Easy Tips for Prepping Your Vehicle for Winter Weather

 

Coming up on the Thanksgiving holiday means more than preparing to down way too much food and see extended family for the first time in a year. In many areas, it’s also the perfect time to get your vehicle ready for winter weather. Not only do you want your vehicle to make it through the next few months unscathed, but you want to ensure that you and your family stay safe. Whether you’re dealing with snow, sleet, freezing rain, and/or blistering temperatures, here are some simple ways to prepare your vehicle (and yourself) for winter:

 

Watch the Tires 

Having reliable tires is critical to your safety, particularly in winter weather. Once the temperature drops, it can cause your tire pressure to drop significantly. At least once a month, check the PSI in your tires and add air if necessary; typically, you can find the ideal PSI for your vehicle inside the driver's door jam.

Also, check the tread on your tires. Place a penny between the threads, and if you see Lincoln’s forehead, the tread is too low and you will need to replace your tires. Furthermore, if you live in an area that gets severe winter weather, such as in the northern United States, you might consider getting winter tires. 

 

Check the Windshield and Wiper Blades

Another thing you want to do is to check your windshield for any cracks, which can quickly spread once the temperature drops. Even if you spot a small crack, get it looked at by an expert as soon as you can. While you’re at it, have new wiper blades installed so that you can ensure you’re ready to drive in the elements.

 

Inspect the Lights

When driving in snow, freezing rain, and other winter conditions, it’s essential to have functioning headlights and tail lights. If your headlights have issues, it can significantly hinder you from seeing what is in front of you, especially at night. And without your tail lights or brake lights working properly, it can quickly lead to accidents with other cars. 

 

Test the Battery

Cold weather is hard on batteries, and it tends to decrease their capacity. Be sure to get your vehicle's battery checked by a certified repair shop to ensure that it can hold a charge. Also, ask them to remove any corrosion from the connections and posts. Along with getting your battery serviced, keep a set of jumper cables in your vehicle as a backup plan. 

 

Give Your Vehicle a Wax Coat 

Road salt is essential to driver safety during winter weather. But due to its corrosive nature, it can be hard on your vehicle’s exterior over time. Adding a coat of wax can help prevent extensive damage to the exterior of your car. When applying wax, focus on the lower areas of your vehicle where salt, snow, and ice set in; this includes behind the front grille, wheels, and quarter panels. 

 

Try Winter-Grade Oil

Another thing to consider when prepping your vehicle for the cold months ahead is the engine oil you use. Generally speaking, the lower the viscosity, the better during winter. So, before the weather gets too frigid or harsh, consider switching to a thinner winter-grade oil; the viscosity of the oil you are using is identified by the first number of the oil specification. For example, 5W-30 oil is ideal for winter while 10W-30 is a little too thick. 

 

Keep an Emergency Supplies Kit

Even if you thoroughly prepare your vehicle for winter weather, you can’t 100% guarantee that you won’t break down on the side of the road or get stuck in the snow or ice. That’s why it’s essential to arrange an emergency supplies kit that you keep in your car. This kit should include any items you think you might need in the event that you are stranded without a working vehicle. Here are some examples of items to consider:

• Extra winter clothes and outerwear
• Gloves and boots
• A blanket (preferably heated)
• A first-aid kit
• Non-perishable foods and jugs of water
• A portable charger for your smartphone
• Jumper cables
• A basic toolkit
• A tire gauge and tire chains
• A functional spare tire
• A wrench, jack, and any other equipment necessary for changing a tire

 

Conclusion

Getting your vehicle ready for the cold months ahead is one of the most important things you can do for ensuring the safety of you, your loved ones, and others on the road. Check your tires, windshield wipers and blades, and exterior lights. Consider putting a fresh coat of wax on your car and changing to lower-viscosity engine oil. And pack an emergency supplies kit. Lastly, remember that it’s always a good idea to take your vehicle to your local professional. Schedule your service appointment today! 

What Your Truck Says About You

 

Whether we notice it or not, our cars say a lot about us. What you drive may resemble your personality, such that if you are environmentally-conscious you might drive a smaller (maybe even electric) vehicle. Or perhaps you enjoy life outdoors and tossing the family in the truck or SUV for a quick weekend camping trip. We love our cars because they do more than just get us there, they become a part of our lives and we rely on them—we trust them. So what does your truck say about you?

You don’t fully understand until you buy your first truck, but there are a TON of options to choose from, whether it’s size, color, shape, power, technology capabilities, and much more. Why wouldn’t you find a truck that matches your lifestyle, your personality? With the popularity of trucks these days, finding one that fits you shouldn’t be a problem.

The thing about pickup truck drivers is there are a few truisms, some good some not so good, that they understand. Here are three important ones:

1. You will be asked by your non-truck driving friends to help move bulky items. This is a fact and there is nothing to stop it from happening. Truck drivers understand—they may not like it, but they deal—and simply wait for the call. 
2. Whereas you used to pay more at the pump with your truck, today’s hybrid trucks provide gas mileage that makes luxury sedans a bit jealous. 
3. The modern truck is just as luxurious and spacious and updated with all the technological and safety fixins’ as any other vehicle type on the road. So why wouldn’t you own a truck?

