Best single battery?

[stevenmd]

After searching this section and not finding exactly what I was looking for, I am starting a new thread. I need a good battery to use for my truck. The only auxiliary item I will be running is an ARB MT45 fridge. I eventually plan on upgrading to a dual battery system but not until later this year or perhaps next year. So which battery (brand and model) is best for my application? I would also prefer one that can be integrated into a dual system down the road.

Thanks.

[AndrewP]

There is no "best". Given the fridge, you do need something deep cycle capable. I've always had very good luck with Optima Blue tops. The D31M in my 80 series is going strong at 4 years of use and it hasn't been babied.

Recently I've been using a Costco Marine Group 27 in my 60 which is deep cycle capable, 100 amp/hours, and only costs $58. Not bad for the price, but not the battery I'd use on a 2 year trip. It's been perfectly satisfactory in the first year of use, and it's 1/4 the price of a decent Group 27 AGM battery. It would be an excellent candidate for a dual battery system due to it's high power reserve capacity and it's low price.

Those new high end batteries at Sears look good, at least on paper, but they are very pricy. The Lifeline batteries at West Marine have very good specs and have a good reputation.

Anyway, my take on things is that in the USA, you probably don't need to use the absolute best and most costly battery, unless you always go alone, but in that case, having only 1 battery would be stupid anyway.

[DaveInDenver]

Given the fridge, you do need something deep cycle capable. I've always had very good luck with Optima Blue tops.
This is probably true, but as a single battery is a Blue Top really going to last starting the engine, too? I'd have said Yellow Top is probably the best compromise option, although I've never personally used one. My last Optima Red Top went 7 years and it was also not babied.

[AndrewP]

This is probably true, but as a single battery is a Blue Top really going to last starting the engine, too? I'd have said Yellow Top is probably the best compromise option, although I've never personally used one. My last Optima Red Top went 7 years and it was also not babied.


Blue tops work fine as starting batteries, and are not really different from the Yellow tops internally, but they are different from the red tops.

[stevenmd]

Costco Marine Group 27
Andrew - got any measurements on it? It has to fit in my rangie.

As for cost, I do not want the most expensive battery out there. I just want the one that will work best (or close to best) for my current application.:1888fbbd:

[calamaridog]

In my opinion. I'd try and fit a 1500 or 1700 size. Not sure what you drive.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

[mountainpete]

In my opinion. I'd try and fit a 1500 or 1700 size. Not sure what you drive.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

x2. Odyssey.

[stevenmd]

In my opinion. I'd try and fit a 1500 or 1700 size. Not sure what you drive.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/
1994 Range Rover... battery space is limited...

[PCRover]

I use Optima Blues extensively and they work great for Deep Cycle and Starting. They run around $175 Steven. A good deep cycle sealed marine battery is around $100 and will work fine if cost is an issue.

[calamaridog]

1994 Range Rover... battery space is limited...

What group size is the stock battery? How much additional space is there?

[BlueGerbil]

I was using Optimas for 7 or 8 years, but I had very bad luck with them in the last year. I´ll be switching to two Odysseys batteries, as soon as $$$ allows for the batteries, HD cabling and a charging system.