The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk winter driving? do you guys do it?

None of my trucks (including the '85 F-350 4x4) is as good on the highway in snow as Peggy's Sebring ragtop

Around here, they dump salt and sodium chloride even at the hint that there MIGHT be snow (dang Southerners ... ). And the way I approach my old trucks, I don't think of it so much as owning them as preserving/caretaking them. I would love to pass my trucks on as historical artifacts/treasured family heirlooms to be enjoyed by future generations. Of course, one of my trucks is a well-preserved, all-original truck that's never seen snow or even hardly any rain its entire life (that's why my cab corners aren't rusted out). It would be a shame, not to mention extremely selfish of me, to ruin it now. I want my grandchildren to enjoy these trucks, and treasure them as I do (and remember the prvious owners and the history they made).

I can wait for nice weather to get them out.

That's also why I don't have any desire to mess with the gearing in the axle, hot rod it or anything else. If I need to get somewhere fast, I use a modern vehicle. And when I go to shows outside our county, I use a trailer to avoid undue wear and tear on my truck (also to avoid trips being slower and longer than necessary )

Not passing any judgement on anyone -- just saying what works for John C. Milliman and floats his boat.

Regards,
John

Hey John, did you tell Gas that he HAD to come help me?

Anyway, if you live where it doesn't get too bad in winter, drive it. If it does, don't drive it unless it's not bad out.

At gun point.

Was that bad??



Seriously, no. His decision.

John

No John, that wasn't bad, but in my PM he sent me, he said you ordered him to help. Am I getting him in trouble?

i have to drive mine it is a daily driver even with real nice paint job or not they have to be driven or they are not liven TILL NEXT TIME 67 GMC

WE b OLD,

I can relate to what you are saying. I had a 35 chevy truck that was great in the snow. Glad to hear you will be driving yours.

Dave

I haven't driven mine in the salt & snow and can't see doing it once all the hard work is complete. For me, its parked 3 months & I can live with that. I would hate to slide into someone or have them slide into me. I guess I am thinking about where I would take it to work and it might snow or sleet while I'm there.
If the roads were clear and fairly salt free, running errands on a Saturday might not be a big deal.

We have had a ton of rain today. Driving home tonight, I went thru "puddles" 100 feet long and 4" to 8" deep that probably would have stalled Little Red. I had discs brakes, drums would have been a real wash out. While I could have called for help or walked a few miles, I got to thinking about the guys "out west". All I can say is I hope you have a cell phone & cell service and emergency kit if your bolt ever leaves you stranded in the toolies in winter on a road trip. Around town is one thing, cross country in the deslote west is another.

Later Gang

I drive it year round-as long as it isn't wet outside! To be 80 degrees here today in the Winter! I never take it out in the rain. In fact, I'm not sure my windshield wipers even work...

My '48 is indeed a daily driver. It has a frost plug heater and I use a magnetic heater for the oil pan when it gets below zero. Starts instantly at 20 below when those are used.

I use firewood for winter weight but my tires are just highway treads.

I worry a bit about the liquid deicer used here because I know it can lead to a little rust (but not like the old road salt). But I rinse with a hose very frequently, like tonight when I get home. This is a lot of work but I love to drive my '48.

my old 60 never gets drove in inclement weather even tho I would love too. But I dont think the heater works to good i drove it a while back when it was 40 outside and it was probably 45 in the cab. It wasnt exactly warm goin and the fan was blowing luke warm air so that is why I wont drive it in the cold snow blowin weather.

I don't drive mine in the winter... I'm afraid that I'll not be able to get it back into my garage. Since she's been mine, she has been driven in the winter... to my house from my Grandpa's on new year's eve, 2005.

There's no weight in the back, and while the tires on it ARE snow tires, they're not the newest and traction will be an issue.

I drive my 51 unrestored half ton every day unless it is snowing or icy--in that case I drive my 66 Ford half ton. Both vehicles start reliably, but the Ford does have better heat and defrost.

John, I once drove that 42 a little over 100 miles when it was about 25 degrees outside. Once I stopped and sealed all the leaks (read doors, windows, and windshield) with duct tape, it was bearable. I was always going to swap in the heater from the 41 but I never got to it.