 

Performance, Comfort, and What Your Truck Says About You

Regardless of the look, the most impressive aspect of your truck should be quality. Since 1902, GMC has been making just that, quality trucks, with the variations of the Sierra. Through the years, the venerated Sierra truck has won countless awards and has climbed the scales of popularity and sales, reaching its way to the top.

 

Big on Performance and Power

If power and performance are your big things, you won’t find a better truck than the Sierra. For example, on the lowest end, the Sierra comes with a 4.3-liter, V-6 engine that can go from 0 mph to 60 mph in just under 8 seconds. But if the work you do requires a bit more power, check out the 5.3-liter, V-8 engine that has 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. This bigger engine can tow up to 11,100 pounds! And if that is still not enough power for you there's another: a 6.2-liter, V-8 engine with a 12,500-pound towing capacity plus 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Now that is a lot of power.

 

Quality and Comfort

The GMC Sierra’s power and performance are impressive, but wait until you experience the comfort and quality of the interior. The cabin of the GMC Sierra is big. There is plenty of room to stretch and move around. The seats themselves are plush and easy to nestle into. The driver’s seat allows you to position yourself perfectly thanks to the power-adjustable pedals and steering wheel that tilts and telescopes. There are plenty of soft-touch materials covering the inside, and chrome accents border sections of the dash's control panel and steering wheel to make the cabin pop. Ambient lighting sets a comforting, cool mood. Drivers also get up to five USB ports with both 12- and 110-volt compatibility points so that you are able to charge just about anything from your phone to a laptop. There is more than enough storage room in the middle section of the front seat, and even more, can be found in the door panels and below the seats. To isolate the interior from the exterior, triple door seals are used to block outside noise from polluting the quiet and smooth ride within.

 

A Sweet Ride

Regardless of the type of truck driver you are, a smooth, even ride is surely on your list of necessities, and the Sierra—you guessed it—has that too. All Sierra trucks operate with a front strut and rear leaf-spring suspension. This provides extra cushion and makes the impact of bumps and potholes virtually nonexistent. If you are worried about drive quality when hauling extra big loads, you can opt for the Magnetic Ride Control, which helps reduce intense up-and-down motions. But that’s not all, the steering and control to the Sierra, no matter what you are hauling or pulling, are responsive and fluid naturally and can do wonders to keep you in constant control.

 

So Which Sierra is the Best Fit For You?

This is where truck shopping gets really fun. You know what you want in a truck, and Sierra has it all, but now the big question: which Sierra? The 1500, 2500, or 3500?

 

Sierra 1500

The baseline 1500 is available in a 5.3- or 6.2-liter EcoTech3 V-8 engine. In certain trim levels, the 1500 comes with the Z71 off-road suspension system. And, GMC LED daytime running lights, Stabilitrak, a corner step rear bumper, hydraulic body mounts, and triple door seals come standard with all Sierra 1500 trim levels. As far as towing, the 1500 can handle up to 9,400 pounds with ease. This truck is good for hauling and pulling and truly excels in drive quality. This is the family-man’s truck, and it likes to get stuff done.

 

Sierra 2500

Stepping it up a notch, the 2500 offers everything the 1500 does and more. It comes with a 5.3-liter, V-8, or a 6.6-liter, V-8 Duramax diesel engine. The 2500 also has an Allison Series 1000 transmission, an available spray-on bed liner, and digital steering assist. And, it has a whopping 14,500 pounds towing capacity—making it the perfect work truck. If you need something that can handle those heavier loads and pull some bigger equipment, something that says “hey, this guy knows what he’s doing,” the Sierra 2500 is for you and your crew.

 

Sierra 3500

At the top level, the 3500 exceeds expectations. This truck was built especially for trailering and hauling and can handle as much as 23,200 pounds (using fifth-wheel trailering). The 3500 comes with Digital Steering Assist to help keep control of those heavy payloads, and there is what’s called Hill Start Assist, which momentarily holds the breaks while you switch your foot from the brake pad to the gas. This is especially useful on inclines or unstable surface areas. The 3500 offers everything the other two models do, plus a few extras like an EZ-Lift and Lower tailgate, chrome trailering mirrors, an automatic locking rear differential, and comes in a 6.2-liter engine or a 6.6-liter, V-8 Duramax diesel. If you want your truck to show off your hauling capabilities, this is the one.

But the best part of choosing a GMC Sierra is that you can basically build your own. There are numerous Sierra packages to choose from and even more trim level features to sift through and add on. So if there are aspects you like of all three models of the Sierra, you can actually piece together a version that works perfectly for what you need. This is helpful because you don’t end up getting your crew trucks that have unneeded features or capabilities. This way, your trucks are customized to your company’s needs.

 

Needs and wants for a truck: keep it practical and keep it classy

Your most important job, as a purchaser, is finding a truck that will last and one that fits your personality. Luckily, most trucks these days can be lifted or lowered, made loud or quiet, contain a strong presence, or blend into its surroundings just by making a few tweaks here and there. This means your primary goal is actually to make sure you have something that won’t break the bank due to breakdowns and costly repairs.

When shopping for your truck, narrow down what you are looking for: make and model, gas mileage, longevity, etc., and begin researching those aspects. Chances are you will end up at Liberty Buick GMC, which is perfect because our trained technicians and sales specialists can guide you right into that perfect truck.

Don’t waste your time anywhere else, come see us at Liberty Buick GMC today to find a truck that perfectly resembles you.