new girl needs winter advice

how about some out of the box ideas like making sure that you never run under 1/4 of a tank of gas. Dont forget about throwing a shovel in the bed with some sand or planks of wood in case you get stuck. Having a bag packed with 2 days of clothes including socks and underwear. A blanket and jackets, if you have a decent small size cooler you can put some water in it, make sure that it wont freeze. These are just a couple of ideas that come to mind.

 

True but since I used to instruct winter driving and survival skills in the Army why not give a little info here. I forgot most of what I taught but when the time comes I remember. Another idea is to throw a little tow rope in the truck with you in case you need to be pulled out or need to pull some one out.

 

Your antifreeze is fine they mix it up the same if you are in Florida or Alaska.

Use the orange rain ex. That stuff works great on cold frosty mornings. Don't forget to check your air pressure as it gets colder.

And run a bottle of red HEET before it starts freezing.

 

I don't mind! haha I am getting a ton of help Thank you again everyone!!!

 

What's HEET, is that like drygas?

 

I hate dry gas, I like the wet, rumbly gas.

Back on topic, HEET is basically a gas dryer, evaps the water in your gas tank.

 

+1 on the orange rainX. That shit was nice when I lived there. Honestly I never did anything special with my truck when I lived there. Just keep your wipers off the windshield when it snows, and those nice rubber flexible wipers (Bosch I think) are really nice for the winter time. It also helps to keep a few sacks of sand or concrete in the back for traction.... trucks are generally light. My battery, even after 4 years of NE weather, came out just fine, and I finally replaced it about a week ago after 106k miles.

Rinse the shit out of your truck if you have a heated area to do it, and don't forget the engine bay. My block picked up alot of surface corrosion there.

 

It is a fuel water remover. They make it in a yellow and red bottle. I was told the red bottle has like 4-5X's the active ingredient to remove water yet only cost 1/4 more. If this is true or not I do not know.

 

It's not just up north. Here in the middle of Alabama you can buy the (-15) degree washer fluid all the time. And it's only $1.99 for a gallon.

That is actually incorrect. In the northern states and Alaska the service departments will change to a richer, 60/40 mix to increase freeze protection.

 

New girl eh....

 

Creeeeepy.....lmao

 

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I love the Orange RainX! I just sweep the snow off, start the truck, and spray a ton of that stuff on. I usually keep a spare bottle in the truck too. With the above mentality I go through 2-3 bottles a winter. Good wipers are important. Good tires are even more important. Def add weight to the bed. If you are not used to driving in the snow, do yourself and everyone else a favor and don't do it if you don't have to. You can still get a 4X4 stuck in snow. Practice in parking lots that haven't been cleared after the roads have been cleared. I also always keep a basic 20' tow strap and a couple heavy shackles in the truck. And jumper cables.

And where about in New England, there is quite a difference between southern CT to northern ME

 

The Rain-X blades are actually really good. Not the expensive ones (they're junk), but the cheap, $12 Rain-X blades.

It's also a good idea to keep some emergency stuff in your truck during the winter months, especially if you travel back roads. I typically carry a blanket, gloves, a hat, boots and a heavy jacket. I always have a shovel and hatchet in the bed as well as the stuff mentioned above.

 

X2
I carry all of the above. The hatchet is year round though.

 

I'm lazy... all that stuff is year 'round

 

Yellow HEET is just methanol and should do the better job. Red HEET is the more environmentally conscious version and is Isopropyl alcohol. I know because I use the yellow stuff in my stove in a pinch. It's the most expensive methanol you can buy. Airbrake line de-icer is also methanol, but way cheaper.

 

PERVERTS.........LMAO

 

I throw a couple of sand tubes in the bed, have a good windshield brush w/ plastic scraper, a small tube of lock ease (graphite), some road flares & tow strap, & good wiper blades are key!
Along with snow tires, orange windshield fluid & other suggestions made here.

 

I should throw some flares in the truck. I dont do any weight in the bed though, been lucky I guess. I do need new tires though.

 

New Hampshire, and does the orange rainx effect the paint at all?