What battery?

[HardTech]

Well i searched the forums, and looked at the first 9 pages or so and didn’t find what I wanted to know.

I have a stock 1995 Explorer XLT 2WD and I need to know what battery I need to buy. I currently have a battery going bad on me. I know it is because it can not take a load on it while not charging. If it just sits its fine. Found this out while charging my RC car for about 15 mins. The truck didn’t want to start but it did. The battery is putting out a good 12 volts, near 13. So it holds a charge, it just cant take a draw anymore unless its just the engine. This I think is the second battery in 10 years and 123k miles. Its a motor craft so I know the last time this battery was replaced it was at a ford shop, so...

So time for a battery change (so you know check alt and its putting out 14+) and i need to know what kind. Ill be buying more on the premium end. I found this out, cheap does not work. When the warrantee goes out, so does the battery. My dad when with a high quality one on his car about 7 years ago and its still going strong, and can still take a current draw and start the car.

Now the new battery I want to fit in the battery holder with cover in place. It just makes it nice and clean looking. I’m not a fan of square but if it has to be, it better look nice. So what do you guys suggest I get when its time to buy. Sometimes we go camping and leave the doors open till the lights go out. Also I have an inverter for laptops and RC car stuff. So it may get drawn off that for like half hour sprints or maybe longer. I need a battery that can take this. I know this is not "heavy loads" but I know even this use can destroy a cheap battery.

So list the suggestions you have, I plan to keep the truck for as long as it can go. Or until my pay picks up by a large amount. Some how I think the first option will happen

So let’s hear them Also if you have any other suggestions of things that should be checked or replaced when doing the battery. 123k miles on battery cables alright? They look perfect to me.

 

[Robb]

Any "brand name" battery should do you well. Asking peeps for their personal preference in battery makers will go on forever, and not really give you any info. Just get a "good" name replacement with the stock case and CCAs and you should be good to go.

 

[HardTech]

yeah, im just making sure there is not a general "stay away" from battery. Plus I didnt know if there was something common or not. Because when you look at half the pics here, you tend to see the same battery, or atleast same looking. Hard to tell because the battery is normaly on the off shot.

 

[Maniak]

Personally, I like gel cell batteris (exide oribital, or optima).. I find I get much less (if any) corroson on the battery terminals.. Also, no acid spill when I go wheeling.

~Mark

 

[BeauJ]

Go with an Optima Yellow Top. They are pricey, but you won't have to worry about trouble from it for years. Had one in a F-100 for 10 years that finally went out.

 

[aldive]

Go with an Optima Yellow Top. They are pricey, but you won't have to worry about trouble from it for years.

I concur. Have used Yellow Tops in boats for years with no worries; have one in my Explorer now.

 

[spindlecone]

Personally, I like gel cell batteris (exide oribital, or optima).. I find I get much less (if any) corroson on the battery terminals.. Also, no acid spill when I go wheeling.

~Mark

Do's optima Make a Gel Cell?

 

[Robb]

Do's optima Make a Gel Cell?

All Optima batteries are gel cells.

 

[Rhett]

I concur. Have used Yellow Tops in boats for years with no worries; have one in my Explorer now.

I thought a Yellow Top was a deep-cycle battery, used as an auxiliary in cars with big stereos or in boats. Why are you guys using the Yellow Top as your cranking battery over a Red Top in your cars?

I thought the Red Top was more appropriate?

 

[Robb]

Optima markets the Yellow Top as a dual purpose battery........starting and deep cycle. Red is starting, and Blue is deep cycle. A lot of people go with the Yellow because it seems like a good compromise between the two.

 

[spindlecone]

I like my Yellow top, and Robb, Optimas are not Gel Cells, are AGMs, big diff

 

[Robb]

Congrats!! You set up that question just to see if you could prove someone wrong by them falling for it.

You Win!!

You're a Winner!!

 

[aldive]

I thought a Yellow Top was a deep-cycle battery, used as an auxiliary in cars with big stereos or in boats. Why are you guys using the Yellow Top as your cranking battery over a Red Top in your cars?

I thought the Red Top was more appropriate?

I use a Yellow Top in my truck because I have had such good luck with them in the boat ( uses 3 ). If you can't kill one in the hot, vibration and bashing, salt air environment of the boat, its gotta be good for the truck.

 

[spindlecone]

Congrats!! You set up that question just to see if you could prove someone wrong by them falling for it.

You Win!!

You're a Winner!!

I truly do not understand your attitude Robb, optima makes far more batts than the red, yellow and blue tops, my question was do they make a Gel cell.
Your statement was wrong, was not my intent to get off by proving anything.
Sorry if you took offense

 

[davidmmm69]

have had a cheap wal mart battery in my 1995 and it started every day last winter. especially one saturday morning when my SUV said -5 and it was 9am..

so it is just a personal preference.....

 

[davidmmm69]

all the talk about differnet color tops...
how about a copper top battery?

 

[IZwack]

ahahah all i can say is..
0hned


now... as for the battery, try to get the battery somewhere close to ur house and with some warranty.. should the battery ever die or about to die, itll be easier for u to get ur car there, or ride a bike there with the battery stuffed in ur backpack thats right, work them legs...

 

[bmxking5]

I have a red top. So far it is awesome. I got a red top for mine, because I plan on running a dual battery setup later on. I'll get a yellow top to power my winch, 5+ lights, OBA, etc. (I have none of these yet )

 

[spindlecone]

have had a cheap wal mart battery in my 1995 and it started every day last winter. especially one saturday morning when my SUV said -5 and it was 9am..

so it is just a personal preference.....

Or more money than brains, lead acid batts well serve most people very well

 

[davidmmm69]

if you do not want to spend a huge amount on a battery. If the truck is just stock. there is no need for a real expensive battery..
meaning no extra lights or amps or winches.