Mods for Northern States?

Are there any recommend "must have" mods for yall in northern states? I'm a Florida native and might have an opportunity with my employer next year in South West Michigan.

Truck is a 22 sr5 2wd. Stock truck with a camper top. Someone told me I'd be screwed in the winter without a 4x4, but I've only had the truck just over a year and don't plan on changing. I know for a Fact I will need to apply a rust preventative underneath, from what I've read here the spray cans of cosmoline seem to be the best. What else would be a good idea?

 

Krown undercoating.
Search for better tires, or better yet, dedicated snow tires, since you are 2WD.


Florida to Michigan?
That's punishment, not an opportunity. GL

 

Get some chains as well
Not sure where you’re going but the SW Michigan area gets a crapload of snow. Get a place with a garage

 

Eeeek! - From the title, I was going to suggest a moving truck pointed south!... But it looks like you are planning to move there.

On a serious note - the winter is no joke up there. Go spend a winter there before you move!

The weather will destroy your cars, your house, and your head... it is not fun to go outside for half the year. (Used to living outside; I tried the NE and considered it utterly uninhabitable. - I don't enjoy pastimes such as shoveling snow, ice chipping, or winterizing anything; it feels like an utter waste of life.)

 

If it is in the late effect belt, early winter can be difficult (west of 131), even with a 4x4 if you must be in it daily.

Dedicated snow tires was a good suggestion as is more weight. An aftermarket heated pad is always nice.

I lived there for years, and they do take care of the roads (no parking after 2:00 am), but it does get old clearing off the driveway daily during the lake effect season. It is also cloudy most of the winter.

 

Do you keep anything in the back under the cover? Weight may also help with the winter traction - strap down some sand bags for extra pounds, then you can also use them if you need grit for traction somewhere.

 

I'm in West Michigan, just quite a ways North of where you'll be. For winter driving get 3 or 4 bags of tube sand and put them in your box right between the wheel wells along with a small spade shovel. Tube sand bags are 60 pounds each and will do wonders for driving in snow, and if you get stuck you have sand to put in front of your drive wheel and you'll drive right out. It would be a good idea to get a more aggressive tire when you need new tires, but no reason to do that until you need to.

For rust prevention I get a half dozen cans of fluid film off Amazon or ebay and in the fall I drop the spare and spray down all the metal under there, the bottoms of the doors and tailgate, and the tops of the wheel wells where the pinch weld is. Hose that area down good. Just use common sense and you'll be better off than 90% of the other cars and trucks out there.

If I can think of anything else I'll add it later.

Quikrete
60 lb. Tube Sand

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-60-lb-Tube-Sand-115960/100318522#overlay

 

If you don’t know how to drive on ice, then you’ll have to re-teach yourself how to drive without a brake pedal and an occasionally non-working steering wheel!

 

Man, I love the winter hence I live in NH.

- I can tell these trucks are very good in the snow in 2wd after 5 NH winters with this truck. I have the KO2's, but as mentioned, at least dedicated snow tires.
- Rear weight, sand bags or tubes because you can also use the sane for traction.
- Keep a basic shovel to through sand a a bit of digging if need be.
- I always have a tow strap under seats to help others or yourself if it comes to it.
- Also, few scraps of carpet for traction as well. I never needed them, but have seen them work for 2wd cars.
- TP & a good book in the center console - if you get stuck on a shutdown highway due to accident.

Go to parking lot and practice driving in the white stuff.

 

but don't let any cops see you. they'll threaten you with a reckless driving charge, and impounding your vehicle...

 

OP, youre going in the wrong direction lol

With that said, most of these arent really mods but good to have imo...
-at the bare minimum get a decent set of all-seasons. (Ive only lived in the NE, do they put different tires on vehicles in the South/Southwest?)
-4WD is def preferred.
-Ballast in the bed for better traction.
-Shovel behind a seat or in the bed.
-I like to keep a weather proof shell, an extra fleece, gloves, hat, headlamp and snow pants in the truck just in case.
-Remote start is nice for cold mornings.
-Can of windshield de-icer.
-Sno-Broom with a longer handle, 48" is too short.

SnoPro by SnoBrum – Professional Grade Snow Remover Tool / Brush for Vehicles –48” Handle, Push-Broom Design – Quickly Remove Heavy, Wet Snow from Multiple Cars, Scratchfree

https://www.amazon.com/Sno-Brum-Broom-Professional-Removal/dp/B002WIVXPE?th=1
-Undercoating
-flip your wipers up when snow is expected so they dont get stuck to the glass and encrusted in snow and ice

 

I'm in the U.P. Lot of good info. #1 drive defensively, lot of people out there don't know how to drive in snow/ice...lol.

 

Florida to Michigan; ouch! I would mod that 2WD into a 4WD!

 

If you've not driven in winter weather, forget 2wd in the snow. Park it and get a used Subie.

Serious

 

Yearly Krown spray, upgrade the 24F battery to 27F when stock Toyota one fails, and studded Hakkas since you got 2wd. It’s a blast. Since I got those tires I find myself using 4wd a lot less in the winter. Keep some sandbags, snow or weight in the bed at first if you are new to winter driving. These trucks have a very light back end that is easy to loose control of.

 

Don’t forget these tips that were tested by and verified to be utter failures when you get there:

1. Warm water works great for clearing ice off a windshield.

2.You can use hot water to melt the ice off the walk and your driveway.

3. It’s better to turn off your heater in the winter when you go somewhere because it saves a lot of money not heating the house when you go away.

4. Don’t worry about turning off the automatic sprinklers in the winter, your trees and grass need water to soak the roots or they will die.

 

2wd in MI with snow tires and bags. Oh boy. You’ll be looking for something different t come spring time.

 

Good Lord, such drama! I rarely use 4wd in the winter and I've been driving in Michigan for a long time. I use it to get out of a trouble spot or to drive into my un cleared driveway when I go to my cabin to check on it and the snow is 2+ feet deep.

I rarely ever drive with it on for any length of time because it tends to give you false confidence. You have to be able to feel the true road conditions you are dealing with, or you'll go too fast and pile up in a ditch in your fancy 4x4 looking like an idiot who can't drive. I see this a lot here.

Half the battle is won if you are driving a truck that gets you some ground clearance and have some weight over the rear axle to give you some traction. After that common sense takes care of the rest.

Remember 4wd will get you going in snow, but it does nothing to help you stop when you hit that patch of ice.


.

 

This is a guy moving to MI from Florida. I also grew up in a northern climate, and got my first drivers license around 1971. There was nothing but RWD cars and trucks at the time, and the only 4wd trucks had lockout hubs. We grew up and learned to drive in winter conditions with 2wd/rwd cars.

I have seen too many southerners move north and absolutely suck at winter driving. There's a touch to it. Of course it can be learned but man o man I'd take any advantage I could get if I was moving north with NO experience driving in winter conditions.

Sure 95% of the time the roads will be fine. But for the 5% they aren't then stay home.

 

Growing up in Wisconsin I can confirm the advice given here is solid. I would definitely add the sand tubes and make sure you get the tubes because they dry the sand before they bag it so it doesn’t become a frozen lump. Good tires are a second. As ElSpud said ‘There’s a touch to it.’ When it snows, take your time until you get a feel for it. And it’s not all about getting going as much as it’s about stopping.

Good luck.