GSGALLANT

I apologize for the long post. This isn't really a question I need answered... mostly just posting a bit of info and I am a bit curious, I guess.

A bit of background: The original (575 cold cranking amp) 6.5 year old battery in my 2002 4Runner left my very pregnant wife stranded today at the grocery store. She wasn't pleased. I knew the battery was on it's way out, because engine starts were getting a bit laboured... even in the summer.

I new I wanted an Optima red top, because I have been very pleased with my blue top aux battery since I installed it a year ago.

Consensus seems to be that the 34R is the way to go... problem being that it can't be found locally around here. I could have gotten the 34/78, which will fit with a few small mods to the battery wires (or it can be mounted on its side). The height adapter sort of fits on the side of the battery but it didn't seem like it would distribute the clamping force very well on the side of the battery (it is designed to fit on the bottom to make it taller).

My local Walmart had the group 35 red top for sale for $20 cheaper than the 34/78, and the posts are correctly positioned for a 3rd gen 4Runner (same side as the 34R battery).

A quick search on the Optima website revealed that the 35 only has 910 cranking amps (vs the 1000 that the 34R has) and 720 cold cranking amps (vs the 800 that the 34R has). I figured... big deal... my stock battery only had 575 cold cranking amps, and has always started the 4Runner with no problems, even in the coldest of east Canadian winters. All my accessory loads (Warn M8000 winch, Hella 500 Lights, 2M radio, 1000W inverter, 12V power plugs, etc...) are powered from my blue top auxiliary battery, so my starter battery essentially only starts the truck and and powers the normal stock electrical loads (headlights, dome lights, radio, etc...).

Anyways, to make a long story short. I bought the red top 35 and installed it (using the supplied adapter to make it the same height as the stock battery). It fits perfectly, with no issues with the battery cable lengths. It is a direct bolt in replacement.

I haven't tried it too much yet, but I don't ever remember the 4Runner starting this quickly before.

So hopefully this info will help somebody that can't find the 34R battery locally, and doesn't want to do the modifications required to install the 34/78 battery. I guess I was also curious to know why more people aren't using the 35 red top, since it is a great improvement over the stock battery, it is a direct bolt in replacement, it is a bit cheaper than the 34R and the 34/78 red tops, and has the same 3 year replacement warranty as the other red top batteries.

ThorMX17

good info. i may have to get one soon too. ill definitely be lookin into this one.

Motayota

I just got this battery(35) a couple of weeks ago and I felt the same way. I heard people not being able to get it to fit right but it fits perfectly.

pmbazus

I had the Optima group 35 on my 2004 Tacoma and it fits just fine. Anybody that wants an Optima should look into the 35. Optima also makes a yellow top 35.

4runnit

i just installed a 35 red top yesterday. i had to extend the cables a bit but other than that, it fit perfectly. ive heard good things about optima and after only one day i can already tell this was money well spent