Winter Prep for a rig

[AKMark]

I wouldn't put anything on the diff, just run synthetics in the diffs and you should be fine. You should be okay with just the block heater to get there and after you sign in, put the rest on.

[78calico]

Oil pan is a must if you want your engine to last, but I wouldn't worry about the diffs. Just spend the couple extra bucks for the synthetic lube and they'll be fine.

[sevenslats]

AJ had a thread on here about the diff heater. That's the only reason I mention it. He had a gutless toyota on 38s, so all the resistance he could eliminate, he tried.
You could search for it, it,s on here somewhere.

[nate379]

Yeah I'll probably end up doing that. I wish it was just a "couple extra bucks" for synthetic gear oil though.

Regular oil... Valvoline 80w90 $2/quart.
Sythentic... Schaeffer's 75w140 $10/quart

Rear diff holds around 5-6 quarts.

[78calico]

Up hear it's about $8 for reg and $12 for synthetic

[SHoppe715]

...I want to get my truck all wired up so I don't have to worry about it on the drive up and when I get there...

The heater pads are really easy and, if it's not the dead of winter when you sign in, could be done in 10 min or so whenever you do your 1st oil change up here. Just some silicone and a few wire ties.

The stuff to knock out ahead of time would be your block heater, which is also when you flush and replace coolant, and getting the cord and outlet box mounted somewhere. You're looking for an outdoor rated outlet box, a length of heavy duty 3-wire extension cord (insulation needs to be arctic flexible), and a good male plug. The box gets mounted under-hood somewhere protected from road grime and the cord runs through the grill. There's a few different options there which all work the same and are just personal preference.

You can have a short plug that sticks out just past the bumper or grill and then you'd plug an extension cord to it.

You can have a longer cord (approx 15') attached to the outlet box which would run out and be long enough to reach most parking space outlets, and then have a little reel to wrap the cord around (license plate bracket, etc.)

You can go super ghetto like you see all around town and run the individual heater cords through the grill and plug them into a splitter. All hanging out...looks great...

There's this thing called the Arctic Leash which is just a sprung cord reel that mounts under-hood with the cord running through a grommet on the bumper. Super pimp but more spendy than what it's worth.

A lot depends on you. I'm skatterbrained and forgetful and often forget to unplug before driving away. I have a short plug through the grill and I tie off the other end of the ext cord so if I drive off it unplugs from the Jeep before I drive over the cord and rip it out of the box. I've seen cars cruising down the hwy with ext cords hanging on the bumper like a long tail. :lol:

Hope this helps.

[akram]

I had an Arctic leasho nthe Dodge before a trip though a mud hoe and liked it. Gina forgot to unplug a few times and it would just wind right up. You can get them at Freddy's for $80 something. Just think how many arctic grade extension cords some ppl buy over the years up here and they spend more than that.

[sevenslats]

I had an Arctic leasho nthe Dodge before a trip though a mud hoe and liked it. Gina forgot to unplug a few times and it would just wind right up. You can get them at Freddy's for $80 something. Just think how many arctic grade extension cords some ppl buy over the years up here and they spend more than that.

Personally, I've found 2 frozen in parking lot snow piles. And seen about 7 on the roadways. those 2 from the parking lots -- I've still got one of them. And the other sold with Julie's explorer.

[99TJ]

I had an Arctic leasho nthe Dodge before a trip though a mud hoe and liked it. Gina forgot to unplug a few times and it would just wind right up. You can get them at Freddy's for $80 something. Just think how many arctic grade extension cords some ppl buy over the years up here and they spend more than that.

Bought 2 when I got up here, found 1 in the road next to my house, I still have 2 cut one up for some electrical wire once. All tho An arctic leash would be nice from time to time. No cord to worry about winding up when you leave to go somewhere

[ajpthng]

I've bought 3 for Rose over the last 3 winters. The Dodge has an Arctic Leash, found that out when I was takin the cold fronts off last weekend.

[sevenslats]

What is the drawback to the battery heaters? I know we had them on most of our trucks at work when I was at Elmendorf.

Yahoo Slurp Spider just bumped this up for more info...
http://www.arcticoffroad.com/forum/showt...php?t=4450