Are Optima's still the best?

[SC74]

I know you can over-research anything now on google, but it's time for a new battery in the rock crawler. I've run an Optima yellow top for 5 years now and it's never missed a beat, but it's starting to drain fast. I've abused it winching etc so I am happy with it. The best thing is that my battery tray is custom to the Optima so that would make it easy to swap ;D.

What's the hype on the new ones like Northstar etc. Is Optima now a Made in Mexico junk like I read some places, or are their "issues" resolved?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Optima has climbed back up into the very good battery catagory after dropping from great to just OK with a good warranty.

I have been looking at Northstart for a few years now. Based on telecommunications backup battery business, where they have to work. And branching into the transportation battery world. They are about making a great product and not thumping there chest on how great they think they are. When I replace my Oddesseys (that are 7 and 9 years old) I will be looking at Northstar.

The other battery I think is top notch is Oddessey. I have two. But think the Northstar is better.

The benifits of going to SEMA and talking directly to the manufacturers.

 

[904Bronco]

When they 1st came out they were money! 15 years of service... The replacement was junk and it was replaced in a week with new one (internal short?), which lasted 5 years. Hardly seems worth spending the extra money, for something that is no better than a standard Interstate battery.

I have bought a number of Odyssey batteries and been very pleased with their service life. They are not cheap either... But you "sometimes" get what you pay for these days.

 

[NicksTrix]

have had good luck with the Napa Legend line that is made by Dekka

 

[okie4570]

have had good luck with the Napa Legend line that is made by Dekka

Same here. All the farm trucks have them as well. No more Optimas for us, ever. My 71' had a 1998 optima red top in it when I bought it in 2012. It last 3 more years for me then quit. So I replaced it with another one that lasted 2 months, followed by its replacement that lasted another 2 months, and I don't drive it that much.

 

[toddsrods]

I had a 13 year run on a red top. worked great. I replaced it with another, I hope it treats me as good.

 

[Bronco Junkie]

Optima is top choice for me.

 

[bronconut73]

I have a 16 year old Red Top.
But had a Blue Top let me down. But I just went down to my local 4Wheelparts and they gave me a new one, no questions asked. They even let me keep the old one. It was only 8 months old. It wouldn't seem to take a charge. Did some research. Put it on a 1 or 2 amp trickle charger for quite awhile. It pretty much came back to life. The guys at 4WP are friends of mine. I called them, their response was "Good for you Steve".

I gave it to a kid that would likely never be able to afford one. He was all geeked out over it.

 

[Apogee]

Whatever your opinion of Optima, power density in a rectangular cell is always going to be higher since you don't have the voids between cells like you do in a spiral-cell design. I've had good Optima batteries, and bad ones, but I like my Odyssey better than both. I have no experience with Northstar, as they may not have even been around, but definitely were not doing automotive when I was in the battery industry 12+ years ago.

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, I have a red top optima in my 33 Ford pickup over 12 years. I put a red top in my Bronco a couple of years ago and have been very happy with them. I guess I missed the bad years. Good luck

 

[NGABronco]

Hey SC74, go with an Oddessey....they have virgin lead!!!!%)%)%)

 

[sprdv1]

Optima has climbed back up into the very good battery catagory after dropping from great to just OK with a good warranty.

The other battery I think is top notch is Oddessey. I have two. But think the Northstar is better.

The benifits of going to SEMA and talking directly to the manufacturers.

Good to know with Optima, thought they had still been declining.

Definitely have not seen too bad of reviews for Odyssey.

 

[Apogee]

DEKA/East Penn Mfg arguably makes one of the better value batteries with their Intimidator series of AGM batteries.

 

[hyghlndr]

I've had good luck with optima recently and also Bosch AGM.

 

[5001craig]

I looked into this last spring. Odyssey batteries kept coming up as the best. That's what I went with. Definitely not cheap, though.

 

[Yeller]

If your tray is custom do another optima they seem to have their issues sorted out. Just like other companies that moved manufacturing abroad that had issues they've stepped up and made it right and better. But if changing styles my first vote for other people's money is odessy, but for my dollars I've been very happy with the AGM's from Advanced Auto Parts it's made by Dekka and comes in standard sizes so if you do have an issue on a trip any Walmart will have something that fits. I have 2 of them, one in the FJ and the GMC

 

[pbwcr]

Hard to beat Odyssey for performance, but the cost is high. Optima batteries made in the Denver area were really great, but now they are made in Mexico. Initially the Mexico version failure rate was unacceptable, but lately the failure rate is better. I think it is a crap shoot to buy an Optima since there are so may better choices.
I have East Penn Intimidator's in 3 of my rigs and they perform pretty good. I suspect that private brands by East Penn would be as good. Look for Dekka which will be East Penn.
PaulW

 

[SC74]

Thanks for all of the good input!

This yellow top I am replacing came out of another Bronco it was in and is probably 8-10 years old now. I ran the Optima in the crawler and made a custom mount for it, which can always be modified with a cut off wheel and welder ;D. I put a Dekka in the place of the yellow top in the truck I took the yellow top out of maybe 5 years ago and it's going strong still too.

Which Odyssey model are ya'll talking about? The ones I see on Summit are not as pricey as the Optima.

Thank you!

 

[Yeller]

For your bronco you will want a PC1500 or PC1750 for an Odyssey. You could get by just fine with a PC1200 but your winch time will be reduced. PC1200 is what we put in the racers, but we are chasing grams and have no room for anything larger. With the PC1500 or PC1750 if you have an issue they are large enough that a conventional battery can be dropped in their place, the PC1200 is a bit tough for that, they are pretty small.

Forgot to mention if you get one of the models with the steel case and mount you can bolt it directly to any flat surface, tube or angle. In most of the racers we bolt them directly to the floor panel or skid plate

 

[5001craig]

I went with the 34/78-PC1500. This is in their "Extreme Series". This model has top SAE and 3/8" side receptacles. I also ordered their battery hold-down but it was on back-order or something so I used what I was using with my old battery. Reminds me that I need to add that to my winter list.