I agree, and I think it's worth mentioning that the Optima battery mentioned above is more of a specialty battery.

To be honest, the only benefit I've seen from a dry cell like an Optima is resistance to vibration and tolerance for odd mounting angles. Regular batteries fail after a few years...and so do Optimas.....not sure where the advantage is for normal use...

 

When to Replace Battery? when it dies! But seriously, it depends on the vehicle and battery! You should notice signs when it starts becoming questionable. If you start noticing longer cranks or dimming interior lights when you enter vehicle, replace asap so you don't get stranded. The thing usually takes a dump when you can least afford it to.

 

Consumer Reports rated the Wal-mart series 65 Maxx a best buy in their last battery tests.

 

the batteries in these trucks don't really do that. they work up to a certain point...and poof. stop working. usually no warning at all

 

Um...unless lead-acid battery technology has changed in the last 100 years...which it hasn't....they very well can and do lose their capacity over time.

There are many factors that affect battery life, as well as there are many different manners in which they can fail. A very common means is through sulphation, which is caused by deeply discharging a battery. Otherwise, heat is another common culprit...



Part of the way batteries work is how they require heat to function. Less heat means less potential current. This is why cars are harder to start when cold, and you have different temperatures of rating their output. When a battery gets weaker over time, and cold weather sets in, a battery that may have been able to start the truck in the fall will not be able to provide enough current to start in colder weather.

This is why they have machines to test batteries. If it were as simple as "it works" or "it's dead", there would be NO need for a battery load test!

 

MSRP at Ford for a slightly higher capacity battery than my 04 with towing package is $79.95. I got it wholesale last month through my brother for $69.95. However, the next week I got a coupoon for a $20 rebate on the battery (if I had gotten it retail).

 

Something I've noticed; those living in warmer climates get absolutely no warning. They drive, make a quick stop, come back out and nadda. The battery is completely pooched. In cold climates we usually get some kind of indication that something is up. That first weak start on a cold morning is a telltale sign.
That being said, my 05 battery has been strong and it's been cold so I'm not going to worry yet.

 

I've seen too many people have issues with Optmas for me to even consider spending the money they want for one as well.

 

This is all good info. I’m in the lower portion of that map, where the life expectancy is about 41 months. Three days ago, when I started my truck the temp. was in the 20s, and it seemed just a little sluggish when I first started it in the morning, however today the temp is in the 50s, and it cranked right up when I first started this morning. Not trying to be a miser, but I think I might have a few months left on this battery. Temps are supposed to drop again next week, I’ll pay close attention to see if it’s any more sluggish than it was earlier this week. I’ve also heard that not replacing a weak battery can cause the alternator to go bad from overworking to constantly keep the battery charged. As far as what type of battery to buy, I think that freshness has a lot to do with how well a battery will perform. I like getting my batts from Sam’s Club, because I can look at the date codes and select the freshest battery. I’ve gone behind their rack and picked fresh batts right off the pallet. When it comes to my boat, it gets only the best, and I’m convinced that Optima type batts are the best. My boat rarely gets used more that once a week and this time of year it will often set for 2+ months without being used. It’s been sitting in storage for over a month, and probably won’t be used until sometime next month, but I can be certain that I will get full power, and will not have to even think about replacing it for four full years.

 

The battery in my boat is a cheap Walmart Energizer. It's 4 years old and sits in a cold garage. I just used in it late October for our fall Muskie trip. It's still going strong and goes months between uses. I do throw it ok the charger from time to time.

 

I've never had problems with regular batteries, just like the Gel Cells better. I've got a bay boat that sits in a storage building and with the Optima I don't ever have to charge the cranking battery. I've got three other trolling batteries to keep charged.

 

What got me thinking about my battery, was because my daughter who has a Suburban that she bought about six months after I bought my truck, already had to replace the battery. It was this past summer, she said that it hesitated to start, but then started so she drove it. Later that day she had left an interior light for a couple hours, then when she went to start it, it wouldn’t start. So she let it set for about twenty minutes and then it started. I told her that the first hesitant start was her first warning, the second non-start was a definite warning, and to make sure that if she did drive it somewhere that it was to have it replaced.

 

That's what I said, and that's what mine did. Started one day, and the next, it didn't. Had a dinky little battery in it, and it didn't even fill the tray. My new one does.

 

Tow II, Even on a brand new battery, you will notice slightly slower starts when it gets really cold. I remember one morning it was -23 outside, and my truck BARELY started! The battery was fine, but because it was cold out, it just didn't have the power output to start "normally".

How cold was it when it started "sluggishly"? Anything above 20 degrees, I'd replace it immediately. Remember, if it was noticeably slower starting, it will most likely not start at a colder temperature.

I'd take it to wal-mart, let 'em test it for free...and if it's bad, they'll sell you one at a decent price, with FREE installation...

 

My battery is close to five years old, so I’m definitely going to replace it, certainly wouldn’t go on a long trip, or anywhere else where I could possibly get stranded. I’m off work all this month, and I live in Texas so we don’t get any serious cold. We had temps just below freezing on Monday-Tuesday, and I could tell that my starter wasn’t cranking as fast as it should. If I have to drive anywhere before we get another cold snap, I’ll have a new battery.