Snow Troubles

[Scootin 81 C20]

Hey guys, I have been having some problems with snow and my truck.

I've sprayed the latches, hinges, and handles with WD. I've sprayed the seals with silicone and my doors are still freezing shut. I open my door and in the area between the outside of the door and the cab in the rear corners, snow is getting in there and freezing them shut.

My question is, how can I keep the snow from getting in there period? My truck has to be parked outside since mom uses the garage for her car. So any ideas are welcome.

Thanks
Benjamin.

[creamsicle68]

when my doors freeze up in the winter i just take a cup of hot water out with me in the morning and pour it around the top and rear edge of the door and thats always worked for me.

[Anadrol]

Originally Posted by creamsicle68

when my doors freeze up in the winter i just take a cup of hot water out with me in the morning and pour it around the top and rear edge of the door and thats always worked for me.

You're asking for something to crack if you do that, including the window.

[creamsicle68]

Originally Posted by Anadrol

You're asking for something to crack if you do that, including the window.

i know in theory it would and should shatter the window, but my dad has done it for years and his dad did it for years. they even poured hot water right on the windsheilds to melt the ice and snow off them. it sounds crazy and alot of ppl wont do it but we do it all the time and havent shatterd a single window

[Anadrol]

1. Replace that weather strip

2. I think there's a special weather strip on LMC that is a deluxe version or something

3. Take it up to a pro and ask them to shim the doors for proper alignment. Assuming you bought your truck from some other private seller, those doors could have been aftermarket and they could've been aligned improperly?

4. Cary a spray can of lock de-icer

5. You could coat the weather seals in vaseline, but I assure you, vaseline can freeze too! A vaseline/anitfreez cocktail might do the trick if you mix it well enough to the proper proportions

6. I doubt if it's actual snow getting in there. It's probably water. You open the door, snow gets in. You drive away, truck heats up, snow turns to water. you park, water freezes. You may never be able to keep water totally out of there.

7. Anyone without a garage needs a remote start. If you're carbureted, there's a cure for that too.

8. Thoroughly clear any snow before you drive. This is the most important step. When it's cold out, go start the truck to get it warming up, and while you're waiting, knock all the snow off. Get a big, good snow scraper stick with a brush so that you can brush the snow off really well too. That's your enemy. If there's lots of snow on there, it will later melt to water, and that water will freeze your doors shut.

[Scootin 81 C20]

Originally Posted by Anadrol

1. Replace that weather strip

2. I think there's a special weather strip on LMC that is a deluxe version or something

3. Take it up to a pro and ask them to shim the doors for proper alignment. Assuming you bought your truck from some other private seller, those doors could have been aftermarket and they could've been aligned improperly?

4. Cary a spray can of lock de-icer

5. You could coat the weather seals in vaseline, but I assure you, vaseline can freeze too! A vaseline/anitfreez cocktail might do the trick if you mix it well enough to the proper proportions

6. I doubt if it's actual snow getting in there. It's probably water. You open the door, snow gets in. You drive away, truck heats up, snow turns to water. you park, water freezes. You may never be able to keep water totally out of there.

7. Anyone without a garage needs a remote start. If you're carbureted, there's a cure for that too.

8. Thoroughly clear any snow before you drive. This is the most important step. When it's cold out, go start the truck to get it warming up, and while you're waiting, knock all the snow off. Get a big, good snow scraper stick with a brush so that you can brush the snow off really well too. That's your enemy. If there's lots of snow on there, it will later melt to water, and that water will freeze your doors shut.

1. Weatherstrips are good.
2. Didn't know about that. Will look into it.
3. Doors are original to the truck and have never been off of it from what the PO told me when I bought it.
4. Have one, funny thing is, it's in the glovebox.
5. Sprayed them with silicone. The seals aren't where it's freezing.
6. I'm sure it's snow getting in there, because I use tip 8 and I have driprails on my truck to prevent the snow from falling in there.
7. I don't have remote start, and I can't afford it. I go out and start the truck up about 15-25 minutes before I plan to leave and let it idle til I'm ready to go. And yes, it is carbed.
8. Already been using this tip.

[Anadrol]

Well FYI, you can get a remote start so advanced that it will actually start your truck once every 5 hours for 5 minutes, all night long, to insure that your truck is ready to go in the morning.

You remote start it, it's ready to rock, and it heats up quick.

After that, snow isnt much of a problem.

[Scootin 81 C20]

It has a block heater to help with the cold startups.

[JordanK20]

Try using white lithium grease on the latches and hindges? Wd40 is alittle to thin and might be freezing causing the doors to stick. Spray the inside the button on handle as well...if u can spray inside that helps too. The door seals should be good with silicone spray...maybe try another type and wipe it down maybe to much silicone. Are the latches maybe getting stuck? Good Luck

[Hottrucks]

go with Jordans Ideas...

#6 is your problem..if you can get it in for a few hours to warm/dry the truck out then spray it so it ca push any water out of the locks

2 things I don't use in the wnter is door locks and he E brake?? trust me it 8* out there now??

[mitch1965]

Both my trucks sit outside year round, since my garage is filled with my motorcycle and projects. Here's what I've used for years.
1. Clean the door jams and seals really well with good soap and water. Use a brush to clean the door seal and get out the caked in stuff. Make sure to clean the hinges, latch area, etc. Dry it as good as you can.
2. Use either white grease or a thick spray lube on the latch and hinges.
3. Spray silicone all around the door jam, truck and door sides. Coat the seal really well, use a rag to evenly coat the seal.
4. Lastly, whenever washing the truck in the winter, dry the door jam areas.

This works for me every year, and I haven't had a problem yet. I learned all that as a kid in Illinois on the farm.
Hope it helps.

[Scootin 81 C20]

Thanks guys.

Mitch, where in IL are you from?

[mitch1965]

Born in Morris, lived in the country near Minooka, then Ottawa, then Ransom.(all samll towns). Went to high school in Dwight, graduated, then left the state with my parents. I still have 2 brothers and a sister in the area.

[68 TT]

How about a car cover or tarp?

[Scootin 81 C20]

I know where all of those are because I live in Bureau Co. I'm just North of I-80 on Rt. 40, used to be State Hwy. 88.

[mitch1965]

I come back to the Chicago area a couple times a year for work. I usually add a couple days to see family. This year, I'm hoping to come back so I can go to the Sandwich Fair. Loved the truck and tractor pulls as a kid. I think it's around labor day weekend.

[Scootin 81 C20]

May have to make it up there for a member meetup if you go..

I've thought about a cover or tarp, but I don't think it would work with my CB antennas on there.

I've thought about that foam tape you can get at the hardware store. Think that might work?

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by Scootin 81 C20

May have to make it up there for a member meetup if you go..

I've thought about a cover or tarp, but I don't think it would work with my CB antennas on there.

I've thought about that foam tape you can get at the hardware store. Think that might work?

You really only need to cover the cab so you might be able to work a small tarp around the CB masts and still cover the door gaps.

[gchemist]

Throw a blanket over the cab!!

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by gchemist

Throw a blanket over the cab!!

That was my suggestion

I don't know why you are having such a hard time with this. My trucks have always been parked outside and the only time I have ever had problems with the snow is if we get freezing rain. Maybe you are parked too close to the house and it is melting the snow into a sheet of ice.

[Benelli]

I like the lithium grease idea.

I've never had these problems with my pick up though so I really don't have any first hand experince to help you.