Battery for my Jeep

I think the battery in my JK is finally taking a dump. I left the ignition on one night and it was dead when I found it now she seems really slow to start. I put it on a charger and have driven it around some but she seems tired. Ive used a winch off of it for quite some time and its been in there for 50k miles so it might be ready to be replaced.

I tried looking thru all the threads in here about exide and odessey and platinum and I'm just lost.

I dont know that I need a dual battery setup yet. Only the winch and the Vehicle run off of it.

What is the currently latest and greatest value battery that will fit in my JK? Ive seen the sears diehard is a rebranded odessey but is that still the best available in that range?
 

libarata

Expedition Leader
Grab the biggest battery you can. As far as I know those three brands should be just fine if you are not dickering with a bajillion things.
 

Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
I'm partial to Optima but I guess I'd buy the best battery I could get a deal on.
I always bought Optimas for my vehicles I beat since they have fewer overall parts, fewer welds, fewer things to vibrate apart. They have a high crank number for their size and the low internal resistance means they recharge fast.

I've got two Walmart brand (JCI) boat batteries in my trailer and they're doing just fine. Lots of crank. But I don't bounce the trailer like I do the Jeep...
 
im reading alot about optimas being crap lately. any thoughts on that hilldweller. I found a bunch of things about them sucking after being sent to mexico
 

1stDeuce

Explorer
Optimas don't like some charge configurations, but Jeeps seem to charge at a pretty low voltage compared to everything else, and that seems to be OK with them. If you run any battery down to zero once, you took perhaps a year off it's life. If you run it down two or more times, and particularly if it goes down for days, or stays really low for a long time, it's done. If a battery goes dead like that, a charger is the only way to go. A jump will only get it to 100% if you let your car run for perhaps 10 hours. And a low battery will sulfate, and will die, quickly.

I have an optima in my jeep, but I only have it because I got a REALLY good deal on it through work. I won't spend money on another, because they're too small for the given size, and perhaps not so sweet after moving to Mexico.

If you want a gel cell battery, check out OReilly's "super start" batteries. They're actually Deka Intimidator's, made by East Penn, in PA. For comparable size, they have quite a bit more reserve capacity than an optima. Price for the gel cell super starts is also very good compared to what Deka asks for the same battery, but still not worth it IMO. A normal or marine/deep cycle lead acid battery should last just as long in a normally driven Jeep, and cost half as much. All of the batteries they sell are stickered Deka's, so they should all be pretty good.

I just bought two of the standard marine/deep cycle batteries for my 5th wheel, in Group 31 size for $96 each. That's pretty good for that large of a battery.

Oh, and as stated above, get the biggest battery you can fit, even if you have to trim out the side of your battery tray. (It's just plastic, I assume. ??) Probably lots of google info about what the biggest battery you can put in a JK is. :)

And if you DO run your battery down, get it on a charger until the charger says it's done as soon as you can!!! Driving your Jeep for an hour does not do it. Even if you have to go to work, when you get home, put a charger on it and let it sit overnight. Your battery, and your wallet will thank you. :)
C
 
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i picked up an AGM dual function battery from advanced. its an autocraft paltinum. seems to get good reviews and the warranty was the same as the optima at half the price. well see how it goes. good to know about the super starts. in 3 years ill try to remember that.
 

Mrknowitall

Adventurer
If you want a gel cell battery, check out OReilly's "super start" batteries. They're actually Deka Intimidator's, made by East Penn, in PA. For comparable size, they have quite a bit more reserve capacity than an optima. Price for the gel cell super starts is also very good compared to what Deka asks for the same batter.
C

Good to know. I popped into O Reillys this afternoon and inquired about a group 35 agm for the Rally Wagon. $165, or about $50 more than the regular one. I'll probably get it next week, along with some minor maintenance parts.
 

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