Good Windshield Ice Cover?

Has anyone in cold climates had any experience with snow and ice covers. I've read a lot of reviews. People complain that magnets scratch. Some covers have mirror straps that rip out. So I'm trusting other Taco owners! Looking for something that reasonably covers, and tucks inside the doors. Thanks!

 

Don't fall for the commercial versions. if you're going to go this route get an old Beach towel and use that open and tuck it into the doors. save ya the sucker money and buy yourself a case of beer or send it my way.

They are not needed anyways, take the time to clear you vehicle of snow and ice, start it up and let the interior warm up while you clear the snow/ice. Too many use these blankets take them off and don't clear the snow on the rest of the vehicle, which creates a blizzard behind them from the snow on the roof/bed affecting others. Then when they hit the brakes it all falls forward on the windshield and they are blind as a bat. Also in some areas it is a fine for not having a properly cleared vehicle FYI.

Also don't put the wiper blades up in the air, it just runs the springs in the wipers and they don't clear as well. Leave them in place and let the car warm up. th blades need replacing 2-3 times a year.

 

Lived in Maine my entire life (40+ years). Never felt the need for any type of windshield cover. That's what defrost is for.

I put those windshield covers in the same "gimmick" category as this thing.

 

This is what I have been doing for the past 18 years. Throw a towel on and be done.
I have also put a small space heater inside my cars and put it on low overnight. Next morning its nice and warm inside with no snow or ice on the windows.

 

Get a good dose of sleet and whatever it is will be frozen to the vehicle and challenging to remove.

As others suggest, just clear the vehicle manually

 

A towel wont stick, since its flexible, you just bend the frozen towel and all the ice breaks off. Some ice may remain on the windshield, but most will be off.

You can also use rubbing alcohol and water to keep the water off.

 

My SO bought a couple of covers on Amazon. The kind with the mirror straps. We've used the same 2 covers for the past 3 winters. If they rip or tear, I'm more then happy to by another one. For the cost, I got my monies worth. Here in Northern California, we never see snow but it frosts frequently. It's very convenient to be able to start the truck, remove the cover and take off. Letting your vehicle idle to warm up enough to melt ice is wasteful. Modern vehicles don't need long warm ups. Drive easy for the first few miles and your good to go. This may not work where you live but it works perfectly for the weather we have here.

 

I've always wondered what you are supposed to do with the ice/frost/snow covered cover after you take it off.

 

I usually put it in the garage. I only ever use my towel overnight at home.

 

Agree w/ others...towel works the best.

 

I just ordered one

I am hoping it holds up.

 

just turn the windshield wiper on and spray the window.

 

All windshield washer fluid is not equal. I use a more expensive orange one.

 

Its northern Cali, its not that cold. I use summer rated until 2 weeks ago.

 

walmart $14.99

 

Anyone use WD40?

 

Hot water works well too, also use it to melt the ice off your driveway!

I will have to try the towel trick, hate scraping the windshield when I’m in a hurry and discover it frozen before right before I have to leave for work!

 

Not windshield related, but drove an hour and a half to work through ice and snow once. Got out and noticed a good bit of ice sludge build up on the mud flaps. Kicked the rubber flap to knock the sludge off. Big mistake. Whole mud flap broke off. The rubber gets too brittle in the cold I guess.

 

Windshield washer even summer rated has alcohol in it, or does anywhere I have bought, yes even in Phoenix. It will melt the light frost you will see in your climate. Yes I have been there in the winter time temps are not that cold, well anytime I was there and they were forecasting record breaking lows. Instead of laughing, or discarding the advice on driving in winter, how about listening to people who eat/sleep/breath this for 3/4 of the year. The advice is sound, next you’ll laugh at using the AC in the winter time to dry the air out.

You can also invest in a heated windshield washer tank if you really want to have the frost disappear quickly, easy to install and works amazing for the light frost conditions.

 

Sorry, but its funny when dealing with -10 degree weather here in California. Used to have a house here with two functional front doors that we used every year, one on the first floor and one on the second floor with no porch under it. Go figure...

My laughter was feom experience with spraying windshield washing fluid and instantly having it form an ice rink on the windshield. It was hilarious and yup, I pretty much looked ike the guy in that GIF. I also had to put a coleman lantern under my VW transmission to get the damn thing to move, that was fun.
And on friday nigts, it was dangerous to walk on the street for the drunks driving around town on their snowmobiles without lights! We also had a snowcat taxi service to ride around town, pay to ride in the cab, or go for free by using your skiis and hoding the rope in back.

A heated washer bottle is a great idea, should check that out as I don’t live in the Sierra anymore and it never gets that cold out here in the desert.