Trucking is one of the few industries that is severely affected by the weather. Preparing your truck for winter can make the difference between being comfortable or miserable. Some common-sense precautions can make driving in winter a lot safer.
7 Ways to Winterize Your Truck
1. Install new wiper blades
Wiper blades are an absolute necessity for driving in bad weather. Buy a new set of wiper blades to avoid yours from falling apart. Pro-tip: don’t buy cheap blades. There’s nothing worse than having to replace a blade during a snow storm.
2. Apply MotorKote
Put some MotorKote on a cloth and rub it over anything that opens or closes, such as your doors, to prevent them from freezing shut. You can also put a few drops in the locks to help prevent freezing. Allow for some time to air dry the MotorKote before closing. Additionally, apply a thin coat on your wiper blades, in order to prevent snow and ice sticking to your new blades. Let it dry for a few hours then wipe off the excess.
3. Prevent your fuel from freezing
It’s a good idea to treat your fuel when the temperatures start to drop below freezing. This help prevent gelling or ice build-up in filters and fuel lines.
4. Lubricate the fifth wheel
When it’s too cold for traditional fifth wheel grease to spread easily, try to spray Silicone or Lithium Grease to lubricate the wheel.
5. Carry WD-40 or a similar spray lubricant
Don’t be in a position where you can’t get your padlocks off due to ice buildup. A few shots of this spray will help you defrost frozen locks.
6. Always have spare fluids
Check your tire pressure and all your fluids before heading out on a trip in winter. Due to the effects elevation and temperature has on air pressure and fluid pressure, it’s always wise to carry an air hose and spare fluids. Having these handy can mean the difference between getting back on the road or waiting for road service.
7. Create an emergency kit
Use a backpack or duffel bag to make an emergency kit that includes items such as a flash light, charging cords, battery bank, food, snacks, bottles of water, medicine and important documents. No matter your preparedness, you’ll always seem to forget something. Thankfully, many items can also be found at travel centers.
Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned driver, it never hurts to check out the precautions other truckers take. You may learn something new and be even more prepared. Moreover, it never hurts to carry more food and water than you think you may need.