optima battery for early wrangler

[hamrtime]

looking at replacing battery once again - looking for something more durable the
the std cdn tire selection

- does listing from optima mean any of these will drop into the stock battery tray unmodified
- any issues going from 550 CCA to say 1000
- any opinions on red vs. yellow

off to check if my charger has a deep cyc setting ,  this is what optima site says fits

Group # Description
25 (8025-160)                          RedTop®; Battery; 
34 (8002-002)                         RedTop®; Battery; 
34/78 (8004-003)                  RedTop®; Battery; 
75/25 (8022-091)                   RedTop®; Battery; 
D34 (8012-021)                       YellowTop®; Deep Cycle Battery; 
D34/78 (8014-045)                YellowTop®; Deep Cycle Battery; 
D75/25 (8042-218)                YellowTop®; Deep Cycle Battery; 

[FiEND]

not sure about size.  i have dual optima red tops but i really dont winch that much, a few times a year.  never let me down even winter camping at -32c

that said, i think the second was a waste of money.  i bought one on sale (for a dual setup) and my heep came with the other.  i would be happier if i put the money into a high amp alternator instead.  then the battery wouldn't be so abused.

lots of people have problems with optimas and i consider myself lucky so far.  most go from optima to the big blue canadian tire battery.  not that it appears to be better, but much easier to warranty.

[BlackAura]

I've had a Red Top in my car for three years with no problems (it came with it, and I only drive the car in the summer, so maybe not the best anecdotal evidence).

I decided on a Yellow Top for the Jeep, even with all the bad press, because of how good the Red Top was.  So far no issues, although I'm wondering how it's going to stand up over the winter, as the Jeep isn't as perky when starting now  that it's getting colder.

[w squared]

Compare the prices on an oddyssey battery. They are supposedly even better than an optima, and can manage the abuse that we Jeep folks put them to.

[Fredduck]

I've been starting the diesel in the Jeep on 1 yellow top for 2 years.
I just added a second as I'm planning on more winter driving
And the intake heater draws mega amps to warm up.

[Tinkerer]

The Die Hards are pretty well recommended in the US, but are only available from Kal Tire here. I have never looked into the prices. If you want an Optoma, check Costco, as they sometimes have them there.

[cLAY]

I run an Orbital from Canadian Tire. So far so good. Same technology as an Orbital. Really good warranty and more convenient for me than costco location wise.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/3/Batteries/AutoBatteries/PRD~0107590P/Motomaster%252BEliminator%252BSpiral%252BGrid%252BBattery/CROSSSELL~0103499%20Orbital%2BCycle%2BExtreme-Duty%2BBattery.jsp?locale=en

I guess its actually the Motomaster eliminator, just a re-badged Orbital. They sell the actual orbital as well for $10 more but the warranty on the Motomaster one is actually better.

[hamrtime]

did some reading ... seems optima's are 'heco en mexico' these days so staying clear

so, whats up with the orbital and similar batterys from other vendors , do they have some
sort of logic/digital board in them,  they release all their cranking power in first few seconds
and various posts suggest they just suddenly die ...

maybe i am better off with a good quality traditional battery 

[FiEND]

that's why we like the canadian tire one, easy to warranty when they poop.  both my red tops are under warranty, one from national and one from modern.  neither sell them or warranty them so i am screwed if they poop.  (which i think one is pooped)

[hamrtime]

back from ctire - no eliminator or spiral class battery  avail for the early wrangler - only
thee green 72 styles with 525 cca - if ya want to custom measure and stuff a eliminator
battery in then warranty/prorate drops down to 6mths total.

[BlackAura]

back from ctire - no eliminator or spiral class battery  avail for the early wrangler - only
thee green 72 styles with 525 cca - if ya want to custom measure and stuff a eliminator
battery in then warranty/prorate drops down to 6mths total.

I called a couple CT's in the city and they said they were no longer making the Spiral Eliminator, maybe the guys I talked to had no idea what they were talking about though. 

[hamrtime]

forgot my willys had a newer  '72 green'  ctire battery
thats maintained with solor panel, exact same size
- so swapped them and all is much better now

sticking with the ctire batterys

[scott slade]

and you get Canadian Tire Money back to spend on other goodies..>!!!!         After my thread on the batteries I will go with CT too.  The warranty issue sold me.   

[jeepjones]

Napa sells those new Duracell AGM batteries which are the same technology as an Odyssey without the price $250 + -. The Odyssey batteries are far superior to an optima but they also come with a far superior price, I couldn't get one for under $475 here in town. The Optima red top was $199 at Mopac, NAPA also sells there own brand of spiral cell batteries which are rebadged Optima's, the DieHard Platinum is the one that you want but as mentioned earlier you would have to go through KalTire because Sears no longer is in the automotive business here in Canada, might get pretty pricey from them.