I’ve got a Decked System for storage, planning to put some recovery gear in it. Any suggestions are welcome!.
Wash the salt off your truck as often as you can, at least once a week.
I’m in Texas, so I don’t deal with salt, but I’m planning some winter trips. Do I need to worry about using a fluid film or will regular washes be enough?
You’ll be fine. Just wash the truck when you’re clear of any salted roads. I live in Michigan and just give my vehicles a wash a few days after the snow melts. You’ll be okay as long as you wash it if there’s salt around.
Is a drive-through car wash enough, or should I do more? Thanks for the help!
I prefer self-wash places so I can focus on the underside. But any automatic car wash should work as long as it cleans the underside. Colorado doesn’t use salt, so unless you go to the Midwest or Northeast, you should be good.
Good to know! I thought any snowy place used salt. Thanks again, I’m learning a lot.
From what I hear, undercoating needs reapplying eventually. If you’re only doing winter trips, car washes should be enough. I haven’t done undercoating myself, so take that with a grain of salt.
Cool, thanks! Texas doesn’t see snow, but I’m planning a trip to New Mexico and maybe Colorado this year.
Spray fluid film on the underside and frame, and you’re good.
Yeah, cover the whole truck if you can!
Smother that truck in fluid film. Salt doesn’t stand a chance.
You can buy a case of fluid film in spray cans. It’s an oil that never fully dries and you can get into all the cracks with the included tube. Do this every couple years, and your truck will be rust-free. It’s messy, so do it on asphalt. Takes about an hour.
Try woolwax, too.
Drive according to the conditions, and you should be fine. I’d recommend a voodoo recovery rope or something stretchy for smaller trucks. If you need a tow, it’s usually from a bigger vehicle, so the stretch helps with smoother pulls. Make sure to use proper hitches and avoid metal shackles between ropes.
If those are Ko2 tires, they’re decent but not the best in snow. I’ve had a couple of sets, and they perform well off-road in Michigan summers, but they’re not as good in ice and snow as others I’ve used, like Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs. Still, they’ll work fine. Wash off the salt, and maybe use fluid film if you want to protect the underside. I also keep a bag with recovery gear, a blanket, and some tools just in case.
I’m up in the Colorado mountains, and I’ve never had an issue. You’re fine.
Grab a soft tow strap, a couple of shackles, and a d-ring hitch. Keep some salt or sand bags in the back. Wash and wax your truck before storms to protect from the salt and ice, and it’ll be easier to clean off later. I use Rain-X on my windows to stop ice buildup, and keep a spray bottle of de-icer for quick melts.
Don’t forget gloves. I keep two pairs—one that’s warm and waterproof, and another more flexible pair for detailed work. I also recommend ice cleats for your boots. They’re easy to put on and take off.
Never let the gas tank drop below a quarter, and stash a bottle of whiskey just in case.