What battery do you Recommend?

[Jrama]

Well my battery just died, Is their a particular brand of battery anyone would recommend for a 4x4? primarily for winching purposes. Any good places where I could buy one?

Top contenders

Optima Yellow $250
Exide Orbital $170

suggestions?

[TL-Iguana]

Ive got an Optoma Red in my truck and a Yellow in the jeep. Both have been excellent.

[w squared]

If you're going to spend the money for an Optima, I'd say go whole hog and get an Odyssey or a North Star. I put a North Star in my JK last year, and the performance is night and day better than the stock battery. It will allow the winch (9.5ti) to pull longer and harder, and when it starts to drain, the voltage starts dropping off in a more gradual and controlled manner. More importantly and AGM battery like a North Star will not be "trashed" by be run right down like a standard automotive battery. The AGM batteries are +/- $300. A N D Batteries just off of Blackfoot sells both brands.

[apeman]

I'm the same....optima red in my truck...yelllow in the jeep.
Even had my old yellow top catch fire ( broken hold down ) and got me home with two melted cells..

[Jrama]

I need to have the battery for  Monday and A n D is closed, So its still a toss up. I have heard that Optima's quality has been lagging recently, but at the same time, one shop I called said they regularly supply Calgary emergency vehicles with yellow tops. So that speaks to their quality, Orbitals are sold through Canadian tire and are re- branded. Both get somewhat hit and miss reviews in terms of success. Odyssey are going about 100 bucks than the yellows

Got a quote on the Exide deep cycle (Direct Yellow Top Comparison) at 200.00 at Canadian Tire 1.5 year direct replacement 2.5 year pro rated
Optima Yellow top 250.00 2 year direct replacement

Jeep forum has 101 recomend for the yellow top and 5 no. I'm leaning toward the yellow top.

[after6queers]

X2 on the northstar! I have been running it for over a year and have been fully impressed with it's performance!

[Mud]

My yellow top has been great and runs my big ole winch real well.

[JackstandJohnny]

canadian tire batteries are nice.

it dies, you go replace it at any Canadian tire regardless where you are............ on a saturday, sunday, on the way to Prairie Creek, etc.

just sayin'   having that availability for warranty is nice.........

[BlackYJ]

canadian tire batteries are nice.

it dies, you go replace it at any Canadian tire regardless where you are............ on a saturday, sunday, on the way to Prairie Creek, etc.

just sayin'   having that availability for warranty is nice.........

x2 here.  Having a 9 year warranty is nice and a big arse battery is only $100 (875 cca).

[binare]

CT warranties on bats are a little misleading. In the ninth year youll get a prorated warranty... they might give you 10 bucks toward a new battery or something equally gay along those lines.

[Jrama]

I ended up with a Yellow Top from Mopac. Despite recent criticisms regarding Optima's quality control, I felt that it was worth it for a couple reasons

1. Sourcing the battery was a large factor. If I had more time I'd probably try to find the Deka Intimidator cheaper or research other options. Orbitals at Canadian tire were comparable to red top Optimas not the yellows, and the marine version albeit extremely stout is not meant for winching, its designed for slower continuous draw.

2. Most bad Optima batteries fail in about a year or sooner, Most Exide orbitals fail out the warranty period (at least pro rated). (Optima warranty is 3 years full replacement)

3. I didn't go pricier because I felt it was unnecessary for my application, If my Optima is decent it should give me years of service at a level of performance that satisfies me. I paid 251 for the yellow out the door

To the above post, I figured as much. They basically give you a discount (pro rated warranty) on your next battery purchase so you keep buying batteries from them. Its important to remember big chain stores don't offer these "great" warranties to lose money.

[cLAY]

CT warranties on bats are a little misleading. In the ninth year youll get a prorated warranty... they might give you 10 bucks toward a new battery or something equally gay along those lines.

Nothing misleading about it. Its right in the warranty card they hand you when you buy one. You get right after he explains the warranty to you and tells you not to lose the card.

I am running dual Motomaster Eliminator Spiral batteries(rebadged Orbitial) in my ZJ from CT. As said if you do have a problem with its easy to get warranty. 2 years ion one and 3 on the other and so far so good. Thats with one going continually dead as well because I leave my Jeep for long periods of time in storage and never seem to remember to unhook the main battery.  The secondary battery automatically isolates when the key is off and it always has enough juice to kick it over. They are an AGM battery like an Optima.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/StartingCharging/BatteriesCables/PRD~0107590P/Motomaster+Eliminator+Spiral+Grid+Battery.jsp?locale=en

[binare]

I stand corrected. As we all know.. CT is known for its customer service and trust worthiness. Surely they explain that to each and every customer for every battery bought... my bad.

[binare]

I stand corrected. As we all know.. CT is known for its customer service and trust worthiness. Surely they explain that to each and every customer for every battery bought... my bad.

I should mention also that I run them as well. 4 in the rv, both jeeps and the car. even the kids... no harm in mentioning that about a 9 year warranty though ;-) Ya pay extra for CTs warranties and in most cases... you wont be the original owner in the 9th year.

[Raspberry]

Nothing misleading about it. Its right in the warranty card they hand you when you buy one. You get right after he explains the warranty to you and tells you not to lose the card.

I am running dual Motomaster Eliminator Spiral batteries(rebadged Orbitial) in my ZJ from CT. As said if you do have a problem with its easy to get warranty. 2 years ion one and 3 on the other and so far so good. Thats with one going continually dead as well because I leave my Jeep for long periods of time in storage and never seem to remember to unhook the main battery.  The secondary battery automatically isolates when the key is off and it always has enough juice to kick it over. They are an AGM battery like an Optima.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/StartingCharging/BatteriesCables/PRD~0107590P/Motomaster+Eliminator+Spiral+Grid+Battery.jsp?locale=en

X2.

These 'Eliminator Spiral Grid' batteries are the same AGM technology used in Optima's batteries. $170 and their warranty is fantastic (3-year direct replacement, 10-year pro-rated). So, cheaper than the optima's, and better warranty. I've been using these batteries since I started jeeping, have put them through so much on the trail (eg. alternator died and constantly discharged/boosted battery a dozen times just to get out of fish east!) and still ran solid for years after.
Ask Jonas he ought to remember that one