Essential Winter Driving Tips for Lifted Trucks

Driving a lifted truck through ice and snow creates challenges such as reduced tire traction. Before traveling this winter, our Sherrod Customs team wants to ensure that each lifted truck is prepared. Discover essential winter driving trips and our recommended emergency items in this overview to help you stay safe in your lifted truck.

Understanding the Challenges of Winter Driving in Lifted Trucks 

Driving through the snow in a lifted truck has advantages; it has higher ground clearance and bigger tires that allow easier navigation through rough, wet terrains. Still, snow-covered or icy roads are unpredictable, affecting the truck’s stopping distance and visibility of its surroundings. Here are some helpful tips on how to optimize driver safety this winter.

Adjusting Driving Habits for Snowy Conditions

Paying attention to state and local agencies regarding blocked roads and severe weather conditions is imperative, and defensive driving is critical to keeping safe on winter roads. Slowing down is one of the most effective ways to adjust driving habits in snowy conditions. Another helpful winter driving tip in a lifted truck is allowing plenty of room to brake.

No matter how big a lifted truck’s tires are, winter roads are slick with snow, making it harder for the tires to grip them, extending braking distances. Take it easy and drive slowly in a lifted truck, allowing for longer reaction times. Even if the roads traveled are not covered in snow, be mindful of black ice, mist, or snow flurries. These winter elements make the road slippery, so it’s crucial to be cautious and drive in a way that maintains traction and brake reliability.

A good rule of thumb for ample braking space is to double the usual driving distance between the lifted truck and the vehicle ahead. This extra effort to keep a safe distance from other vehicles can help avoid a collision when applying the brakes.

Maintaining Clear Visibility at All Times

An unexpected challenge of winter driving in a lifted truck is limited visibility from snowfall and other cars’ snowy spray. If you’ve ever driven in a heavy rain downpour, you’ve probably experienced the mist that sprays from the back or sides of other vehicles traveling on wet roads. The same issue occurs when driving in the snow.

Navigate through these snow clouds slowly and keep the truck’s headlights on to improve visibility. Always use turn signals when changing lanes. Signaling not only helps safer navigation but also shows consideration for other drivers. Look twice before changing lanes. Other drivers may be trying to get around the snow spray from the lifted truck, so always be on the lookout in low-visibility situations. Use windshield wipers as needed to keep the front and back windshields clear of snow to improve visibility.

Emergency Preparedness and Survival Tips

Whether traveling to the mountains or along remote highways, a driver’s lifted truck may be the only lifeline in severe winter conditions. Follow these tips to ensure safety when driving in a lifted truck in winter.

Drive Inspections and Maintenance Checks

Aside from standard truck maintenance, such as oil changes and tire rotations, you can perform your own inspection to get your trucks winter-ready. Be sure to top off the truck’s gas often when driving in the winter. Ensuring there is enough fuel in the lifted truck to help keep the engine and auxiliary power unit running in case resources are unavailable. If traveling through an area without many gas stations, fill up a five-gallon gas can and keep it handy in case the truck runs out of gas.

Cold weather can impact a truck’s battery life, potentially leading to starting issues or a failure to hold a charge. Submit a lifted truck service request  for a truck assessment by our Sherrod Customs team. Or visit a local auto body shop to check the battery life and replace it, if necessary, as neglecting this could lead to serious problems in freezing temperatures.

Additional inspections to make before taking the truck out for a winter trip:

• Double-check wiper blades to ensure they work correctly, and purchase a spare set in case they get damaged during the commute. Load the washer fluid tank with anti-freeze windshield washer fluid and keep an extra jug of it on hand for refills.
• Inspect the tires to ensure they’re correctly inflated.
• Check headlights, taillights, signals, hazards, and interior lights to ensure they work. Replace bulbs as needed and carry spares in case a light goes out while traveling.

Must-Have Items in a Winter Emergency Kit

No matter how far away the destination is, carrying an emergency preparedness kit in the lifted truck is wise when driving in the winter. Even if you’re not directly affected when driving through a winter storm, you may be able to help someone out if they’re stranded on a snow-covered highway. Pack the following essentials in a winter emergency kit:

• A warm change of clothes, including a jacket, beanie, wool socks, scarf, and winter gloves
• A high-visibility jacket with reflective stripes
• Warm blankets and an emergency blanket
• Extra water and food in case the nearest rest stop is too far
• A roadside emergency kit with reflective triangles and a headlamp
• Snow tools such as a compact, foldable snow shovel and brush, ice scraper, and rock salt to melt ice
• Tire chains that fit the truck’s custom tires, if required by state law

Other helpful items include traveling with sturdy winter boots and warm work gloves, which come in handy if you need to exit your lifted trucks and fix something while it’s snowing.

Staying Safe by Staying Informed

Before driving the lifted truck out on the open road this winter, check local weather stations to plan accordingly. Pack an emergency kit and do a vehicle inspection to ensure everything functions as expected. And above all else, remember to drive slowly. If you want to learn more ways to prepare the truck for winter driving, contact Sherrod CustomsIn Waycross, Georgia. Our expert team will cover the storm-care essentials for lifted trucks and ensure drivers have everything they need for a safe drive.