anyone out there in the frigid north that would care to share tips on hibernating these rigs for the winter?

Cold storage for truck: Change oil, check antifreeze, jack up, fill gas tank & add gas preserative. Cover with plastic if outside. Take the battery out & keep charged. "drive it like you hate it and fix it when its broke"

Don't forget to stuff the exhaust pipes with rags to keep the critters out. I use smelly dryer sheets in the interior, trunk area and moth balls under the car. I've never had any mice problems with this method.
Also a good idea is to put a rubber lubricant(ArmourAll) on your weather stripping and bumper shields. A good washing and coat of wax goes a long way to protect the vehicles finish.

RapRap
1940 ChoppedChevyCoupe

I am from the old school. I feel they should be started at least once a week and run for a good twenty minutes. And if the streets are clear driven as much as possible. But then I am from sunny Iowa.

Well, maybe I should re-think this.
If I take the 31" tall White Walls off the back and get some Hakkapeliitta's, drop the front an 1" or 2, add a defroster, some magnetic flashing lights,I can plow driveways & parking lots!

Bugman- You're not nuts, just an inline addict. I do not have collector plates on mine so I could drive it year round. With all of the slippin' & Slidin' during the dark months, I think it would be better to duck and cover until the salt's gone (and I don't mean Bonneville) LOL.

RapRap
1940 ChoppedChevyCoupe

Yeah, ok, I used a big word here. Hakkapeliitta's are a Nokian made tire from Sweden. They are the best snow/mud/rain tire I have ever seen. They are standard equipment on all Police, Fire, Rescue vehicles in Europe and now standard on Porsche's, and BMW's.
I have a set on my 2001 Dakota and have never had a problem with winter traction. They are only slightly more expensive than a Pirrelli or Michelin. In case you are interested, I am a Hobbyist Dealer for these tires and if you are interested, please contact me off the bulletin board through my email and I would be happy to explain all the features and costs.

RapRap
1940 ChoppedChevyCoupe

Up here in tropical Massachusetts I try to drive my specialty vehicles for 5 to 10 miles about every 2 to 3 weeks during the winter as long as the streets are dry and there isn't a lot of dried salt powder and/or sand on the roads. I do add Stabile to the gas tanks and change the oil just before they get tucked in the heated garage for the off season. The only time I deviate from this is when one of them is undergoing some major work that would prevent them from being driven.

I HAVE FOUND THAT USING ONE OF THOSE "BATTERY TENDER" TRICKLE CHARGERS DOUBLES THE LIFE OF MY BATTERYS.

Here's another tip for those who don't drive your cars in the winter: Stuff steel wool in the tailpipes, not rags. Mice will chew through the rags, but won't go past the steel wool.

-Jeff

P.S. my year round '55 Ply is only 2 3/4" off the ground(dropped 5 in front, 4 in back), so when they can't get the plow started, they call me

I start my Model T at least every 2 weeks in the winter, and let it run for at least 15 to 20 minutes. If the streets are clear i even take it for a drive. Why store it and forget it.