Buying Advice Optima battery for CT235

Slowtorque · Aug 30, 2011

I think a few of you have installed this sealed unit. I am looking for the model number of the correct Optima battery. Thanks very much.

tonydn6 · Aug 31, 2011

I went with a Sears Diehard Platinum P-1 sealed battery for my CT235 so if you have a Sears near you then you can go with this one. Not sure what the Optima batteries run but the Sears P-1 was about $200.

Bigasspilot · Sep 1, 2011

I used an Optima battery they refer as "Redtop" in my 235. It has the highest cold cranking rating as well as being "2X vibration resistant". Works great, not a lick of problems and was about $120 at Sams Club. All the best.

ss4010 · Sep 4, 2011

I went with the Optima Yellow Top 34/78 from Amazon (it seems to have gone up $15 in the last few weeks). I intend to use to to power an electric winch as well and the second terminals (and deep cycle) make for a good winching battery. The only down side is installed the second terminals face the back towards the oil cooler, making it a bit more challenging to hook up. On that same note, I'd hoped to install a larger battery, however the oil cooler lines are a limiting factor for space (the battery fit's between them).

http://www.optimabatteries.com/_media/documents/specs/D34_78.pdf

I just had my first optima red top die (one of the cells shorted) in the truck. It lasted 13 years. The other five in my collection are still going strong. So if I get 13 years out of every Optima battery I'll be tickled.

Steve

MtnViewRanch · Sep 5, 2011

ss4010 said:
I went with the Optima Yellow Top 34/78 from Amazon (it seems to have gone up $15 in the last few weeks). I intend to use to to power an electric winch as well and the second terminals (and deep cycle) make for a good winching battery. The only down side is installed the second terminals face the back towards the oil cooler, making it a bit more challenging to hook up. On that same note, I'd hoped to install a larger battery, however the oil cooler lines are a limiting factor for space (the battery fit's between them).

http://www.optimabatteries.com/_media/documents/specs/D34_78.pdf

I just had my first optima red top die (one of the cells shorted) in the truck. It lasted 13 years. The other five in my collection are still going strong. So if I get 13 years out of every Optima battery I'll be tickled.

Steve

Steve, good luck to you. It has been my experience that the RED top optimas have gotten quite a bit worse in quality from years past. I finally gave up on them when they quite lasting any longer than other batteries of about 1/2 the cost. I have some blue top batteries in my travel trailer for the past 7 years and have had zero problems and the same goes for the yellow top batteries that my brother has had for well over 10 years. But for whatever reason the red tops just do not seem to last like they use to.

ss4010 · Sep 9, 2011

MtnViewRanch said:
Steve, good luck to you. It has been my experience that the RED top optimas have gotten quite a bit worse in quality from years past. I finally gave up on them when they quite lasting any longer than other batteries of about 1/2 the cost. I have some blue top batteries in my travel trailer for the past 7 years and have had zero problems and the same goes for the yellow top batteries that my brother has had for well over 10 years. But for whatever reason the red tops just do not seem to last like they use to.

The new ones are all yellow top (truck, tractor etc.) or blue top (boat). I did notice that the new Optima's are now made in Mexico instead of Colorado and that Johnson Controls now owns them. Perhaps something (quality) was lost in the transition? Time will tell the story on whether the newer Optima's will last the same as the old ones. Rumors are Odyssey batteries are pretty sweet and may give them a try (albeit they are even more expensive, ouch), so Exide or one of the other brands may get a shot in the near future.

Steve

milkman636 · Sep 9, 2011

Johnson Controls also made most of the crappy Die Hard batteries that Sears has peddled over the years. Them being involved may be some bad news.

Crike · Sep 9, 2011

I looked at the Optima yellow top at Sam's ($168), red ($150). They also sell Duracell Auto batts. now but I didn't see one that was sealed with gel. My Bobcat (Exide) batt. is two years old now and I've had to clean corrosion from the post and stablizer bar a few times. It may be best to replace it now before I end up with some damage like others have. Gonna shop around today but I think I'll end up with the the yellow top. Does anyone know a better option for the price?