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Best 12volt battery??

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by batt69nova, Jan 20, 2012.

  1. batt69nova
    Joined: Nov 4, 2009
    Posts: 225

    batt69nova
    Member
    from OR

    Searched around on here for what battery everyone likes to run, and outside of it being obvious that nobody likes optima anymore I couldn't find a clear HAMB favorite.

    So, what's the HAMB's choice for a 12V battery?
     
  2. Special Ed
    Joined: Nov 1, 2007
    Posts: 7,967

    Special Ed
    Member

    I've always had good luck with DieHard's from Sears. Good warranty.
     
  3. I really like Interstate batteries. Also, ( I know this may be frowned upon) I have had very good luck with the ones from Walmart.
    I think you will get a more useful response if you let us know what your using it in. If you need something with alot of cranking amps or not. ect. Todd
     
  4. I've had an Optima in my roadster for two years, love it.
     

  5. 432bullet
    Joined: Sep 14, 2009
    Posts: 51

    432bullet
    Member

    All of the batterys are made by just a few mfg's Interstate is good. You might look a wal-mart, I understand that they do not prorate their batterys ???
     
  6. Same here....
     
  7. I have an AutoZone Gold with no problems to date but it is only a year old.
     
  8. KJSR
    Joined: Mar 7, 2008
    Posts: 2,494

    KJSR
    Member
    from Utah
    1. Utah HAMBers

    Costco....
     
  9. Lowmerc50
    Joined: Apr 25, 2008
    Posts: 589

    Lowmerc50

    I have good luck with Walmart batterys!!!!
     
  10. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,775

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    Since there are so few, about 3 maybe, manufacturers of batteries, any given battery you choose may be the same as the favorites. I think shopping by price is the biggest sin these days in batteries. Make sure the CCA are adequate and go for it.
    In reality, any well maintained battery will last to its limit. That may or may not the guaranteed life, 65 or 72 or months but it might.
     
  11. derbydad276
    Joined: May 29, 2011
    Posts: 1,336

    derbydad276
    Member

    the ones i get for 20 bucks at the junk yard
     
  12. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,544

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Love my OPTIMA!!!---The sealed feature is a must in my trunk!---Used to have Sears diehards, but switched to Optima in 2000!
     
  13. stude54ht
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 973

    stude54ht
    Member
    from Spokane WA

    I've had a Costco battery in my Studebaker since 2001, still going strong.
     
  14. Get the highest CCA and biggest battery you can fit. If the car sits for long periods of time, either disconnect the battery or better to put it on a battery tender or hook up a trickle charger to a timer for couple hours a day.

    I have had good lluck with Wal-Mart batteries, and if you are awya form home, you can always find a Wal-Mart to take in for exchange or warranty. As stated, there are only about 3 battery mfrs, all the different brands are just different labels for the most part.
     
  15. DIE HARD here for daily drivers, HAMB friendly rides, pleasure boat and my John Deere, TR
     
  16. 48FordFanatic
    Joined: Feb 26, 2011
    Posts: 1,335

    48FordFanatic
    Member
    from Maine

    I have an Optima red in my street rod. Its been great. Reason I bought it....the guy who runs a salvage yard here in town uses an Optima to carry from car to car to start them for people who want to hear the engines run. He told me the Optima lasts 3-4 times longer between charges than conventional batteries.
     
  17. CH3NO2JAY
    Joined: Feb 28, 2008
    Posts: 244

    CH3NO2JAY
    Member
    from Chicago

    I'm a fan (performance wise) of AC-Delco sealed batteries personally. There are def. some design differences when it comes to battery construction, despite a few manufacturers builds other brands like mentioned above. When I was in school. I messed with many cut away batteries and any battery that can possibly catch the active material from falling off and possibly shorting out the other plate (+ to -) regardless of the insulator plate for each cell is a good selling point in my opinion. Die-Hard are good batteries, but they have ALOT of $$$ invested in advertisement to get the brand name out. Do not get me wrong, I just bought a GOLD Die-Hard for my pos Cavalier, but that was because 5 stores near me no longer carried AC-Delco... And I'm a Mopar guy, so I'm not being brand biased...
     
