What battery do you recommend?

[Sworn]

I just bought an 88 project Ranger and would like to put a new battery in it. The one it came with looks to be pretty damn old! Anyway what do you guys prefer in terms of batteries. I would like to do an Optima but done feel like spending Optima money...Any input is appreciated.

 

[kunar]

well an optima is nice but not entirely needed most of the time. i just measured my battery tray and took a tape measure to autozone and bought the biggest one i could fit. its rated at almost 2x the ca and cca of my stocker.

 

[Sworn]

well an optima is nice but not entirely needed most of the time. i just measured my battery tray and took a tape measure to autozone and bought the biggest one i could fit. its rated at almost 2x the ca and cca of my stocker.

I do like the Optima, just don't feel like spending that much on a battery. Curious, what was the ca and cca on the one you bought?

 

[michowski]

how much are you looking to spend. You can get the optima red top for about 100 bucks. Otherwise besides that all I have around me is like duralast crap, and cheap knock offs for these auto stores.

 

[MAKG]

Do you NEED a new battery? Age isn't enough; have it load tested.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

You don't need a bigger battery than stock unless you are powering some HEAVY aftermarket accessories like a winch.

 

[Sworn]

You don't need a bigger battery than stock unless you are powering some HEAVY aftermarket accessories like a winch.

Nothing like that. It's just that the truck will be sitting outside all winter, and we get some pretty cold nights! I just wanted something with allot of CCA.

 

[michowski]

If its just going to be sitting there then I would remove the battery and keep that inside. Then either a day before you wanna fire up your truck again just put it on the charger.

 

[Sworn]

If its just going to be sitting there then I would remove the battery and keep that inside. Then either a day before you wanna fire up your truck again just put it on the charger.

I meant that it won't be in a garage. I plan on using it as a D/D and I like the idea of allot of cold cranking amps. Especially when the wind chill gets well into the negative numbers......

 

[krugford]

I also believe in stuffing the biggest battery that will fit under the hood of my truck, but you should know that windchill only affects you, not the truck....

My personal preference is either with a Motorcraft, Interstate, or Sears DieHard. All three happen to be made by Johnson Controls. With batteries, you get what you pay for.

 

[kunar]

I do like the Optima, just don't feel like spending that much on a battery. Curious, what was the ca and cca on the one you bought?

this is the one they want you to use (610 CA) and this is the one i used (810 CA) not quite as big as i had thought but still better than stock. maybe the one that was in there when i bought the truck was smaller than it was supposed to be...

 

[Jspafford]

I always use Interstate batteries. Mainly because I get them at a discount thru my work, but I left my dome light on all weekend once and it was still on when I got home on Sunday. Truck wouldn't start, but the light was still on....

 

[Thumper113]

+1 on Interstate Batteries. I'm still using the MegaTron in my current Ranger that I bought for my 86 Ranger back in May of '98, (I just checked the receipt), and it was only supposed to be a 6 year battery. I'm sold on Interstate Batteries. At the shops I've worked at, they are the only ones that very rarely & I mean, very rarely have a problem & I've seen lots of other battery brands we've sold fail prematurely to be able to make Interstate my favorite battery.

 

[94STXRanger]

this is the one they want you to use (610 CA) and this is the one i used (810 CA) not quite as big as i had thought but still better than stock. maybe the one that was in there when i bought the truck was smaller than it was supposed to be...

CCA is what matters in your battery, not so much CA, im pretty sure. As long as the cold cranking amps is equivalent to or higher than your stock CCA then your good.

 

[Sworn]

I also believe in stuffing the biggest battery that will fit under the hood of my truck

That's my school of thought as well........

 

[red85]

Go big or go home if it needs replacement. I prefer MotoMaster Eliminators myself, but since you're south of the border, Exide/Interstate is really a great value. If you deal with any temps below about -15C and you have anything more than a four cylinder, 750 CCA or better will do the job very well.