Advice/Opinions on Starting Batteries.

The exide Orbital is probably the technically best battery out there Laz , it is a similar (cylindrical) type to the Optima but better priced (sub $300) and different supplier

I and friends have used same sucessfully for some years now.

It only comes in the one N70 size and is rated to at least 750cca over a wide range of conditions

The Bosch looks like it came straight out of the Century Factory.

Gets lots of anecdotal opinions on batteries, but both the Exide Extreme or the Yuasa Overlander are popular, come with 24month warranty and are made for offroad use. Can get 25% off the Exide extreme at Kmart this week (brings the price down to normal RRP :-))))

I've had an excellent run out of Optima, both red top starters and yellow top half and halfs. They are very reliable and seem to stand up to rough, outback conditions, however, thy are now too damn expensive and in my opinion have priced themselves out of the market. I'll look to the other cylindrical battery types when next I have to change. BTY, I was getting 5 years out of the Optima.

I am happy with my yuasa, coming on to 3 years now and faultless. It would keep going and if I was staying in town I would happily keep it. Good value at $240 3 years ago. But as I'm going bush for several months I will get a new battery just to make sure.

Been looking everywhere in my town for another yuasa but can't find one, damn. I love good Ozzie made products.

Barnesy

When buying a new battery...ask yourself....is your new battery a recent build? How to check the build date.

Freshness

Because of “sulfation” one should never buy a battery that is more than six-months old. The manufacturing date is usually stamped on top of both Negative & Positive posts. The date can be written in plain text or using an alphanumerical code. The first character is a letter that specifies the month (A for January, B for February) with I being skipped. The second character is a single digit that indicates the year of manufacturing (for example, 5 for 2005).

G'day Laz,

I use the Bosch Gold in the cruiser, were in my 60 and now in the 80, BN70ZZ4WD - 700 CCA - 170 RC - 24 month, and if the top casing is anything to go by..... Made in Australia. Could be the physical size that will stop you from using them? I have no idea of the tray size in the Navara.
FYI
305 mm Wide
175 Deep
225 High, measured to the top of the posts.

I did kill off two on a trip, the regulator decided to have a time out, batteries were game over by the time we had that changed.
Took them back to store number one because they were under two years old..... twenty minutes of testing, discussion etc on getting a replacement, replacements would only carry remaining!! none in store, so batteries and I leave.
Went to store number two, told them the reason for me being there, no problems! Two new batteries in stock.... bagged, tagged and out of store within ten minutes. Bought another to fit into the CT, so have three to rotate. Also run a 110 Waeco in the vehicle, off the Aux battery.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Wayne.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Went to the local battery shop today and discovered the Bosch is supplied by Century, so Bosch, Century or Yuasa does no seem to matter what you choose you get the same battery (and from what I have found a pretty decent one at that). Thanks for the comments.