A How-To Guide for Winterizing Your Truck

Category: Equipment and Solutions

1. Check Your Battery

Cold weather lowers your battery’s ability to recharge, leaving the battery life low when you’re ready to start on the road. To make sure your battery is in good shape, make sure to test it by disconnecting the battery and then reconnecting it. It’s also crucial that you clean your batteries routinely and replace them every five years or so.

2. Examine Tires and Have Tire Chains on Hand

Make sure that your tires are maintaining the appropriate pressure. In addition, confirm that you have valve caps for every tire to prevent any leakage typically brought on by freezing temperatures.

With winter just around the corner, it’s important to prepare your truck for colder temperatures. Winterizing your truck helps keep your vehicle in good shape during the colder months and helps you prepare for any potential obstacles, whether you’re driving through a hail storm, snowstorm or on icy roads. Follow this five-step guide on preparing your truck for the winter.

Consider preparing your tires for inclement weather by purchasing tire chains. Tire chains provide your truck with extra traction that can get it through snowy and icy roads. Make sure to remove tire chains when you have passed through bad road conditions — tire chains left on tires for an extended period can cause damage.

3. Keep Your Engine Warm

Installing an engine heater is an efficient way of protecting your truck’s engine during freezing weather. The heater goes in your engine block and warms your truck’s engine and fluids so you have an easier time getting on the road and staying on the road.

By investing in an engine heater, you can protect your engine from damage and reduce the amount of fuel your truck would consume without a heater. The heater also keeps fluids like oil from thickening and causing engine parts to grind together.

4. Inspect Your Windshield

It’s crucial to inspect your windshield strength and the windshield wipers for durability. Take proper care of your windshield by routinely cleaning and defrosting it. Make sure to replace your windshield wipers before or at the beginning of winter to prepare for inclement weather conditions.

5. Prepare an Emergency Kit

Stay prepared for any possibility during the winter season by assembling an emergency kit. This kit should be easily accessible and include back-up items for the truck as well as items for the driver. Examples of items to keep in your emergency kit include:

• Back-up jumper cables
• Extra windshield wipers
• Food and water
• Warm blanket
• Multi-tool
• Flashlight with extra batteries

Prepare Your Truck for Winter With Help From NMC Cat

It’s essential to prepare for the unexpected, especially during the winter season. Take these five steps to winterize your truck for any situation before the freezing temperatures set in. If you have any questions about winterizing your truck, call NMC Cat at (800) 628-6025 or contact us online today.