Dodge Ram Battery
Trucks
- Sponsor
- OPTIMA Batteries
- Location
- Kissimmee, Florida
If a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 has a 5.9-liter diesel engine, OPTIMA offers two REDTOP and two YELLOWTOP battery options for that truck. If that Dodge Ram had the 5.7-liter gas engine, the options would still be the same, but that's not always the case between gasoline and diesel engines. Fortunately, we offer a fitment tool on our website, that allows you to plug in the year, make, model, engine and other options of any vehicle you might own, to find out which batteries are suitable for your application.
In the example above, a choice could be made between REDTOP and YELLOWTOP batteries, so which one should you choose? If your Dodge Ram is basically stock as it came from the factory and driven on a regular basis, as most vehicles are, then a REDTOP is a great option. However, if your Dodge Ram has significant electrical modifications, like an aftermarket stereo, car alarm, winch, plow or other significant electrical accessories, then the YELLOWTOP that is designed for both starting and deep-cycle use is a better option.
Newer Ram trucks have dropped the "Dodge" name and use a much larger battery, so if you use our fitment guide to look for batteries for a 2011 or newer Ram truck, be sure to start your search with "Ram" and not "Dodge" to get the results you need. For instance, a 2016 Ram 2500 with a 6.7-liter diesel uses a DH7 YELLOWTOP (actually two) and there are no other options.
So what changed in Ram trucks in ten years, besides the name, that would cause them to need batteries that are nearly 60% heavier? Well, the 5.9-liter diesel has been replaced with a larger 6.7-liter diesel, but the big reason is that newer vehicles are far more demanding from an electrical perspective than older vehicles, even when the engine isn't running. We mentioned the weight of the OPTIMA DH7 YELLOWTOP was nearly 60% heavier than that of the Group 34 REDTOP, but what does that translate into in terms of pounds? The OPTIMA DH7 YELLOWTOP weighs in at about 60.5 pounds.
That's a pretty heavy battery, even by H7 battery standards, but there are reasons- 99.99% pure virgin lead, more of it and cast straps connecting all the cells. In modern batteries, you'll still see Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) listed as a specification, but the real tale of the tape often comes down to battery weight and you'll have a hard time finding a battery that packs more weight (which often translates into more power) than an OPTIMA battery.
One other thing we want to mention, since a lot of Ram trucks are diesels using two batteries, is that you should never replace just one battery. Any time multiple batteries are run in either a series or parallel application, where they are connected together, the batteries should be identical in age, size and type. We've watched some YouTube videos on channels with a lot of views and some have told their viewers they can get by with changing just one battery, but that is bad advice.
What often happens when you replace just one battery in a two battery application, is that your batteries become mis-matched, but your charging system still charges them both the same way. Different battery types (flooded vs AGM) have different internal resistance, as do batteries that differ in age (older batteries have higher internal resistance). When they are both being charged the same, it will take longer for the battery with higher internal resistance to get fully-charged and while that is happening, the battery with lower internal resistance is getting overcharged, perhaps to the point where it starts venting fluid. The same thing can happen with batteries that are two different sizes.
That will end up shortening the lifespan of both batteries and cause you to replace them both even more frequently. We're not saying you have to recycle a battery that's perfectly good, just because it came out of a truck that was running two batteries and the other was bad, but you should find another use for the good battery, perhaps in another vehicle or a boat or tractor.
We also recommend topping off the charge on your vehicle's battery (batteries) about once a month, just to make sure voltage is being properly-maintained. Doing that with a quality battery charger will help maximize both battery performance and battery lifespan.
In the example above, a choice could be made between REDTOP and YELLOWTOP batteries, so which one should you choose? If your Dodge Ram is basically stock as it came from the factory and driven on a regular basis, as most vehicles are, then a REDTOP is a great option. However, if your Dodge Ram has significant electrical modifications, like an aftermarket stereo, car alarm, winch, plow or other significant electrical accessories, then the YELLOWTOP that is designed for both starting and deep-cycle use is a better option.
Newer Ram trucks have dropped the "Dodge" name and use a much larger battery, so if you use our fitment guide to look for batteries for a 2011 or newer Ram truck, be sure to start your search with "Ram" and not "Dodge" to get the results you need. For instance, a 2016 Ram 2500 with a 6.7-liter diesel uses a DH7 YELLOWTOP (actually two) and there are no other options.
So what changed in Ram trucks in ten years, besides the name, that would cause them to need batteries that are nearly 60% heavier? Well, the 5.9-liter diesel has been replaced with a larger 6.7-liter diesel, but the big reason is that newer vehicles are far more demanding from an electrical perspective than older vehicles, even when the engine isn't running. We mentioned the weight of the OPTIMA DH7 YELLOWTOP was nearly 60% heavier than that of the Group 34 REDTOP, but what does that translate into in terms of pounds? The OPTIMA DH7 YELLOWTOP weighs in at about 60.5 pounds.
That's a pretty heavy battery, even by H7 battery standards, but there are reasons- 99.99% pure virgin lead, more of it and cast straps connecting all the cells. In modern batteries, you'll still see Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) listed as a specification, but the real tale of the tape often comes down to battery weight and you'll have a hard time finding a battery that packs more weight (which often translates into more power) than an OPTIMA battery.
One other thing we want to mention, since a lot of Ram trucks are diesels using two batteries, is that you should never replace just one battery. Any time multiple batteries are run in either a series or parallel application, where they are connected together, the batteries should be identical in age, size and type. We've watched some YouTube videos on channels with a lot of views and some have told their viewers they can get by with changing just one battery, but that is bad advice.
What often happens when you replace just one battery in a two battery application, is that your batteries become mis-matched, but your charging system still charges them both the same way. Different battery types (flooded vs AGM) have different internal resistance, as do batteries that differ in age (older batteries have higher internal resistance). When they are both being charged the same, it will take longer for the battery with higher internal resistance to get fully-charged and while that is happening, the battery with lower internal resistance is getting overcharged, perhaps to the point where it starts venting fluid. The same thing can happen with batteries that are two different sizes.
That will end up shortening the lifespan of both batteries and cause you to replace them both even more frequently. We're not saying you have to recycle a battery that's perfectly good, just because it came out of a truck that was running two batteries and the other was bad, but you should find another use for the good battery, perhaps in another vehicle or a boat or tractor.
We also recommend topping off the charge on your vehicle's battery (batteries) about once a month, just to make sure voltage is being properly-maintained. Doing that with a quality battery charger will help maximize both battery performance and battery lifespan.