Optima Batteries

[Sinac]

Will the factory battery brackets in a late 99 hold them in, or do I need an optima battery tray?

[Scooter9495]

Originally Posted by Sinac

Will the factory battery brackets in a late 99 hold them in, or do I need an optima battery tray?

If you buy them new they come with adapters so they use the factory hold downs.

[NCHornet]

They will come with adaptors, but to be honest I sure wouldn't bother with them. Not worth the extra $$$ and they never rate that high in comparisons that I have seen. Duralst Gold's rated #1 in the last consumer reports test. This is what I ran, but that was back when they were $70 each. Had one die the day after the 3 year full replacement was over. Thanks to a good manager at AZ I still got both replaced for FREE. They are now running over $100 each, for that I would go back to Motorcraft, my stockers lasted 5+ years, that's a long time for batteries in these trucks!!
Just my .02 YMMV!!

NCH

[Tony V]

I run the duralast golds and they last me forever.

[NotStock]

The optimas are top top notch.... only the people who dont know how to properly maintain them have issues with them... they will literally last you forever... you will never need another battery.... due to gel cell technology, when the battery dies, it cant take just a quick charge and you are good to go... you need a trickle charger on them... they will charge quick a few times but after a few times jump starting they wont hold a charge because the ions are separated in the gel mixture... you need to turn it upside for a day, let everything mix back together, then put a trickle charger on it.... if you do this you can even take old optimas that people thought were dead and use them.... i took a 6 yr old optima battery that had been in my buddies garage and was long dead and did this... he didnt believe me... well he is running it in his truck now and swears by optima... you need to know about the battery if you are going to use it...

[chrispaine]

Originally Posted by NotStock

The optimas are top top notch.... only the people who dont know how to properly maintain them have issues with them... they will literally last you forever... you will never need another battery.... due to gel cell technology, when the battery dies, it cant take just a quick charge and you are good to go... you need a trickle charger on them... they will charge quick a few times but after a few times jump starting they wont hold a charge because the ions are separated in the gel mixture... you need to turn it upside for a day, let everything mix back together, then put a trickle charger on it.... if you do this you can even take old optimas that people thought were dead and use them.... i took a 6 yr old optima battery that had been in my buddies garage and was long dead and did this... he didnt believe me... well he is running it in his truck now and swears by optima... you need to know about the battery if you are going to use it...

Good to know! I have a red top in my jeep, I'll remember this if it ever fails. the jeep is an 05 and it is stock so its doing well so far!

[layson]

I won't run them again.. . I was probably one of those who didn't know how to use them... But I have not had any issues with my duralast golds...

Only reason I would get them is IF I was planning on moving the batteries under the truck, or trying to fit them on one side of the engine bay... OR mounting them upside down or some other wierd configuration...

[Sinac]

I was just curious. I have a red top in my Mustang and have had it for over 2 years. The car sits at least 4 months a year. I've left interior lights on for days at a time while working on it and it started right up. I've never had a single issue with it and because of it I swear by them. It is in an optima tray though, I could not remember if they came with adapters or not.

[monoloco]

I have had the red tops in my truck for 4 years with no problems. The really nice thing is I have never even had to clean the terminals. Before I switched to the Optimas I had to clean my terminals at least a couple of times a year.