How to Winterize a Pickup Truck

We know your truck is tough but is it tough enough for the colder temperatures and harsh conditions that are coming our way? Winter will soon be here so it’s time to make sure your truck is ready. It’s best to start prepping your truck for the winter during the warmer months while the days are long and the temperatures are still comfortable to make sure that your truck will p­­­erform its best all winter long -- and for many more seasons to come.

• Check the antifreeze. This is a must-do for all makes and models of cars, but one that's easy to forget. You want to make sure the antifreeze is properly equipped before outside temperatures dip below zero. But avoid adding too much too soon -- this could cause issues with your cooling system in warmer weather.

   

• Check the battery. Give your truck battery a thorough inspection to make sure all connections are clean and tight. Make sure that the water levels are high enough to cover the lead plates, since cold temperatures can drain life quickly.
  
  
  
• Prepare your tires. Your climate, usage, and road conditions will play a large role in how you prepare your tires for winter. You may simply need to inspect the tread or have a standard rotation, or you may want to consider investing in chains or studded snow tires.

   

• Protect your bed. If you don't already have a spray on bedliner, now is the time to think about one. Truck bedliners, especially the kind of spray bedliners made from polyurethane, serve two purposes: first, they offer protection from scratches, rust chemical contamination, or paint deterioration. Second, they provide an anti-skid, anti-slip rough surface, which is especially important for hauling things in and out of the bed all winter long. You can find spray on bedliner dealers to apply the coating for you with a bedliner spray gun.
  
  
  
• Oil check. It's always important to stay up-to-date on your oil changes. Oil can react differently to cold temperatures, so check both the levels and the viscosity with every change.

It might still be warm out, but it's never too early to start preparing your pickup truck for the cold winter months ahead. A little bit of planning and preparation can go a long way in preserving your vehicle for a long and useful life.