Need a suggestion - battery

[TankTheLC]

Not trying to beat a dead horse but trying to find out a battery that will last. The PO had AAA put a battery in one year ago but its starting to degrade fast and CCA’s have dropped. If you had to get another battery what battery would you put on your 80 series and why? I need something stupid dependable, preferably agm (not flooded).

I know Sears batterys are pretty much gone, so it looks like Oddessey 34R-PC1500T or MTZ-34R are the main two I’ve been conidering. Battery needs to hold up to winching under load taking breaks every 30 seconds.

Not interested in dual battery setups, I won’t be running a fridge or anything that requires deep cycle.

Thanks guys!

 

[NLXTACY]

I am STRONGLY looking at Lithium Iron Phosphate

 

[TankTheLC]

I am STRONGLY looking at Lithium Iron Phosphate

What manufacture & model? I’m guessing a local retailer probably doesn’t carry one of these.

 

[NLXTACY]

What manufacture & model? I’m guessing a local retailer probably doesn’t carry one of these.

Battle Born and Relion are the two I’m considering. We used LiFePo in the film industry for years.

 

[TNOverlander]

I’m using an X2Power battery from Batteries Plus Bulbs. It’s an AGM and had the highest reserve capacity that I could find. It was also the only one I found at the time that had a 5 year warranty as opposed to the 3 year that seemed typical. Been very happy with it and have had it 3 years so far. Electrically I’m mostly stock.

 

[bigredmachine]

I just run a true-2 battery from thr dealership, 18 month free replacement and 60 proration at any dealership

 

[LINUS]

I’m ~50mo into an Odyssey in the 80 & it gets zapped with the M12K winch & only a hand throttle/single battery setup, and it was on the shelf at the local battery store for about a yr before I got it (so they gave me a good deal) - I’m kinda amazed it’s still functional.
I’ll look at my Tundra battery in a little while when I get home.
It’s an affordable AGM w/ a blue plastic top, 22-23mo on it - I forget brand ATM.
I’ll edit my post when I see it, it’s one of the big names.

:::Edit - My Tundra AGM is a Exide Edge - so far so good, but any battery makes the ~2yr mark - /Edit:::

I also just put 2 Interstate green & white wet cell batteries into my boat at Thanksgiving, they are relatively cheap & sit on a trickle charger when not on the water.

 

[FloridaCruiser22]

I just had to replace my duralast gold battery that I apparently had in the LC for 8 years . So with that I went with another of the same

 

[Cruiserdrew]

You've got something else wrong if you're only getting a year out of a battery. If you don't drive every day, I'd recommend you get a battery minder and leave it hooked up full time. THis will extend your battery life to 5-6 years in my experience and I don't use any special or expensive batteries. Any battery that isn't 100% charged all the time is sulphating. So when you park, your battery will be at 12.7 volts or so. Any loads like alarms, clocks, stereo amps that draw power will drop your voltage. Any amount of time the voltage lower than 12.7 is degrading the battery. Just the way it is. A batteryMinder will solve this problem.

Anyway, I like the flooded 27F batteries from Batteries Plus. They are made by East Penn and have been excellent in my experience.

 

[baldilocks]

I know I will get flamed for this but, I will be buying optima red tops for my pick up when the ones in there now die. They have been made in Mexico by Johnson controls since 2009 but so have many other batteries because Johnson controls makes lot of different battery brands.
The one in my cruiser is a diehard platinum which has been discontinued but I think I an optima will go in there next also.

I’ve had nothing but good luck with optimas for 20 years. The ones that turn my Cummins 5.9 over are soon to be 8 years old. Just had them tested by Napa and the one still had 1000ca and the other one 980ca.
These batteries are easily sourced too.

 

[george_tlc]

^ Flamed

I gave red tops a try twice (since they went to mexico). Both garbage that failed in 2 - 3 years. Replaced (with NO other changes) with a cheap costco - lasted a decent 5+ years for 1/3 the price. Had a costco/kirkland in my jeep for 9+ years.

