Moved from AZ to MN for the winter- advice?

[Farmerj]

Currently, I'm walking to work. It's .6 miles, door to door. I have some winter clothing from when I lived in Buffalo NY and spent 3 years car-free, even in winter. Of course now it's only 15-25 degrees F on the way home, so not a problem.

But still, I'm trying to find a way to get out of here in the next month- I think that's the best winter plan!!

If they provide an outlet, when it’s time, plug it in.

talk to a co-worker and slip them a couple $20’s (case of Busch light) every week for them to stop and pick you up. Especially if they have a ways to drive. Perfect combination for carpooling there.

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[780]

Oh! Not sure if it was mentioned but def pick up a telescopic snow rake to brush the snow off your truck. I love mine. Way better than a snow brush!

https://www.amazon.ca/Snow-Joe-SJBL...uODkifQ==&rnid=5264023011&s=automotive&sr=1-5

 

[oneinch]

I second yours and other's suggestions. Block heater never a bad idea. Winter tires. Four of them, not just the rears. Extra clothing and blankets is a smart idea. Boy Scout motto "be prepared". Winter is easy if you treat it like winter.

 

[BIG_POPPY]

I'm not going to go into why I had to move from Arizona to northern MN for the winter. Let's just say I had to and move on!

The situation:
* '22 Lariat 501 PB 2-whl drive
* I have a garage.
* I work the night shift- 8:30PM to 5AM, 5 days a week.
* The drive each way is 1 mile and I won't be driving much other than work.
* I'm going to apply B'laster Surface Shield to the underside and will get mats for the front (prob Huskies).

Do I need a block heater?
How about using remote start for 15 minutes at each of 3 breaks?

What problems may arise when I get out of work and try to start the truck? I may keep some extra winter clothing in the truck in case I have to walk home.

This is def a one and done deal- never going to be in this kind of weather again.

I agree with most people on this. Most don't understand the magnitude of the cold in Northern MN. Northern MN and ND are the coldest places in the lower 48. I live in WI about an hour from the Twin Cities. It gets cold here but, not like up there. I drove 2 miles to work for 16 years . Never used a block heater in my life, I never change to winter tires, I do not put in sandbags. I do start my vehicles 15 minutes before I leave home or work i also start to warm mine up when it gets below 40*. I have had almost everything put under the hood of an F-150 (4.6, 5.4, 5.0, 6.2, 3.5 ECO) and NEVER had any issues and NEVER had one not start. I also like to record my lowest driving temps for each year.

 

[BisonDude]

Find a buddy with an ice castle, fish from 4-8:00, use your propower to watch Grumpy Old Men and Fargo in ice castle, truck will be warm when its time to go to work.

 

[Sirtate]

Winter is Easy if you treat it like Winter...
Words to live by.

I keep a down coat, a toque and mitts (Gloves are less efficient at keeping hands warm) and proper snow boots in the truck incase you have to walk.

I've got a '21 3.5EB.
Canadian Spec trucks come with a block heater from the factory, i don't know about yours.

At temps approaching -40 (it doesn't matter which scale at that point) my truck started without any issue, either through the APP or by sitting in it.

It will take over 20mins of driving before the engine will reach operating temperatures. (find out what coolant temp your thermostat opens at, and watch those temps as you drive. You can tell when the cold coolant from the radiator is allowed into the block by the temp drop) I always drive mine long enough for that to happen each day. (Really. You want the block temp above 190F regularly) I have a 15minute commute at 60mph, and i would have to take the long way when it gets *Cold*. (a day above 0F is no big deal)

the 1 mile commute will be an issue, there are battery heaters, but they take time to work and until they do, any Lithium batteries cannot be charged. Therefore no Hybrid action when its below freezing for a short commute.

Likewise that short drive will be rough for the V6, unless you let it warm up...

 

[Calson]

Block heaters are cheap and good protection for the engine. Also go with the lighter weight motor oil and change it before the cold weather hits.

Add a windshield ice scraper and gloves and be super careful in the morning when there can be ice on the roads. I hit a patch of black ice in a parking lot while backing out of a parking space and the truck slid 30 feet before I could get traction to the tires. And 4WD does not help on ice.

 

[talespin]

I'm not going to go into why I had to move from Arizona to northern MN for the winter. Let's just say I had to and move on!

The situation:
* '22 Lariat 501 PB 2-whl drive
* I have a garage.
* I work the night shift- 8:30PM to 5AM, 5 days a week.
* The drive each way is 1 mile and I won't be driving much other than work.
* I'm going to apply B'laster Surface Shield to the underside and will get mats for the front (prob Huskies).

Do I need a block heater?
How about using remote start for 15 minutes at each of 3 breaks?

What problems may arise when I get out of work and try to start the truck? I may keep some extra winter clothing in the truck in case I have to walk home.

This is def a one and done deal- never going to be in this kind of weather again.

There’s not many of us who move from Az to Mn but after 21 years I had to leave and just glad to have some company. Anyhow, I’ve had my PB since last Oct. and I live down in Rochester and last winter had no issues at all. I did live in Mpls in the sixties and it averaged much colder and more snow than now. I did have occasion to leave my PB outside on some very cold nights ( around 0 degrees F ) and no hint of a problem starting in the morning. But you really need 4 wheel drive on a pickup around here. I’ve had it almost exactly one year and my high mpg hit exactly 25 mpg and now it is decreasing with the onset of colder days. But to get that mpg , there is a technique involved and I’ve driven hybrids for about 12 years.

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