>>> WINTER TIPS TECHNIQUES AND ADVICE <<<

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

Please add your cold-weather and ice/snow habits, tips, and techniques to this thread.

Please try to not turn it into another "my fuel treatment is better than yours" thread.

Thanks.

 

[97idi]

weight in the bed and working 4x4

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

KEEPING ICE OUT OF LOCKS

The design of the door-lock on the 1980s Ford is such that they are an easy target for ice, snow, and freezing rain to plug them, making it impossible to get the key in the lock.


For years, I have simply smeared a healthy dab of plain old Vaseline over the key-hole, pushing some into the key-hole as well.

Vaseline is an excellent water repellent and does not seem to be affected by winter temperatures of 20-below or so, other than to thicken considerably.

The only draw-backs are a continual streak of sticky goo down the side of the door (this is easily washed away), should the temperature get summerlike for a couple of days, and forgetting it is there and getting it all over your Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.


Another method :

Just a few minutes ago, I was making some preparations in advance of a snow forecast.

I was fixing to do the Vaseline trick and had an epiphany; there were several of those page-sized magnetic advertisement signs (the ones businesses hand out to stick on the refrigerator-door that have emergency numbers and such printed on them, along with a bunch of advertisements) stuck to the clothes-dryer, awaiting some useful purpose.

I plastered one of these over each key-hole, thus preventing the invasion of any ice.


While neater and cleaner than the Vaseline trick, the Vaseline has one advantage in that it remains in action while driving along in an ice storm, whereas the sheet-magnet needs be removed when driving, else it would most likely blow away.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

PROTECTING WEATHERSTRIPPING

A thin smear of Vaseline or a coating of PAM-type cooking spray will prevent freezing rain from glue-ing the door to the cab, along with the subsequent damage to the weatherstrip from being ****** loose and possibly chunks torn out.


I sorta figure silicone spray might even be superior for this than the above mentioned solutions, but I can't speak yet from experience.

WD-40 might also work UNTIL it evaporates away.

 

[F350farmboy]

Make sure glow plugs are up to ***** before you find out they aren't up to it.....ask me how I know.

Also check batteries, alternator/charging system, starter, and block heater.

Tube sand in the bed...weight and one can open it up for traction in emergency.

And the usual emergency kit, shovel, blanket, food, flashlight, batteries, etc, etc, etc.

 

[antivtec]

i just lock my hubs, try to keep both tanks full for the most part and add my additive. and make sure ive got plenty of chew and my tow strap ready. ive never put extra weight in the bed of any of my trucks and ive always gotten around fine. the lubing of the seals on the door seems like a good idea, i never thought of that, i cant tell you how many times ive had my doors frozen shut.

 

[jwalterus]

don't forget jumper cables, tow a strap or chain, recovery hitch for your reciever, and a cell phone, I have a tracfone in my emergency kit with a car charger, I purchase a 1 year activation card every fall for it, it costs maybe 30-40 bucks a year, and it's there when you need it

 

[fury9]

Good tips, Wish I woulda known about the door strip idea. I can see daylight through my driverside door cause the strip was ripped off in one failed swoop

 

[burtcheca]

You guys are tough.

I live in Florida, it's really amazing to me see how many problems you guys have in the winter. To start the diesel engines is just one of many I hear. To put the block heater some hours before leaving in the morning, ice and snow all over, freezing everything up. Thick oil ,fuel gelling. Poor visibility in snow storms, ice in the road, and dangerous conditions in general. I would like to send some of our neighbors to spend a week in the middle of the winter to some of your places so they will not complain anymore about bugs and mud in the dirt roads here.
You guys are really tough. My hat off to you all.
Burt.

 

[F350farmboy]

I live in Florida, it's really amazing to me see how many problems you guys have in the winter. To start the diesel engines is just one of many I hear. To put the block heater some hours before leaving in the morning, ice and snow all over, freezing everything up. Thick oil ,fuel gelling. Poor visibility in snow storms, ice in the road, and dangerous conditions in general. I would like to send some of our neighbors to spend a week in the middle of the winter to some of your places so they will not complain anymore about bugs and mud in the dirt roads here.
You guys are really tough. My hat off to you all.
Burt.

Yeah, you should've sent them here last friday. Starts snowing at 8pm and its thick enough to cause trouble by 8:30 and continues to "white-out" until early sat. morning. You could shovel/salt the driveway every hour until you go to bed, and it would still be a biotch in the morning.....12+" in 9 hours

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

KEEP THE BATTERY ALIVE

For the last several years, I have had one of these permanently connected to the charging system of every vehicle/tractor/mower we own :


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292


It stays permanently plugged in on the seldom used engines and any one of them can sit for six months and still whirl the engine over like it was used yesterday.


On any night that gets below 30*, I plug in the charger/maintainer of the daily driven trucks.

It keeps the juices in the battery active and even a marginal battery will crank like it was summertime.

 

[jwalterus]

On any night that gets below 30*, I plug in the charger/maintainer of the daily driven trucks.

I'd be happy to see days where it got up near 30*

 

[Goofyexponent]

Howes addative, winterfront blanket for the rad, can of ether (just in case), good tires, working 4x4 system, expirence with ice and snow, leave with LOTS of time to spare and warm clothes. I usually keep a bottle of methyl hydrate (a small pop bottle) in the bed. Anything frozen, just pour it on and wait a minute. The ice will melt, and evaporate!

Being bigger than most of the BMW's, Corolla's and Civic's also helps nerve them out of your way. Don't hesitate, and look WAY ahead!! As a rule of thumb as a trucker, be prepared for a stupid motorist to do the unthinkable when you are navigating ANY time of year!

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

START THE MORNING WITH A CLEAR WINDSHIELD

I collected a bunch of those accordian-folded sun-blockers that are meant to be put against the windshield on the inside to keep the sun from discoloring the dash.

The ones I have are heavy duty bubble-wrap with a silver-colored plastic skin sewed to both sides, with a sewn-on edge binding.

I installed two tarp grommets along each end.

I knotted six-inch loops of parachute cord into these grommets; the cord loops are to facilitate attaching the bungie cords.

I put these window covers over the windshield, on the outside, and secure them to the mirrors or door-handles with plastic-hooked elastic bungie cords.

When I get ready to leave, the last thing I do is remove the cover, exposing a clean clear windshield.


If it threatens your macho image, you can turn Betty Boop to the inside.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

KEEPING MIRRORS CLEAR OF ICE

Unlike the colder areas where the snow is light and powdery and just blows away, when we get snow, it is usually preceded by days of soaking rain, followed by a night of freezing rain, then sleet, and finally a heavy very wet snow, THEN the temperature plummets.

This water-world wetness then freezes into a concrete-like mess that defies the toughest of ice-scrapers.

To keep ice off of my exterior mirrors, I glove them with those bubble-wrap pockets that sometimes come on items shipped in the mail or UPS; a couple of strategically located clothes-pins will prevent the wind blowing them away.

Lacking the bubble-wrap pockets, I use feed-sacks, old coat-sleeves, or whatever.

Heating elements within the mirror heads would be nice.