Getting Your Truck Ready for Spring

Winter is nearing its end (hopefully), which means that it’s time to perform some general maintenance duties to your off-road truck. During the winter months, our rides can take a beating, from freezing temperatures to bad roads, chances are your truck could use a tune up. Additionally, for many truck owners, the end of winter signals the return of the work season and if you haven’t’ done so yet, you may need to outfit your rig with some truck accessories in St. George to further protect and maintain your truck. The following guide can be used as a checklist to make sure that you’ve done all the basics required to get your truck ready for the next season, alongside some truck accessories you may want to consider getting to both improve the look and performance of your truck.

Get Your Truck Ready for Spring: Under The Hood

Before diving into the washing and waxing portion of getting your truck ready for the warmer months, you’ll want to make sure that all systems are running smoothly, this includes, but is not limited to:

• Checking the oil. Even if your a change-the-oil-every-three-months type of person, one of the most important things you can do during this time of year is to check this vital lubricant. If it’s running low, top it off. If you’re in desperate need of an oil change either go to your local shop or do it yourself to save a few bucks.
• Check your wiper fluid. For many of us, especially off-roaders, we need to make sure we have enough wiper fluid to get rid of dirt, debris, mud, etc, that seems to pile up the most during the spring and summer months, so make sure you have enough wiper fluid. You can also just put water in the reservoir, but general blue wiper fluid works better to keep your windshield clean.
• Change the air filter. Protect your engine by changing out the air filter to prevent dust and other debris from getting into the combustion chambers of the cylinders. Similarly, changing your air filter reduces gas waste. You can find out more information about how to change your truck’s filters, here.
• Go to a professional. If your truck’s been acting “funny” you may want to take it to a professional to see if there are any other issues going on As the old adage goes, “better safe, than sorry”.

Outside Maintenance

On the outside of your truck there will most certainly be items you need to check and/or change. A common St. George truck accessory that needs to be changed as the seasons do, are tires. Most truck drivers have opted for winter tires, so around this time is generally when you want to switch back to your spring or summer tires. If you need new tires, stop by our off-road accessory store in St. George to see the different tires we keep in stock. In addition to changing your tires this season, you’ll want to:

• Check tire pressure and balance. If you don’t need to change out your tires, it’s important at this time to check the pressure and get them balanced if needed. Also be sure to check for wear and tear, such as cracks or threads showing; it’s never fun to have a tire blowout while on a job or out on the trails.
• Replace wiper blades. Wiper blades are one of those St. George truck accessories that are usually forgotten about until it becomes a problem. Wiper blades get worn out during the winter months due to ice and snow and are a necessary piece of equipment during spring when you can never be sure what the weather may do.

Truck Accessories in St. George to Consider

Once you’ve made sure that your truck is running properly and all the truck accessories you currently have are in tip-top shape, you may want to consider adding the following truck accessories if you don’t already have them or even think about upgrading if you do. These include:

• Off-Road Lighting – High quality lighting for your truck is a non-negotiable. Not only does it keep you safe, it keeps other people on the road safe by being able to clearly see you. If your lights aren’t up to par, it’s time to upgrade them.
• Tonneau Cover – In addition to having a durable bed liner, another smart truck accessory to have is a tonneau cover, especially in the spring when you don’t know if it wants to rain, hail or snow on any given day.

Looking for something else? Red Desert has a variety of truck accessories in St. George, so if you need something else for your truck, stop in and see what we have or contact us today.

Spring Cleaning Your Truck

Whether you’re having your truck professionally detailed or doing it yourself, you’ll want to start with outside cleaning and maintenance. Getting your truck professionally detailed will cost around $100 or if you plan on cleaning your truck yourself, follow these instructions, as provided by this article from Reader’s Digest, to have your truck looking like new after the long winter:

• Start from the bottom. To get your truck ready for warmer months start by hosing off the salt from the trucks underside. You can either do this at home with a garden hose or go to a brushless car wash that includes “undercarriage wash”.
• Wash and wax your truck. Use a liquid or powder cleaner for the body and for tar and harder stains on the finish, use a strong formula that’s designed to remove stubborn spots without destroying the finish. Don’t use abrasives like steel wool
• Clean your tires. Once you’ve either changed out your tires and/or had them checked for pressure and balanced, you’ll want to give the a good scrub down. Use a tire and wheel cleaner to the surface. Once finished, apply the cleaner to wheels, allowing the solution to set for a few moments and then use a clean paintbrush to remove any dirt and debris that may be stuck. Then rinse and dry with a microfiber towel.
• Clean the cab. One reason it’s important to wash your truck first is so you can spray the door jams out and let them dry before you move onto cleaning the interior of your truck. Truck accessories in St. George, like floor mats and seats need to be shop vacuumed in order to remove excess dirt. Make sure to remove floor mats to get any dirt that is underneath. Additionally, you’ll want to use a foaming fabric and upholstery cleaner for cloth seats, spot-lifter or stain-remover products for carpeting, and to finish up, use Armour All for any sensitive surfaces.