Big Tow replacement battery

Strider · 01-21-2009, 06:26 AM

Greetings,

The battery in my truck is the original one for the 07 BT package. Could you folks recommend a maintenance free replacement?

Thanks,

OD

bestatchess · 01-21-2009, 06:40 AM

Odyssey PC1700MJT Battery: BatteryMart.com

PSNissanFleetMgr · 01-21-2009, 07:02 AM

That's a nice battery and all, but I'd check out AutoZone. I got a Duralast Gold for $89, which includes three years completely free replacement. The warranty itself is 8 years, after the initial 3, replacement is pro-rated.

HRTKD · 01-21-2009, 07:20 AM

{in my best smack talking voice}The SHELF LIFE of the Odyssey battery is longer than the WARRANTY on the Duralast.

Seriously though, I bought the Odyssey because I needed a battery that had little chance of taking a crap on me when I'm out in the sticks, miles from civilization. For the wife's minivan the Walmart battery is just fine. I suspect the Duralast is somewhere between those two extremes and certainly less expensive than the Odyssey.

Strider · 01-21-2009, 07:28 AM

So . . . there is nothing special about this "larger" battery you get with the tow package?

OD

HRTKD · 01-21-2009, 07:37 AM

I don't know that the Big Tow battery is physically larger, but is has more cranking amps (710) than the regular battery (650).

Riverratt · 01-21-2009, 07:41 AM

I'll second the Autozone Duralast option.

orionS14 · 01-21-2009, 07:59 AM

My vote: Optima Red Top

Yeah, $180 or so, maybe a little less...but, you WILL NOT need the warranty.

I'd rather pay a little more up front, and KNOW that it won't leave my wife stranded...than save a few bucks, and expect to have to use the warranty.

(In this hypothetical situation where my wife is driving my truck...hehe)

...

That Odyssey battery is bad-***...but $312...holy sh!t.

- Brian

HRTKD · 01-21-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orionS14

That Odyssey battery is bad-***...but $312...holy sh!t.

I think I got mine for less than $260 shipped. Still, that's expensive.

ten~39 · 01-21-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strider

So . . . there is nothing special about this "larger" battery you get with the tow package?

Quote:

Originally Posted by HRTKD

I don't know that the Big Tow battery is physically larger, but is has more cranking amps (710) than the regular battery (650).

There's a physical difference, actually.

There're several standardized auto battery casing sizes, and the BT battery is a larger, different "group" size as compared to the non-BT battery. Did a (quick) bunch of research into BT Titan-fitting batteries, and auto batteries in general, late last summer when my original BT battery went from fine to junk in one day.

The biggest thing that limits what batteries are available for the BT Titans is the fact that our trucks are wired and setup for reverse post battery layout. You combine that with our large and odd physical group size and it REALLY limits what's available.

I ended up just buying a Sears Diehard International battery because I read good reviews on it, and it fit the group size and reverse terminal requirements of the BT Titan. It also wasn't silly expensive like the slightly different technology Odyssey, Optima, or Sears Platinum type of batteries, which my little bit of research showed to be overkill for me since they're really meant more for guys with large stereos, or enough lights to illuminate a baseball diamond.

All of this is not to say you couldn't use the non-BT group size battery in your BT truck. You would just have to jerry-rig some sort of blocking or spacers to secure the (smaller) non-BT battery in you existing (larger) BT tray, or just buy the non-BT tray and hardware from you're dealer. I suspect most aren't really interested in either of those options, so it's best to just buy the right group size in the first place.

HudsonValleyTitan · 01-21-2009, 06:57 PM

Geez, even a friggin Walmart battery will last 2 or 3 years. There's NO reason to spend more than $80-$100 for a battery. And if you have to, go for a sears DieHard gold. 6 years and still going in a friends car!

**Arachnid** · 01-21-2009, 07:02 PM

I'm hoping my 07 battery at least makes it until the warranty runs out!

HudsonValleyTitan · 01-21-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arachnid

I'm hoping my 07 battery at least makes it until the warranty runs out!

The BT battery in my 04 was still going strong when I traded it for my 08.

HRTKD · 01-21-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HudsonValleyTitan

Geez, even a friggin Walmart battery will last 2 or 3 years. There's NO reason to spend more than $80-$100 for a battery. And if you have to, go for a sears DieHard gold. 6 years and still going in a friends car!

I'm paranoid and I'm OK with that. Plus I have the driving lights and winch. The winch can be a huge draw on the battery even though I don't (usually) run the winch without the engine running.

HudsonValleyTitan · 01-21-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HRTKD

I'm paranoid and I'm OK with that. Plus I have the driving lights and winch. The winch can be a huge draw on the battery even though I don't (usually) run the winch without the engine running.

Oh absolutely! I've always said, and should have again mentioned, these high output, high end batteries are only needed in cases where maybe a high powered stereo system is used or something else requiring a deep cycle battery.