What are decent batteries these days?

[Hulsty]

Currently I have two Exide orbitals, about 2.5 years old and one of them is pretty much dead, the other probably not far behind, they have had a relatively hard life though.

Should I stick with another pair of orbitals or look into just getting some cheaper units with a two year warranty and flog the crap out of them?

They are used for starting/winching and fridge duties. They are paralleled for winching through a solenoid. When not winching paralleled down to 12.3V(I think) then separated and the fridge will run the second battery down to 10.1V.

The Orbitals were about $200 each and I dont want to spend much more than that.

Would most battery places have a load tester to confirm that mine are dead?

 

[cambelt]

70 series cruisers kill batterys because of the batterys location and heat in the engine bay . 2H and 3F being the worst as the exhaust is next to them.
AGM,s and sealed batterys are a no good in a 70 cause of the underbonnet heat and cant be topped up when they lose water .
A good battery that seems to work well in the 70,s is the century severe service , less CCA than a overlander cause less plates but thicker plates meaning longer life.
Dave

 

[Hulsty]

My current batteries were in my FJ73 above the exhaust manifold, now in my BJ74 which has the exhaust manifold on the opposite side, some people have been mentioning AC Delco batteries, which are under $200 each.

 

[Tassie KZJ78]

My current batteries were in my FJ73 above the exhaust manifold, now in my BJ74 which has the exhaust manifold on the opposite side, some people have been mentioning AC Delco batteries, which are under $200 each.

I'm currently running an ac delco battery in my prado, I also had one in my 4 runner it was still going strong after 3 or so years, It didn't get as much of a flogging as your batteries did, but it had multiple run flats (left lights on all day, broken alt. wire, long / multiple cranking on cold mornings e.t.c) I can't remember how long the warranty is on it, but I paid ~$110 for battery, so I would imagine it wouldn't be that long.

 

[audaciousduo]

I've had great luck with Interstate

 

[gotoy]

70 series cruisers kill batterys because of the batterys location and heat in the engine bay . 2H and 3F being the worst as the exhaust is next to them.
AGM,s and sealed batterys are a no good in a 70 cause of the underbonnet heat and cant be topped up when they lose water .
A good battery that seems to work well in the 70,s is the century severe service , less CCA than a overlander cause less plates but thicker plates meaning longer life.
Dave

Too true, I have lost count how many batteries I have been through in the last few years. They get rather hot!

 

[lshobie]

Odyssey, the only way to go.

 

[Tapage]

AC Delco it's in the top of my list .. but recently give a shot to Interstate ( mostly for their warranty that it's awesome down here ) in the wife 80 .. so far so good no problems ..

 

[swamprunner]

not sure where your at hulsty...but Im assuming somewhere in canada. If you're into flogging your batteries then go to wal mart and get some never starts. They have a 3 yr no questions asked replacement warranty. 800 cca are about $75. Hard to beat if you kill them in three years you just go back and get a new one...no questions asked. Then they give you a new one and you get three more years. I don't remember the last time I paid for a battery...thanks walmart...its about the only thing your good for.

 

[John Galt]

Cdn Tire Nautilus marine batteries. Keep 'em clean and topped up with distilled water [or snowmelt] and they just keep going year after year, through bitter cold Cdn winters.

 

[Hulsty]

Thanks, went with a AC Delco HCM27SMF, its huge!! Retailed at 240, got them down to 154 happy days.

 

[David*BJ70]

I have no fear of to buy any battery from a popular brand ... as long as they have a free replacement guarantee for 3 years and up to 9 years in proportion to the age of the battery.

I had Costco's Kirkland ... I was happy and now I have the Energizer batteries from Wal-Mart. 2 regular in my BJ70 and 2 Marine in my BJ42 (w/24-12V converter). All these battery cost little less than 100$.


Service points are not negligible. Buy a battery that can be replaced only in few points of service ... as good as it is, is not very useful. However, there are Canadian Tire across Canada and Wal-Mart across North America....

 

[Estancio]

My last pair of Optima Red Top batteries lasted 11 years in my BJ70.
I expect the same from my current pair, but others from IH8MUD have not had my luck with them.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

I've had great luck with Interstate

Ditto with the Interstates.......
...1978HJ45

 

[prado t]

I went from Yellow Tops that were highly overated and went to a pair of Marine batteries from Edmond s Batteries . The Marine batteries are Lead Acid. Perfect for Winching and running my big Waeco CF 110.

I will never ever go OPTIMA again . Poor Service and the service rep didnt even reply to my question. Poor service= s***

the marine 650MCA batteries are cheaper than regular batteries up here.

 

[jonb96150]

My yellow tops have been great. They were in the truck when I bought it four years ago so I don't know how old they are. From winching in Alaska to winching on the Rubicon. I have run the fridge for 3 straight days without starting the engine with no problem.

They were drawn down to less than 5 volts a couple times in winter storage due to a drain that I've fixed. Now they will start the truck after sitting more than a month in sub-freezing temps.

I keep hearing how bad optimas are, but mine have been fantastic.

 

[David*BJ70]

If you do not have a winch, super refrigerator kit on board, fantastic lights to blind moose (here I’m kidding for sure) or if you do not do "Overland expedition" you do not need a super battery.

On a diesel, the batteries are used to start because the alternator should be enough for the rest.

As I wrote earlier, any popular brand of battery should do the trick. My batteries are "ordinary" and they have always answered the call even during some mornings when the start was made at -35C.

Spend on very high quality battery when it is not necessary is as useful as buying a heavy duty cigarette lighter when you do not smoke!

This is my opinion on battery... HTH

 

[markhc]

I have a blue top Optima , Deep Cycle, Dual Purpose battery (The lighter grey casing). I found it on sale for about $200.

The battery has performed very well considering the amount of heat in the engine compartment.

 

[wongtsenhin]

My last pair of Optima Red Top batteries lasted 11 years in my BJ70.


11 years! You sure? I haven't come across batteries that last that long. I think all battery manufacturer will go bankrupt.

 

[yardbird88]

not sure where your at hulsty...but Im assuming somewhere in canada. If you're into flogging your batteries then go to wal mart and get some never starts. They have a 3 yr no questions asked replacement warranty. 800 cca are about $75. Hard to beat if you kill them in three years you just go back and get a new one...no questions asked. Then they give you a new one and you get three more years. I don't remember the last time I paid for a battery...thanks walmart...its about the only thing your good for.

Yeah, that was my 1st Walmart battery with 750 CCA & died after 2 years. It cost about $78 but I got FREE replacement after they tested it. Let' see how long that $78 will last again. As long as it dies before 3 years, it's free anyway.