Batterys

I just go with a conventional battery........

I use a Battery Maintainer on my bike tho, and I like the way it keeps it topped up.

 

It should last longer generally, but I've heard that the battery in many of our cars is up front with the radiators and batteries don't like heat. On a GT4 you shouldn't have much ongoing loads to drain it down. You could try removing it and putting in on a shelf in a not too cold place during the winter months, but that shouldn't be necessary. I'll let some northern guys answer this.

 

I have has an Optima battery in my BB512i for ~8 years now. It starts ever time. I keep it on an Interstate trickle charger 24/7 when I'm not driving it.

 

Lead acid batteries have a moderate leakage so you can't just let them sit. Even if they are not connected to anything they will go dead. PLUS, they don't like to sit on conductive surfaces such as metal or concrete (conductive because of moisture).

Dry cell batteries have a much lower leakage so they can sit for long periods. BUT, they don't hold as much total charge so you can't crank on them for very long.

If you are letting the car sit get a good quality trickle charger. I use a Battery Tender and many here use the same. It work well and will keep your battery topped up so no more dead battery.

 

I recently just replaced my battery, I couldn't believe my car still had the original battery when I removed the cover. Lasted 8 years, pretty good in my book.

I replaced it with an Odyssey 925
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I connect the batteries of my idle cars to the back-up sump pump system.
It keeps them at full charge and in the event of a power failure I typically have 4- 6 batteries in parallel which will keep the pump operating for quite a long time.
Works for me.

 

The battery should not go flat if you use a good quality battery tender. The Deltran works well, and are reasonably priced online. But any should work, as long as it is a "smart charger" that is microprocessor controlled, and stops charging when the battery is fully charged.

Make sure the electrolyte is full too.

If the cables will reach, try the Sears Platinum AGM battery (absorbed glass mat) it is made by Odyssey and comes with a four year free replacement warranty. It is only available in a group 34 rather than the 34R our cars require, but usually the cables will reach anyway (the terminals are reversed on the 34R). This is the top rated battery by Consumer Reports for the past couple years. 880 cold cranking amps.

But even a standard Interstate Group 34R (700CCA) should last several years if kept on a battery tender and the fluid checked a couple times per year.

 

If your car sits in the colorado cold during the winter months for a couple months without being driven then it's no wonder the battery life is short. Take the battery out of the car if you're going to leave the car in the cold for more than a month. Store the battery in a warm place. Give it an overnight charge before re-installing and you should get much longer service life.

Good luck!