deep cycle batteries: cranking & best-buys

my battery does appear to be holding a charge. i dont think its the
alternator; my `84 240 wagon runs fine when its started, but even
turning it off at the gas station will leave me needing another jump.

i have a heavy duty inverter in my car which is unused, lacking a deep
cycle battery. i use it every now and then to power up my laptop. my
question is, can you crank off a deep cycle battery? i'd rather buy one
expensive battery than a starter+expensive deep cycle. i just dont know
if deep cycle batteries have problems providing high drain cranking.

does anyone have suggestions for deep cycle batteries? the optima blue
and yellow tops are $110 at pep boys. i'm half tempted just to do that.

if i need a seperate cranking battery, what should i expect to pay?

thanks a million
Myren

 

$110 for an Optima Yellow sounds like a great deal. I paid $170 for mine via
Interstate. -- NickZ.

 

Deep cycle batteries are the way to go if you want to discharge often with
out the battery failing .They will recover where as the normal battery will
not take a deep discharge often before failing .Cabs and other heavy duty
users use deep cycle unless their owners don't mind the cab being towed or
worse still tinkered with by the driver (oh boy do I remember ).