays. My charge has been between 95-97% of capacity. If can get on the freeway I'm closer to 97%.
http://www.odysseybattery.com/documents/US-ODY-CM-02_0107_000.PDF
Good reading info here in regards to the required charging of the Odyssey / Diehard Platinum. I fit a size 65 since at the time my OEM battery croaked, Sears wasn't having a sale and they didn't have any PM1 (Group 31 series) in stock. I believe the PM1 (31 series DHP) is the biggest one that Sears has. But not the biggest battery that Odyssey makes.
http://www.odysseybattery.com/documents/US-ODY-OM-011_0213.pdf
I have periodically had trouble starting up so I just had my battery tested and the CCA was around 220. Looks like I'm in the market...
When Sears does run a sale on their Die Hard batteries, how much do they discount them off the normal price? (ie 10%, 20%).
When Sears does run a sale on their Die Hard batteries, how much do they discount them off the normal price? (ie 10%, 20%).
I can get interstate at cost.
Anyone thinking of getting a good battery for a super price should take him up on this.
When I could get them at cost I could get a MTP with 880 CCA and 1100 CA for dirt cheap. I actually had 4 of them. The one in my truck that has lasted 4 years easily now with long rest times and running it completely dead 4 times at pisgah. Another in the garage waiting for a dual battery install. Another that is now in Brett's Troopy, and one I gave to Logan that is most likely in the big blue beast now. All of them still work after 4 years with lots of drainage on them.
it will be about $200 cheaper to go that route than the biggest die hard. The die hard is a better battery for sure but not so much that it offsets the cost in anyway.
Just quoted him around 85 bucks.