Hey, I've got a 1996 4Runner, with the factory battery -- so needless to say I'm thinking about replacing it. After digging around with the search feature I saw that the optima batteries seem pretty popular (with a custom bracket).

I was wondering what sorts of after market batteries people are using here, and what sorts of luck they are having with them. Optima would be great if it wasn't for having to order an expensive clamp to go with an already expensive battery.

 

STOCK BATTERY!?!?!? Dude, I wish! Batteries out here in the desert only last a couple of years. I have a DuraLast in my truck, and it's held up great. (Almost 3 years)

 

expensive clamp?

i used my factory one and its fine

 

Hey Caffeine;

My vote is for a Yellow Top Optima

 

What size of optima fits in a 4runner? Wherever I've looked I couldn't find the right BCI size.

 

Optima! Then Red, Yellow or Blue depending on what you do with the truck and how much electrical stuff you have in it.

The brackets that you're finding are _nice_ but not _required_. The stock bracket will hold the battery fine.

The reason for the bracket is that the Optima batteries are shorter, so you have to block them up to get a good fit with the stock bracket. Most of the Red tops (all? Blue & Yellow too?) come with a "booster seat" for the battery which works well.

_I_ went with one of the beefy brackets 'cause I never got a booster seat, and had issues with my battery sliding around on top of wood blocks. This is LARGELY due to my driving with my right foot over ANYTHING on the trail.

 

Dood...

Red Tops
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publi...cal_specs.html

Yellow Tops
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publi...cal_specs.html

Blue Tops
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publi...cal_specs.html

ALL of the 12v Optima batteries are VERY close to the same physical size. ANY of them will fit in the stock location on a 3rd gen.

 

I love my Blue Top...the size is a D34M (noted in my sig). Costco has good prices on all the Optima's, they even come with the booster tray. I chose the Blue Top because of it's versatility...High CCA's, resiliant to deep discharge and dual top post terminals.

 

I'm kind of in the same boat, I have been thinking of getting an optima for a while, but which color? I have a stereo and plan on putting on at least 3 sets of lights,, but then i need high CCA's cause i go snowmobiling and it gets super cold where i go, and need the juice.

 

I've been running Optima Red Tops in all of my vehicles for years, and they are simply the best batteries that I've ever seen!

That being said, their one downfall (IMHO) is that when they decide that it's time to go, they do it VERY quickly, so, at the first sign of trouble, and you know that the battery has been there a while (6 or 7 years has been normal, for me), CHANGE IT!!

Another note - the red tops need to be cycled pretty regularly. If they totally discharge, you're not likely to be able to bring it back from the dead. In this case, I'm referring to at least once every 2 or three weeks, mimimum, to keep it in good condition.

 

breknraj,
You illustrate my point perfectly. I had a Red Top for 8 years and noticed a slight degredation in performance a month before it died...then it really died. It wouldn't charge over 7 volts even when put on a constant voltage charger.

HOJU,
You sound like a perfect canadiate for the Blue Top. Lemme know if you have any questions.

 

The Optima Red Top 34r Has Worked The Best For My '03 4runner.
I Have Some Lights, Not Too Much Else Thats Not Stock.

 

red top with "custom" wood block booster seat and use the stock hold down. works fine.

ive deap cycled my red top in the 4runner recently and it doesnt seem to have taken a liking to that so if it gets replaced it wil proiblby be with a yellow top.

 

Looking at the website there is not a technical difference between a yellow-top and a blue top (the dual not starting). So what is the difference? Vibration? I have had some excellent luck with my yellow top.

My yellow top sat dead (.010 volts) for 6 weeks, 24 hours on a good charger and it works fine, that was 2 years ago.

 

I've had problems with my optima crushing the fender where it sits and now it wont clamp down, i'm gonna have to put it in the bed soon...
Mike