K5 Winterization

[troutbum_mt]

Yeah, I take things pretty serious too but often seem unprepared for one reason or another. Even trying to do all the maintenance in the warm months, I am still working out the bugs on my K5 and am always having something to replace (get to do an alternator on Tuesday when it comes in). After getting stranded with a broken alternator belt a couple weeks ago, I am trying to get things set up so I can spend the night in my Blazer even during the worst of weather. I put a cold weather sleeping bag in, some food, camp stove, fire starting block, etc. I wish I had the money for a good set of tires but these ones are going to have to last me a bit longer. They are studded and do well in town but aren't so good in deep snow.

The excellent ideas provided in this thread really pointed out a few things to me and I am incorporating those ideas into my "winter kit." I am slowly filling up the rubbermaid tub in the back and am feeling more ready and able to venture out into remote areas by myself. Most importantly, I make sure to let people know where I am going just in case I don't make it back and don't have cell reception (which is common around here). At least that way someone knows where to start looking for me in a worst case scenario. My GPS has a walkie talkie on it so I make sure to let them know that I will be monitoring 9 should something happen.

Some other things I carry:
E-tool
Tools (sockets, wrenchs, etc)
Spare gas can
A few bottles of water
Extra fluids (oil, coolant, tranny and gear oil)
Tow strap, tow chain and comealong
Some firewood
Matches and lighters
Flashlight (petzel headlamp and 4 cell Maglite)
GPS unit
Car chargers for GPS, cell phone and recharable battery charger
Polypro tops and bottoms
Spare heavy coat
Insulated bibs

Things I am adding:
extra socks
more food (thinking a couple MRE's)
Spare set of heavy gloves
extra knit cap
emergency flares
a bag of kitty litter (traction on ice)
a bag of icemelt
a small coffee can and candles (doubles as dry storage for matches, etc)
spare set of v-belts
spare u-joints

 

[syclonekid43]

as far as batterys go. i will only use interstate batterys. we have been a dealer for interstate. i run a mt78 DT in all my trucks. 800ca and 1000 cca. never had a single problem with them. i had optimum battery and it was junk.
as far as tires i run BFG a/t. this is the first year we tried generel grabbers on my brothers plow truck and they work great.
only thing i keep in my truck for the winter time is a set of jumpers and a snow brush. and a bottle of blackberry brandy for when im out plowing.

as far as my k5 for the winter. i put a tarp over it and parked it for the winter.

 

[colbystephens]

i had optimum battery and it was junk.

care to elaborate? that's a big statement - never heard it before either! i've never run one, but was wanting to use a couple yellow tops next time around... i assume you're referring to "optima" when you write "optimum".

 

[syclonekid43]

i use to run a yellow top in one of my old s10 blazers. it was a brand new battery. if the truck sat for 2 days the battery was dead. i had 2 12" subs and 3 amps. i also had a 160 amp high output alternator to. so with all the good people talked about these batterys. i figured i would try it. wrong move on my part.
other problem with these batterys is. if they drop below 11.5 volts for more that a week. the gel gets crystallized and the battery is junk.
i dropped in a interstate mt 78 and everything was good to go.

 

[trucknace]

ive had the yellow and the red tops and i still prefer the 800cca duralast beter than both of the optima's. the optima batterys are not what there cracked up to be since you cant charge, jump, or hardly afford the damn things more than once. both my optimas went bad and both times my "warranty" was voided for some reason or another.

 

[jonathon]

Anyone have a source for individual MRE's? I need to replace the two in my truck and I really don't want a case since I won't eat that many in a year or two(like to replace them every year simply because of the temp changes they see).

 

[lectric80]

I don't know about individuals, but I buy them a case at a time and keep the extras in the house for an emergency. Never know when an earthquake or other natural disaster is going to leave us without power for hours or something worse could happen. Right now I have nearly two cases at home, and that would cover my family for a few days if the need arises. Being in the house, they don't see the temperature variations that the ones I keep in the Blazer do.

 

[muddy shoes]

Forgot to elaborate on the propane tank I carry with me. Luckily this happened to me while in town.

Basically I drove to work and I go out on my lunch break to go get some food and I have a flat tire. I have a spare in my bed so I go to change my tire and what do you know? The rim had frozen to the axle! I tried warm water(something you most likely wont have in the middle of nowhere) but it wouldnt come off no matter what. I then got the idea to run over to home depot and grab a propane tank and heat the rim that way. After a heating the rim and lugs a lil it finally broke loose and I was able to change it.

Just thought this might be a good lil bit of info for you, I had everything I needed to fix the flat but it was useless till I got the rim off.

Just another thing for you to think about, plus its insanely easier to start a fire with a propane torch rather than matches/lighter.

 

[colbystephens]

Anyone have a source for individual MRE's? I need to replace the two in my truck and I really don't want a case since I won't eat that many in a year or two(like to replace them every year simply because of the temp changes they see).

check out Andy and Bax army surplus on MLK blvd in Portland. It's a bit north of the morrison bridge, if i recall right.... i know they have them, and some other pretty cool stuff. browsing there is a good way to spend an hour or two..

REI would have them too. They're a bit closer to you - with the closest store being at Clackamas Towne Center. Might be more expensive through them tho...

 

[troutbum_mt]

ive had the yellow and the red tops and i still prefer the 800cca duralast beter than both of the optima's. the optima batterys are not what there cracked up to be since you cant charge, jump, or hardly afford the damn things more than once. both my optimas went bad and both times my "warranty" was voided for some reason or another.

That has been my experience with Optima as well....... I've owned two and will NEVER buy another again. I don't care what hype they bring next, but they are over-priced pieces of crap imho. They don't even have the cca's that other batteries have for half as much and yet seem to last only half as long.

As far as MREs go, check out your local surplus shop. They often sell the main courses on an individual basis. If not, check online surplus sources and also don't forget to check hunting suppliers. May not be MREs, but freeze dried meals aren't a bad idea either if that is all you can get. Small pack stove, cup of noodles, a few water bottles, etc will also suffice unless you plan on being stranded for an extended period of time in REAL cold. Remember this: food=warmth. The body produces heat while it processes food so the colder the weather, the more you need. (Yeah, I know that is over-simplified.....)