Winters coming...

[OntarioVanMan]

Have you changed over from bug wash to antifreeze wash for your windshield fluid yet...last year I waited to long till Nov.and got froze up....


Get out that winter jacket, the National Weather Service in Rapid City predicts snowfall by Thursday.

Scott Rudge, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Rapid City, said a strong weather system would be slamming into town Wednesday night and would remain through Thursday night. The NWS predicts that Rapid City could receive a measurable amount of precipitation, he said.


"It looks like the temperatures could be cool enough that there would be snow in there someplace. I think it is our first snow of the season," Rudge said.

As if snow wasn't enough, the weather system will arrive with Wednesday with 30-40 mph winds.

Rudge said it isn't unusual for snow to fall in early October; in Rapid City, the earliest snowfall was on Sept. 13.

But the high winds ushering in the snow will make for a miserable day.

"It's going to be a raw day Thursday," Rudge said.

 

[jujubeans]

Thanks honey...{{{{turning up the heat}}}}

 

[greg334]

oooo ain't that sweet..... the two of you have heat.....

 

[jujubeans]

We NEED heat...but he left me home to shovel...

 

[greg334]

OVM,
You make her shovel the coal for the stove? How mean can that be?

 

[Steady Eddie]

Yup, it comes once every year.....

 

[chefdennis]

Yes it is!! During this last week while out of service, I unsulated the back of the van with foil backed bubble insulation. The front 40" inches has been insulated and paneled, but not the back. I hung another old heavy quilt over the shower rod to act as a removeable wall to keep the heat upfront and exchanged the empty 20 lb propane bottle for a full one and fired up the "Big Buddy" to make sure all was well.

BUT, for those trips south to Laredo and other point s of heat even during the winter, I installed the 12,000 btu Portable AC unit and will power it with a new 2000 watt generator. Also added a Maxfan roof vent in the front and bought a regular plain crank up vent for the rear....looking at a short cut pile carpet to cover the front paneling with and i should be nice and cozy this yr...Last winter was good, but i am a wussy when it comes to cold, so the upgrades were in line....

"Let it snow , Let it snow, Let it snow.....

 

[TheOGExpediterGuy]

Heck yes...I love the snow...and the WINTER!!!!!!! But Fall is my fav.

 

[layoutshooter]

My favorite is Fall, then winter, then spring and I would gladly skip summer. What I would like would be Early Fall, Late fall, winter, Early Fall etc.

 

[greg334]

So outside of really wanting snow, unsulating the van and making your wife shovel coal for heat, how many are actually preping the truck/van for winter?

I came home last Thursday, started Friday messing around and finished yesterday cumulating with a four hour visit to lansing thanks to the IRP office not able to find my paper work that was send in two months ago -

changed the oil and oil filters
replaced one sleeper heater hose
changed the coolant, flush the system and swapped out the additive cartridge for a new one
changed both primary and secondary fuel filters
cleaned the fuel tanks out, and worked on the outside too (decided this is the last year for those tanks)
adjusted the clutch
did an overhead
pulled two injectors to get checked - they were fine so back they went
cleaned the interior up a bit
lubed up everything

AND forgot to adjust the alternator belt on the reefer unit.

I didn't get to checking the charger cooler or changing out one of the A/C hoses but there is time.

I think I am ready......

 

[chefdennis]

Oil and filter was changed 10,000 miles ago still have somemiles left. Installed a new windsheild washer pump and changed the fluid to anti freeze solution. Will replace all 4 tires before the snow flys or as close to it as possible. changed the hoses and belts, and tentioner this past spring when the waterpump was replaced. All lube fluids were changed over to full synthetic this past june and both ft wheel bearings and hubs were replaced since feb. I think i am ok to go....

Heading to West Marine this evening to pickup a 6 gallon above deck fuel tank and all the necessary lines and fittings to let the generator run up to 18 hrs before it runs out of gas....as i said, "i am a wussy when it comes to getting cold!"

 

[layoutshooter]

Still have to have the valves done and the transmission fluid changed. OH YEAH. I STILL have to try to get my one tool box open. The Alumi-JUNK latch broke and I have yet to get that box open. That box has two batteries AND all my additives INCLUDING my winter fuel stuff. Can you say GELLED? Will it never end? OH well, that box was going to be replaced in Nov anyway, it is rotting out on the bottom. Of course Alumi-Junk does not use off the self boxes, customs makes their own. They don't use standard sizes, don't have any in stock and NO idea when they are going to make more OR what sizes they will make when they do. They will NOT make one to order, we asked. Gotta love it!!

 

[OntarioVanMan]

OVM,
You make her shovel the coal for the stove? How mean can that be?

Hey..I am an equal opportunity husband...

 

[moose]

Hey , Hunter , last spring i was shopping around for a belly box - side open . found that Northern Tools have a good selection on the web , and most stores will check up inventory over the phone , you can get the part # off the E - catalog .
when compering to other sites , i found out that most places charge more for the installation kits.

Hey , Cooker , why not just add a line pump to your van fuel lines ?

 

[dieselwrench]

I am installing new truck batteries in the morning. Sleeper batts. were new last winter along with new burner for Espar got my snap on chains in the side boxes, plenty of 911 additive [that stuff works] I still have long undies in cabinet-tmi- they are clean. all I need is winter coat and boots.
Yesterday my wife and I climbed up to the top of the Crisp Point light house on lake Superior. It was cold and windy with 8 to 10 foot wave. Realy pretty.

 

[Humble2drive]

Last week I-80 west in Wyoming.

 

[inkasnana]

No! I'm not ready for snow! I don't want it to snow! Please don't make it snow! *sigh* It's inevitable, isn't it?

We no longer have an APU. Our sleeper is now powered by 6 large marine gel batteries. I guess we will see how well this set up works.

 

[guido4475]

I'm going to stop by Ontario Van Man's house and get a couple of sheep to keep me warm for the winter.....lol.

 

[jujubeans]

I'm going to stop by Ontario Van Man's house and get a couple of sheep to keep me warm for the winter.....lol.

No sheep at our house....those thangs are stinky and stupid!

I will however furnish you with a mama cat and a couple of kittens to curl around your head...*L*

 

[ebsprintin]

Have chains, will travel. --eb