This thread BAFFLES ME.... I've read many other threads who say the new yellow tops are PIECES OF SH*T..... If you have the money I'd go...
SEARS DIEHARD or as I did the ODYSSEY
Many guys will back this up too!!!

 

So many threads on this ....I was on a budget and got the Duralast Platnium from Autozone for about 150$.
It's also an AGM, combination starting and deep cycle battery, just like the Yellow Top.

 

The Duralast Platinum is a re-badged Deka Intimidator. look at the 2 of them side by side.

Also found this at another site while I was doing research.....

"Deka is the only US manufacturer of maintenance free batteries. They have an AGM battery called the Intimdtator and it is the only AGM battery that comes in a group 65. Deka makes Carquest, Federated, Some Napa batteries(E. of Colorado), and some others. "

 

My Yellow Top crapped out on me, so I bought the Sears Diehard Platinum. Bought the marine version as I like to studs on top of the battery, and not on the side.

 

I have a yellow top and like the fact that it is filled with gel and is a deep cycle battery.

 

Not the only one. Enersys, headquartered in Reading Pa. manufactures at least two brands here in the US. Odyssey and the Sears DieHard Platinum. Both are maintenance free.
As a matter of fact, here is an interesting article:

EnerSys Awarded $38 Million Contract by Defense Logistics Agency
READING, Pa., Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

EnerSys (NYSE: ENS), the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, announced that it has received a multi-year contract award, with an estimated value of $38.5 million in the first year from the United States Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), to produce valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries using its proprietary thin plate pure lead technology. The award is for EnerSys' Hawker Armasafe Plus batteries for use by the United States Army and Marine Corps and for EnerSys' Hawker F-16 batteries for use by the United States Navy and Air Force. The contract provides for the DLA to exercise additional equal annual options through 2014.


"EnerSys has supplied approximately one million Hawker Armasafe Plus batteries to the US military and remains a dedicated supplier to our fighting forces both at home and abroad," said John Craig, chairman, president and chief executive officer of EnerSys. "We are pleased that DLA has acknowledged our efforts to support the US military by extending our supplier relationship for several additional years."

EnerSys will continue to produce Hawker Armasafe Plus and F-16 batteries at the company's highly automated facility in Warrensburg, Missouri where batteries for the US Navy nuclear submarines are also manufactured.

 

I bought a yellow top Optima when I installed a winch about 2.5 years ago on my jeep. While it delivers power I need, I noticed about 8 months ago a small crack formed in the battery case close to the positive terminal post. It seems to be growing albeit at a slow rate. Don't know when it will decide to split or if it will, but for the money I spent on it, I think it should be more durable.

 

The Sears Die-Hard Platinum seems to be one of the favorites on this forum. Before I purchased a new battery for my JK I was highly considering an Optima Yellow top. I did my homework and decided to go with Sears Die-Hard Platinum instead. There's a lot of good stories and there are also a lot of bad stories about the Optimas. I haven't read any bad stories on the Die-Hard Platinums.

Be that as it may, if you just compare the Optima Yellow Top vs. the Die-Hard Platinum specs you will see the advantages of the Die-Hard Platinum.

Optima Yellow Top (Model D34)
Weight=43 lbs
CCA=750 Amps
Amp Hours=48
Reserve Minutes=120

Sears Diehard Platinum (Model P1)
Weight=53 lbs
CCA=880 Amps
Amp Hours=68
Reserve Minutes=135

More CCA's
Longer Lasting when using without the JK running
Better Warranty
Slightly cheaper

Here's a thread you might be interested in reading from when I was doing my homework:
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-e...ed-out-139701/

I've now had my Die-Hard Platinum for just over 2 years and have not had any problems and with 5 amplifiers, totaling about 3000 Watts in my JK's audio system. I do tend to hit it pretty hard at times.

 

+1 on the Odyssey (Sears Platinum). I have abused mine severely and it still keeps going after 7 years.

 

Also in regards to Redtop Optimas vs. Yellow Tops in making your decision. When I was having my discussions with the rep from Optima in the Toyota Tundra forum he gave some good information.

In a dumbed down summary. If you're buying a battery for winching and off-road use where you'll be running it down more often, you're better off to go with the Yellow Top since it is a deep cycle battery and will last longer. If you're more concerned with regular starting, then a Red Top probably fits your needs.

Here's a quote from OptimaJim from the Tundra forum that explains better: