Sears Platinum Help

[Montana Cruiser]

Do I go with the reg auto battery, or the marine battery? Both have enough starting power, but I wonder if the marine would be better for me as I run a fridge in the back almost constantly. I don't have a winch, or a bunch of other things drawing power just the fridge. I don't plan on going dual batteries anytime soon (will carry a jumper pack as back-up, once I can afford a good one) ... so this will be my only battery. Pros and Cons of the auto vs. marine?

The other question is size, I would like to go as big as possible without a lot of modifications to get it in there as I am on a time crunch at the moment, but I also don't want to regret not getting the biggest one I can. Thoughts on size?

Thanks in advance for those who are more knowledgeable on these things

 

[Jacket]

The marine battery will handle being discharged by the fridge better than a standard battery. It should last longer if repeated subjected to significant discharges, so if the CCA's are sufficient for your needs and the price of the marine battery doesn't scare you away then the marine should prove better over time.

As far as size goes, the group 31 is huge and will probably require some modifications to fit. The group 34 is smaller but still comes with some nice specs and should fit (I have one in both my Toyotas) - you may need to stick a piece of plywood underneath it or on the side depending on how your tie downs work.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Sears Platinum Marine warranty is 3 years to the day with no pro-rating a day after. 3 years and 3 days they did offer me $25 off a new battery with no warranty. Thanks but NO!

Spend $300 and after 3 years you are on your own. Never again for me

 

[4rnr]

I just picked up a Die Hard Platinum P5 auto battery (the one that will fit in a 4runner with little or no mods), to replace my 3rd optima.

As I understood it: there is no real difference between the marine and auto battery (in the die hard platinum line). The only reason they differentiate the two is for warranty purposes. They warranty the marine battery less due to the higher level of abuse they see. I know it doesn't make sense, but Im sure some corpo bean counter figured enough people wouldn't catch on, and could save Sears some $.

My battery was $199.99 with a 4 year replacement warranty at the end of the 4 years the 5 year pro rate starts.

Ive had the battery for about 5 or 6 months and I have purposely abused the hell out of it! It sits in my 4runner in my garage and it provides music for the garage (Alpine head, Alpine amp, 12" sub). The doors are usually open. I attach shop lights to the battery, I run my charger for my RC car off it. I use the tail gate as a bench with the light, and I start it, back it out, shut it off, start it, pull it in, shut it off, all the time. Sometimes I do this for 4-6 weeks with out driving the truck around. It has always started!

 

[Duane]

I would hope a normal battery and a rv/marine has a few differences...
deep cycling ability, internal structural robustness, service life to operate at a 13.8Volt float level as most regulators are set at.

I would think an old school lead acid wet cell battery would last the longest providing you do maintenance on it and top up with distilled water when required.
Or as most of the modern world has chosen is the maintenance free, AGM(absorbed glass matted) return it for replacement on a shorter time cycle approach.

Maybe the bright yellows and red exterior colors make them last longer