Winter-Proofing Your Truck: A Minnesota Checklist

We’re based in Brooklyn Park, so winter prep isn’t content marketing for us — it’s survival. This is the checklist we actually run on our own trucks every fall.

Battery first

Cold cranking amps drop hard with temperature. A battery that started your truck fine in September can quit at -10°F. If yours is past year four, test it — or just budget for a replacement and a jump starter in the cab as insurance.

Visibility

• Winter wiper blades — beam-style blades don’t pack with ice like framed ones.
• Washer fluid rated to -30°F or lower, and a spare gallon behind the seat.
• Lighting — short days mean your headlights work overtime; hazy lenses and weak bulbs show up now.

Underneath

• Shocks and springs — cold stiffens worn bushings and exposes tired dampers; if the truck wallows on frost heaves, it’s time.
• Brake inspection — you want full pad depth going into the season, not in January.
• Floor liners — not glamorous, but Minnesota salt slush destroys carpet permanently.

The recovery kit

Tow strap, traction boards, a small shovel, gloves, and that jump starter. The best time to buy recovery gear is before the storm — the worst is the morning after, when everyone else needs it too.

Everything above ships from our Brooklyn Park warehouse — or skip shipping entirely with free local pickup.