Now have an odyssey in the 80 (as the main), been there about 3yrs now and a solid performer. Got it with coupon+sale and was about $130 at the time - can't go wrong at that price. Aux is a costco starting/deep and been in there for 4+ years and still going strong.

I've had good runs with costco sourced batteries and would not hesitate to run them (and do in the jeep). Decent price and solid customer satisfaction if something misbehaves.

Other than the odyssey been cheap-ish, I can't see spending big $$ on a battery when you can get a solid 4+ years from a wet cell. And lifepo4 batteries tipping towards the $1000 mark - nuts!


cheers,
george.

 

[baldilocks]

^ Flamed

I gave red tops a try twice (since they went to mexico). Both garbage that failed in 2 - 3 years. Replaced (with NO other changes) with a cheap costco - lasted a decent 5+ years for 1/3 the price. Had a costco/kirkland in my jeep for 9+ years.

Now have an odyssey in the 80 (as the main), been there about 3yrs now and a solid performer. Got it with coupon+sale and was about $130 at the time - can't go wrong at that price. Aux is a costco starting/deep and been in there for 4+ years and still going strong.

I've had good runs with costco sourced batteries and would not hesitate to run them (and do in the jeep). Decent price and solid customer satisfaction if something misbehaves.

Other than the odyssey been cheap-ish, I can't see spending big $$ on a battery when you can get a solid 4+ years from a wet cell. And lifepo4 batteries tipping towards the $1000 mark - nuts!


cheers,
george.

This same sentiment is available for your reading pleasure all over the internet but my experience has been opposite. Check your charging system.

 

[george_tlc]

^ and like I wrote, I replaced the optimas without changing anything else (e.g. alternator, wiring, the squirrel powering the 80 etc) and the costco did a good 5 yrs versus the optimas that preceded it immediately before. This is usage over 9 - 10 years, so not a knee jerk reaction.

Anyhow, I do know my charging system was and is functional. Something about by profession means I know a little about electrickery etc

I did choose the red tops at the time due to their (good) reputation but that appears to be something in the past. I'm sure some work for years, but it's clear from many (as you state) posts on the internet (and in fact this subforum) that there have been way too many failed redtops in the 2+ year operating range. Quality control seems to be an issue with them, spiral wound or not...

I'm not brand loyal. My choice is based on getting a good run out of my $. If I spend $200 on a battery, it better deliver 2x performance/durability over a $100 battery. Otherwise, what's the point?

The positive was that the costco aux battery could jump start the dead optima red top main battery. Did it twice and gave up on redtops. Didn't need 3 times in a row to learn the lesson.

cheers,
george.

 

[baldilocks]

Those Costco batteries were made in Mexico at the same Johnson Controls factory. This fact doesn’t change your experience but I’m going to press on with Optimas if for no other reason than to add more otherwise useless information to the Mud archives.

 

[cruiserdan]

Interstate is my go-to. Interstate is Toyota's exclusive OEM replacement battery supplier and has been for at least 25 years. That is good enough for me.

 

[baldilocks]

Interstate is my go-to. Interstate is Toyota's exclusive OEM replacement battery supplier and has been for at least 25 years. That is good enough for me.

Also Johnson Controls......

 

[cruiserdan]

Johnson supplies only factory-installs for Toyota. No service-parts batteries.

 

[Kaninja]

I have a 27F flooded from Edmonds.

It was $140 with 3 year free replacement. AGM's seem nice......but I am cheap.

 

[Dork]

I had a yellow top fail after only 6 months, but it's free replacement lasted 6 years. I've had Diehards die after two or last 8. I've had cheap canadian tire batteries fail in a year, or last 5 as well.

Whatever you buy, get them tested at the end of replacement warranty. They may still work, but can still fail a test and essentially double their "life" for free.

 

[maxamillion2345]

X2 or odyssey agm
Interstate megatron II lead acid