Winter brings snow, ice and plummeting temperatures, each of which can take a toll on the performance of your vehicle. To help you make sure you have the best winter truck possible, follow these easy maintenance steps and check out some accessories that take the edge off this frigid time of year.
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Winterize your Truck for 2021
Flush and Fill Coolant
Antifreeze can lose its effectiveness over time, so before you subject your truck to winter driving, make sure your coolant system is filled with the prescribed amount of antifreeze/water mixture. Remember to use whichever antifreeze formulation is recommended by the manufacturer of your truck (e.g., Dex Cool for GMC and Chevrolet).
Flush and fill your truck's coolant.
Check Defroster and Heater
Your defroster and heater get a workout in the winter and usually spend the rest of the year without seeing much use. Test them out before winter gets into full swing and replace items such as fuses, hoses or the heater core as necessary.
Check your defroster and heater.
Test Battery
Extreme temperatures can wreak havoc on a 12-volt battery and the last thing you want is to be stranded in a snowstorm with an engine that won’t turn over. Most auto parts stores offer a free battery check: take advantage of this service and replace your battery if necessary. Consider upgrading to an AGM battery such as those from Full Throttle for extra resistance to extreme heat and cold, or keep a C-Tek Battery Charger around to top off all of your automotive batteries as necessary including boat, ATV and golf cart batteries.
Test your truck's battery.
Add Truck Bed Weight
While not strictly necessary, many trucks benefit from having some extra weight over or behind the rear axle to ensure good traction on wet and icy roads. Sand or salt bags are often used for this purpose, but for greater control over added weight distribution, consider adding a Shurtrax All Weather Traction System, which is rated for temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add weight to your truck bed.
Accessories to Help Winterize your Truck
Husky Liners WeatherBeater Floor Mats
Dragging snow and ice into your cab can cause excess wear and stains on your upholstery. These heavy-duty floor liners from Husky cover are some of the best winter floor mats you can own. They protect your floor boards from edge to edge and keep the elements away from your interior’s most vulnerable area.
Fia Winter Front and Bug Screen
This winter front portion of this multipurpose accessory does its best work in frigid weather where it keeps heat inside your engine bay, promoting optimal engine operating temperatures. It also keeps your interior heat up, leaving you and your engine nice and toasty.
Coverking Custom Frost Shield
Don’t you love waking up, heading out into the blistering cold of a winter morning and scraping all the ice off your truck’s windshield? Didn’t think so. This custom frost shield attaches in minutes and comes off even faster, keeping your windshield free of frost and ice.
Rugged Rear Wheel Well Liners
Winter weather often means that you’ll be dealing with road salt, which can cause rust on sensitive areas of your truck such as the frame and quarter panels. With a set of wheel well liners attached, you’ll be able to protect this vulnerable part of your truck safe from road salt and other corrosive elements.
Covercraft Carhartt Seat Covers
Your floor boards aren’t the only part of your interior that can be damaged by snow and ice. Keep your seat’s upholstery free of ice, snow and anything else you drag in with you by installing a set of these heavy-duty seat covers. They’re water repellant, machine washable and available in a variety of colors.
If you have questions about winterizing your truck, chat or call our product experts.