Upgrades to Get Your Pickup Truck Ready for Wintertime
As snow begins to fall, pickup truck owners often feel a blend of excitement and a hint of worry. The winter season changes the roads into an icy landscape, and while your reliable truck performs well in summer, it requires some modifications to become effective in winter conditions.
The frigid temperature can be challenging, especially for those who rely on their pickup trucks for work, travel, or recreation. The cold temperatures, icy roads, and heavy snow can push even the most robust trucks to their limits. Preparing your pickup truck for the cold season is crucial. Equipping with tonneau covers, floor mats, and other truck accessories helps ensure safety, functionality, and peace of mind as you navigate the harsh winter months.
Essential Truck Upgrades for Wintertime
Investing in truck upgrades isn’t just about surviving winter — it’s also about maintaining the performance and reliability of the vehicle throughout the season. Aside from safety, the right mods can enhance the performance and keep the vehicle in good condition. Winter-specific upgrades address key issues like traction, protection, and comfortability.
Heated Seats and Steering Wheel Covers
Cold mornings can make driving uncomfortable. Adding heated seats and steering wheel covers put an extra layer of comfort, as well as making the truck interior warm and cozy. These upgrades make a significant difference in driver comfort during long winter commutes.
Fender Flares
Fender flares are useful for trucks with oversized tires. They protect the vehicle from road salt, mud, and snow that can cause corrosion and damage. They also help maintain cleanliness during wet and slushy conditions. Fender flares shield the truck’s wheel wells and body panels from debris, extending its life and preserving its resale value.
Undercarriage Protection
Adding undercarriage protection, such as skid plates or rust-proof coatings, shields your truck from the damaging effects of salt and road debris. Protecting your truck’s underside extends its lifespan and reduces maintenance costs caused by winter damage.
Tonneau Covers
A tonneau cover keeps your truck bed and its contents safe from snow, ice, and water. Available in soft and hard varieties, these covers create a barrier that protects against the elements while improving your truck’s aerodynamics. Whether hauling equipment or transporting cargo, a tonneau cover ensures your load stays dry and secure, even in a blizzard.
Truck Bed Liner
A spray-on or drop-in bed liner protects the truck bed from salt and other de-icing chemicals that can cause rust. You don’t need to worry about moist materials and other cargo that may stick to the truck bed’s surface, especially when the outside temperature is freezing.
All-Weather Floor Mats
Durable all-weather floor mats help protect the truck’s interior from snow and mud. These are easy to clean and provide a non-slip surface to keep your cabin tidy. They also prevent moisture and debris from damaging the flooring, preserving it in top condition throughout winter.
Wiper Blades and Washer Fluid
Standard wipers and fluids often freeze or fail in cold weather. Winter-specific wiper blades and freeze-resistant washer fluid help keep the windshield clear of frost for better visibility. Proper visibility is critical during winter, and these upgrades ensure you’re prepared for sudden snow storms.
Off-Road Tires
Winter roads demand more than standard all-season tires can offer. You can find various off-road tires with M+S (mud and snow) notation. Toyo Open Country M/T and BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 are popular tires that can be used in snow. They provide good traction on snow and maintain control in slippery conditions. They feature special rubber compounds and deeper treads that retain impressive flexibility even in freezing temperatures.
Snow Chains
For areas with heavy snowfall, snow chains are a must. They offer a safety boost when driving on dangerous terrain, making them invaluable for extreme conditions. The snow chains provide maximum traction on icy roads and steep inclines, ensuring the truck can handle even the winter conditions.
Lighting Upgrades
Ensure your headlights and taillights are bright and functional. Consider upgrading to LED bulbs for superior visibility in snowy conditions. You can also add an LED light bar for your truck, especially if you frequently drive off-road.
Recovery Gear
Winter driving increases the risk of getting stuck. A shovel, traction mats, and recovery straps can help you escape a tricky situation safely. Your snow recovery gear must also have recovery shackles, a jumper cable or jump box, and a tire repair kit.
How Cold Temperatures Affect Your Truck
Winter is not just tough on drivers, as it is also tough on vehicles. Here’s how freezing temperatures can impact your truck:
Engine strain
Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can lead to fuel system issues and frozen hoses. It can also affect the spark plugs, which are crucial for starting your vehicle. The spark plugs may have difficulty igniting the fuel-air mixture in the engine due to the colder temperature. Checking your vehicle and regular servicing can help ensure your truck starts smoothly on colder days. Moreover, you may also notice that the exhaust system has condensation build-up when the temperature is low. Since the system does not fully warm, the build-up can lead to rust over time, especially in vehicles used for short trips. Inspect the exhaust system for any issues before the issue gets worse.
Stiffened fluids
Low temperatures cause the antifreeze, transmission fluid, and other vital engine oils and fluids to thicken. When this happens, they move more slowly, affecting the vehicle’s performance and safety. This hinders smooth operation and potentially causes increased wear and tear on the engine. The cold temperature can thicken the engine oils and fluids, making it harder for the engine to start. Worse that can happen, the cold may deteriorate some internal components.
Materials get brittle
Plastic and rubber components become more brittle in the cold, making them susceptible to breaking or cracking. Rubber loses its elasticity completely if cooled to below-zero temperatures. A glass-like breakage occurs if you abruptly bend the rubber at right angles. The structural change of the plastic affects the flexibility during low temperatures.
Affects battery performance
The battery of your pickup truck can lose a significant portion of its power in freezing temperatures. A weak battery might fail to start the vehicle, leaving you stranded in cold conditions.
Reduced tire grip and durability
Standard tires lose the flexibility and grip in icy or snowy conditions, increasing the risk of accidents. In extremely cold situations, the tire pressure can also drop significantly, affecting handling and fuel efficiency.
Damage to body and undercarriage
Salt, slush, and road debris can lead to corrosion, deteriorating the body and undercarriage of your pickup truck. Accessories like fender flares and mud flaps can help reduce the damage caused by rust. Installing mud flaps can help prevent debris and snow kicked up by the tires from damaging the wheel well. Fender flares can replace the rusty factory fenders and are a nice upgrade when upsizing the wheels and tires.
Reduced visibility
Frost can form on your windshield and windows at temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow and sleet can quickly obscure your vision, demanding extra caution and preparedness. Using the defroster system effectively or having a handy ice scraper are essential defrosting strategies to resolve this issue. Clear visibility is critical for safe driving, especially during snowfall.
Why Truck Accessories Matter For Winter Season?
Winter weather conditions can drastically affect the performance and longevity of pickup trucks. Icy environments and cold temperatures take a toll on vital components like the engine, tires, and battery, which are already working hard during regular use. Beyond mechanical challenges, winter can also make driving more hazardous due to reduced visibility, slippery surfaces, and an increased risk of accidents.
Proper preparation ensures your truck remains comfortable, reliable, and safe during the season. With the right upgrades, you can protect your vehicle from damage, improve its winter performance, and make your travels much less stressful.
Winter doesn’t have to be a season of dread for pickup truck owners. Investing in the right upgrades and accessories transforms your vehicle into a winter-ready powerhouse that’s comfortable, safe, and efficient. These upgrades can make your truck ready to handle anything the cold season throws your way, turning it into a reliable rig to enjoy snow-filled adventures.
