Opinions on Optima batteries

[AZKayaker]

Thinking if replacing my Walmart deep cycle with an Optima battery. What do you think of them and does anybody have a good mail order source. Amazon has some pretty good prices on them, but poor reviews on shipping damage.

[Redneck Teepee]

I personally have had very good luck with the optima batteries, the red top vehicle starting version, have not tried the deep cycle yellow top variety simply because for RV or teardrop purposes I always buy a flooded cell true deep cycle, not the deep cycle/marine version that most have gone to.

I have heard (rumors) that since they are now made in Mexico the quality is not there....I will find out as I have replaced 2 of them in the last couple of years in my hotrod vehicles, the first ones (both Optima's) lasted 11 years and 8 years, so far no problems with these newer ones that were made south of the border.

Just my experience with Optima

[tony.latham]

Dunno. But I see Cabela's has a sale on their group 24 AGM for $149. I think it's a sweet deal.

T

[AzAv8r]

I've been really happy with Optima batteries in my trucks over the years. In the Phoenix area historically flooded-cell batteries have lasted me almost exactly 2 years, with one that pushed out to three. The summer heat just kills them. Whereas the Optima have always outlasted them by far. (I bought my first Optima ca 2000). In fact, I only have replaced one: In 2006 I replaced the factory Delco battery in my truck with an Optima Red Top. In 2011 I ran it down too far on a camping trip, so I replaced it with a Yellow Top, from Costco I believe. It was still fine when my truck was stolen in Nov of last year.

The yellow top isn't truly a deep-cycle battery - its a starting battery that is intended to tolerate deep cycles without degrading as much as a typical starting battery will. I'd expect a true deep-cycle battery to perform better in a trailer, although if you're going off-road I'd say it should really be an AGM battery, which the Optima is. I use Concorde AGM batteries in our airplane successfully, and I'm considering using their deep-cycle batteries ("Lifeline" brand) in a trailer.

[Redneck Teepee]

Dunno. But I see Cabela's has a sale on their group 24 AGM for $149. I think it's a sweet deal.

T

Yep in the early 80's I purchased an AGM type battery for a 70 Corvette. Those batteries were mounted in the cabin floor behind the drivers seat, so you can imagine when a lead acid cell shorted what it did to the interior air. Those were just getting popular then and I paid about $250 back then. $ 149 is a sweet deal.

[Dale M.]

Recently replaced the starting battery in my Jeep with a Odyssey (AGM) ..... The one I chose had a better CC amp and a better amp hour capacity than any Optima.... Battery is also used for huge drain when winching maybe up to 100-150 amp under full load....

http://www.odysseybattery.com/

And I found best price with no shipping on a site out of Florida, and my CRS (Cant Remember "Stuff") kicked in and cant find site to the better buy...

Dale

[Shadow Catcher]

Optima does not make a genuine deep cycle and the design wastes space and storage. I opted for a Lifeline 150AH AGM, now four years old and doing very well. http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/rvdeepcyclebatteries.php

[dales133]

Fullriver battery's are very popular here with good lifespans and reviews for caravans ect.
I believe they are American.
As said before I would only go optima for a main cranking battery

[martymcfly]

I had a 78 class c motorhome a few years ago. The starting battery terminals would corrode quickly, until I put in an Optima. I think they are cleaner than pb acid. I also broke a corner off of an optima when I dropped it. I glued it back on with JB weld and used it in my mini stock for another season.

[Dale M.]

Brain finally came to the party... "Stored Energy Products"...

http://sepbatteries.com/

Dont know if their pricing is still "good" but when I bought mine it was better than anybody else...

Dale

[jstrubberg]

Optima used to be THE battery in the offroading community. Rated tops for life and reliability.

Unfortunately, they seem to have decided in the last few years to sacrifice that standing for lower costs. Over the last five years the complaints about these units, the yellow top in particular, have gone up and up. I won't put one in a rig anymore. If I wanted to put up with a less than bulletproof battery, I wouldn't be paying the Optima premium for it.

Shadow Catcher makes a good point. Optima's are not deep cycle batteries. If you are looking for long, slow discharge and max run times, I advise you look elsewhere.

[jonw]

I'm happy with my yellowtop Optima. No problems sfter 4 years so far. I store it in the basement over the winter and in the spring it still has a full charge.

[crpngdth2001]

I've replaced two of them under a 3 year replacement guarantee in the last 26 months. One at 12 months from manufacture, and then the replacement at 14 months from manufacture. The made in Mexico versions are garbage, and don't simply have the quality they used to. They are living on past glory and reputation alone, and are not worth the premium still being charged for them. I use Odyssey now.

[Vedette]

An Optima Battery would be my last choice of battery for anything!
And my first choice would be Walmart's Everready Battery D27.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi