Winter Vehicle Preparation Advice (1 Viewer)

[Drunken knight]

My $.02.. it's worth buying winter tires (with rims if you prefer). better than 4wd/awd.

winter tires + 4wd/awd= shark move

my favorites were Nokian

This times 100.

I owned a variety of FWD, camry, sentra, etc and AWD(mostly subaru outbacks) and the difference in wintertime handling with snowtires was negligible. The main difference was the extra inch or two of clearance.

my daily commute was Vail Pass in a BMW 330CI (low coupe, rwd). While i did not have a lot of clearance, grip was phenomenal. big difference vs all season tires

i would put them on sept/oct, and put on the performance in may/june... of course we would still get late storms so that could get sketchy.

 

[BeTheMatch]

Agree with someone who mentioned batteries. Decent batteries with adequate cold-cranking amps will be a necessity during the inevitable weeklong 30-below stretches. Especially if you've got any cars parked outside.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

You guys driving trucks - do you put extra weight in the back? Sand bags, for example?

 

[ghostguy123]

Never let your gas tank go below half

 

[belljr]

You guys driving trucks - do you put extra weight in the back? Sand bags, for example?

Not if I have 4wd.... When I had 2wd yes

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Gonna be a rough one this year.

• Lighters/ Matches
• Alcohol
• Ammo
• Gasoline
• Cigarettes
• Hygeine Products
• Medicine
• Generator
• Emergency Radio
• Emergency Blankets
• Duct Tape
• Fire Starters
• Trash Bags
• Batteries
• Candles
• Lighters
• Gas Mask
• Water Purification Tablets
• Plastic Eating Utensils
• 5 gallon bucket
• Seeds for growing your own food
• Bars of soap
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Women’s Sanitation Items
• Toilet Paper
• Sanitizer
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Tylenol
• Ibuprophen
• Imodium
• Antibiotics
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Vitamins
• Pedialyte / Electrolyte powder or solutions
• Canned Soup
• Rice
• Dried Beans
• Canned Beans
• Canned Vegetables
• Canned Fruit
• Dried Milk and Evaporated Milk
• Canned Meat
• Beef Jerky
• Granola Bars
• Crackers
• Cereal
• Ramen Noodles
• Pasta
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Peanut Butter

Isn't this just a grocery store?

 

[SWC]

It's not Antarctica. I think you'll be fine with an ice scraper and a cel phone.

depending where in northern wisconsin signal is not guaranteed take that to the bank bromigo

 

[Scoresman]

Gonna be a rough one this year.

• Lighters/ Matches
• Alcohol
• Ammo
• Gasoline
• Cigarettes
• Hygeine Products
• Medicine
• Generator
• Emergency Radio
• Emergency Blankets
• Duct Tape
• Fire Starters
• Trash Bags
• Batteries
• Candles
• Lighters
• Gas Mask
• Water Purification Tablets
• Plastic Eating Utensils
• 5 gallon bucket
• Seeds for growing your own food
• Bars of soap
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Women’s Sanitation Items
• Toilet Paper
• Sanitizer
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Tylenol
• Ibuprophen
• Imodium
• Antibiotics
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Vitamins
• Pedialyte / Electrolyte powder or solutions
• Canned Soup
• Rice
• Dried Beans
• Canned Beans
• Canned Vegetables
• Canned Fruit
• Dried Milk and Evaporated Milk
• Canned Meat
• Beef Jerky
• Granola Bars
• Crackers
• Cereal
• Ramen Noodles
• Pasta
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Peanut Butter

Isn't this just a grocery store?

It's a La Nina year! Better to be prepared.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Never let your gas tank go below half

Good one. In the summer I'll let it go to a quarter but half is better for your fuel pump and prevents cold weather line freeze.

 

[beer 30]

Just thought of it, ice cleats if you're planning on hoofing it. Might be handy and don't take up a lot of room. Something we make all of our drivers in the northern climates carry in their vehicles.

 

[gianmarco]

And always wave goodbye.

 

[Sullie]

You guys driving trucks - do you put extra weight in the back? Sand bags, for example?

I usually keep our supply of bags of water softener salt in the back of my truck. I go through 2 bags a month (I think?) so I usually toss 6 bags in the back. My truck is 4WD but I almost never use 4WD unless it's really bad out. The thing of it is, in cities that get "some" snow (like Indianapolis) they do a decent job keeping the roads clear but in cities where you get a LOT of snow, in my experience, they generally do a great job of keeping the roads clean. When I lived south of Cleveland they had tons of snow removal trucks so the roads were always clear. When I lived in Cincinnati, ugh, you were better off taking the day off because they were never prepared for any amount of snow.

 

[snellman]

Don't know how old your vehicles are, but if they are over 4 years old, I would replace the battery no matter what they test at. There are so many electronics on vehicles these days that a battery very rarely gives any warning before going dead. Keeping jumper cables in the car is a good idea, but it is much better than trying to jump start or having to call for roadside.

 

[steelerfan1]

Safety hammer. If you ever slid off the road into the drink and need to break a window to get out.

 

[FairWarning]

You guys driving trucks - do you put extra weight in the back? Sand bags, for example?

I don’t own a truck, but my friends get sand bags and use them to weight down the back.

 

[Doug B]

[Reads OP. Reads thread. Realized it’s still getting into the 80s here in mid-November]

… I got nothin’ Around here, any observed snow will shut down every bridge and major highway.

 

[ChiefD]

So what size tow rope would you guys throw in your truck?

3" or 4"?
Rating in LBS?

I'm looking at this one.

I assume that would get 'er done?

 

[belljr]

So what size tow rope would you guys throw in your truck?

3" or 4"?
Rating in LBS?

I'm looking at this one.

I assume that would get 'er done?

Make sure you just wrap it around the bumper for extra security

 

[ChiefD]

So what size tow rope would you guys throw in your truck?

3" or 4"?
Rating in LBS?

I'm looking at this one.

I assume that would get 'er done?

Make sure you just wrap it around the bumper for extra security

laugh emoji needs to exist for things like this. a simple like just makes no sense.

 

[gianmarco]

So what size tow rope would you guys throw in your truck?

3" or 4"?
Rating in LBS?

I'm looking at this one.

I assume that would get 'er done?

Make sure you just wrap it around the bumper for extra security

laugh emoji needs to exist for things like this. a simple like just makes no sense.

I would like to laugh at this.

 

[odin33]

Now the real question... Do you have enough peg board hooks to hold all of this stuff when not in use?


Flashlight to flag down help or use if hoofing it to get help. Or a lot of air compressors have lights built in, and often have a 'flashing' function. (Set it up and get back in car to stay warm). Really should have both of these year round.

 

[ChiefD]

Now the real question... Do you have enough peg board hooks to hold all of this stuff when not in use?

Of course.

 

[gianmarco]

This is a nice price on this kind of product. Getting one for my son to keep in his car.

AstroAI S8 Air Jump Starter with Air Compressor, 1500A Car Battery Jumper Starter Portable (6.0 Gas/3.0L Diesel) with 150PSI Cordless Auto-Shutoff Tire Inflator, 12V Battery Charger Booster(Orange)

 

[nirad3]

For me, winterizing my vehicle consists of making sure my wipers are OK.

*Cali Life*

 

[beer 30]

This is a nice price on this kind of product. Getting one for my son to keep in his car.

AstroAI S8 Air Jump Starter with Air Compressor, 1500A Car Battery Jumper Starter Portable (6.0 Gas/3.0L Diesel) with 150PSI Cordless Auto-Shutoff Tire Inflator, 12V Battery Charger Booster(Orange)

This is the one I have. It's big & bulky but has also saved me twice. Once jumping a battery, once filling my spare tire because I haven't looked at it in 7 years

My point, everybody should have one of these in their cars. The one Gian posted above is a great price point for what you get and the size is great. Throw it under a seat and forget about it until you need it.

 

[Barry2]

haven't seen anyone mention a block heater. ? I have to plug in at work when weather drops to -15C. Doesn't get cold enough there for southern folk?

 

[ChiefD]

haven't seen anyone mention a block heater. ? I have to plug in at work when weather drops to -15C. Doesn't get cold enough there for southern folk?

Is your vehicle a diesel or regular?

 

[Barry2]

haven't seen anyone mention a block heater. ? I have to plug in at work when weather drops to -15C. Doesn't get cold enough there for southern folk?

Is your vehicle a diesel or regular?

regular 5 years old. Canadian prairies get crazy cold, ever since I've owned a car plugging in over night was automatic. Some people also use a battery warmer.