AGM battery advice

I bought 2 deka's but they were factory 2nds, we have a factory second battery depot in our city so far holding up very well AGM31s, hold a charge very well and I only paid $119.00 each for them. They could go for a **** but I keep them maintained and up to charge I'll see in the next year or so, price was right after a brand new camper, got a new acid flood battery in the garage from the camper though!!!!

I had two Optimas go belly up within 18 mos and a third last about two years. I would not ever recommend one to anyone. Plus they are only 55amp hr.
I have been using Universal and they seem to be holding up well.

Just bought a boat in april,guy said batterys need upgrade after only a few years. They were AGMs from Cabelas.I went with Life Lines ,also happy with them.

Bestconverter.com, has great prices on AGM's, everything really...

tmartin000 wrote:
Oh my, let me tell you. If you aren't paying almost twice for an AGM battery over lead acid, your getting junk. Optima batteries are some oif the worst AGM batteries, as of two years ago. They went to **** after they switch manufacturers.

Sears platinum Marine AGM's are rebranded Odyssy batteries and with a free THREE YEAR over the counter replacement warranty, cannot be beat.

Second runner up is the same rebranded Odyssy batteries from West Marine.

Third would be Cabellas.

I've never installed Deka AGM's, but I'm sure they are equally good.

But do not buy optima's.

I'll 2nd that. I went through (warranty) 3 optima red tops in 5 years in my ski boat. 1st time thought it was cuz I didn't maintain it over the winter. 2nd one died the same early death with battery maintenance. Same with 3rd one.
4th new one, still on warranty, pulled from boat in the fall, put in my old jeep. That was in 2009?, maybe 08. Jeep has been parked indoors, outside, used to put it on a maintainer once in a while, but not for the last few years. Maybe gets started every few months for a few minutes, sat for 18 mo, no charge, no start and it's still kicking. Just fired the jeep up a couple weeks ago to move the boat.
Since I only paid for 1 battery gues I could say it's lasted 8 years lol.
Plus I had a blue top go tits up in the same amount of time, with off season maint.

Odyssey batteries are quality IMO. Bought a pair for the new boat one in 09 other one 2 yrs later. The older one is from 09. Pulled them both from the boat and put in the truck in '13. Still going strong at 5 and 7 years old.
Have a newer set of Die hard re branded Odysseys now in the boat. Much cheaper than odyssey and good performance so far 2 years in. Boat sits on a maintainer when not in use (like 360 days a year!).
Dekas are highly recommended by guys with big boat stereos too.

Flapper wrote:
Another vote for Cabela's. Have two 31's in my boat for trolling, and they've been trouble free for 4 years now. Best $$ for Amps ratio I could find.
Would have put them in my fifth too, but 6v Costco won the $ for amps contest there, where I don't have to worry about acid sloshing out, like happens in the boat.

Be careful with the height of the batteries, I have Lifeline 6 volts and the batteries barely fit with the compartment door removed. Also be careful of the weight, once the camper is on the truck the battery compartment is higher up and the batteries would harder to remove easily.

Another vote for Cabela's. Have two 31's in my boat for trolling, and they've been trouble free for 4 years now. Best $$ for Amps ratio I could find.
Would have put them in my fifth too, but 6v Costco won the $ for amps contest there, where I don't have to worry about acid sloshing out, like happens in the boat.

Lifeline in the TC, Optima red-top in the truck. They both work great in their assigned duties.

I have Lifeline AGMs in my Tiger but was very pleased with my Optima batteries in my Born Free. Bought those in 2009 so don't know if the manufacturer changed since then. They charged quickly and held a charge well.

SAMs Club...group 31 AMG....$179 each.... Hard to beat!