  18. batt69nova
    Joined: Nov 4, 2009
    Posts: 225

    batt69nova
    Member
    from OR

    So far:

    DieHard: 3
    Interstate: 2
    Optima: 3
    Autozone Gold: 1
    Walmart: 3
    Delco:1

    Wonder who manufacturers the batteries for wally?

    It's worth noting the number of Walmarts around...a warranty is only as good as the ability to cash in on it if needed.
     
  19. I've learned from my mistakes. I used Interstate batteries for years but tried others due to cost.

    I tried batteries like Exide, DuraLast (Neverlast), whatever the hell junk Advance Auto Parts sells and WalMart NeverStart batteries just plain SUCK!

    Sure places like WalMart warranty them with absolutely no problem at all. But constantly taking back a battery gets old.... real fuckin' old!

    The bottom line is that I went back to Interstate batteries and I'm not looking back! Fuck it!

    And here's a little F.Y.I.: Interstate and Sears are the same battery made by the same company.
     
  20. mustang6147
    Joined: Feb 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,847

    mustang6147
    Member
    from Kent, Ohio

    The best battery is the heaviest. The thicker the lead plates the longer they last, the more they weigh.

    Stay away from Duralast, and wally worlds and other off brands. Stick with Interstate or My choice NAPA gold, I always buy the one for the 1997 Ford F350 with the 7.3 PSD it has the longest reserve.
     
  21. man-a-fre
    Joined: Apr 13, 2005
    Posts: 1,311

    man-a-fre
    Member

    As said costco kirkland batteries are the best i know of.
     
  22. Truckedup
    Joined: Jul 25, 2006
    Posts: 4,661

    Truckedup
    Member

    I get 7 or 8 years from whatever brand is the least expensive at the time.
     
  23. Rookie1
    Joined: Apr 5, 2009
    Posts: 63

    Rookie1
    Member

    FYI,
    NEW CASTLE BATTERY ,New Castle,Pa.

    Don't Say It ! Take a look ! Made in AMERICA

    http://shop.turbostart.com/Collector-Car-Series_c2.htm
    I worked for a emergency generator company for 11 years, we never had one defective battery and i shipped or installed hundreds.
     
  24. I'm voting Interstate- and I'm extra thrifty so I go to the dealer and buy one that has a case blemish, new 30 or 35 bucks depending on the size. I cut out the tray lip on my forklift so I could use the bigger (and for some reason cheaper) size too.
     
  25. Jimmy2car
    Joined: Nov 26, 2003
    Posts: 1,707

    Jimmy2car
    Member
    from No. Cal

    Check out the Odysey Batteries. Small, powerful and sealed. I use one in my 32 Tudor under the rear seat. Weighs about 11 lbs, is about 6 X 7 X 3". US military now uses them
     
  26. Cerberus
    Joined: May 24, 2010
    Posts: 1,392

    Cerberus
    Member

    IMO, Optima Red is the best battery money can buy! Plus, they look perty, kinda like a six pack.
     
  27. And how much do they cost????
     
  28. I have been running a Die Hart Batt for the last 20 years
    in 3 different Cars my Link, Van & Merc Never had a Problem
    when I lived in AZ. I would use Recondition Bats they
    lasted quite a long time for 20 bucks
    you could not go wrong

    just my 3.5 cents
     
  29. Cruiser
    Joined: May 29, 2006
    Posts: 2,241

    Cruiser
    Member


    Works for me too.................... :D

    CRUISER :cool:
     
  30. Jimmy2car
    Joined: Nov 26, 2003
    Posts: 1,707

    Jimmy2car
    Member
    from No. Cal

    Waddayacare: About $130.00
     

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