When salt hits metal...

The thing with the road salt

Do you still remember the book (and later film of the same name) "Salt on our Skin" by the French writer Benoite Groult? Because of its very revealing portrayal of a passionate love between a Parisian intellectual and a simple Breton fisherman, the book soon became the focus of heated debate. Allegedly, however, there are also many truck drivers who have developed a strong relationship with their vehicle. For example, the bodywork is maintained and polished to a high standard. With the daily use of trucks and tippers certainly not easy! Especially in the winter months the topic salt plays an important, even if not quite so erotic role.

Goodbye to winter thanks to climate change?

The issue of climate change is playing an increasingly important role in society. And whether winter with snowfall and black ice will still come this year is not known exactly, even at higher altitudes. The fact is, the road salt silos are still full to the brim, and the use of snow ploughs and gritting vehicles has only been moderately popular so far. Good for all vehicles, especially those that are on the road every day. And therefore, do not need to worry about the consequences of use of road salt. Because the aggressive salt attacks paint, seals, rims and above all the underbody. Extensive precautions and intensive care are therefore essential to maintain the vehicle and its technical availability.

Checking the floor panels

Especially the floor panels suffer most from salt and moisture in winter. Rockfall or impact can also damage the protective layer. In such places salt and water have an easy job. It is therefore essential to clean the underfloor and have it checked by a specialist. Even with new vehicles, it is advisable to have the underbody protection checked.

Preserving the truck

Before the cold weather a thorough washing and subsequent conservation by means of polish and wax is recommended. In this way the paint is best protected against moisture and salt. When cleaning, grease the door seals at the same time. There are special grease pencils for this purpose. Winter precautions are also advisable for door locks: in addition, a door lock de-icer should always be included - but it should be in the coat pocket and not in the glove compartment.

To the car wash

After many rides through "ice and snow" you should treat your vehicle to a ride through a car wash. Truck washes are being built more and more and make it much easier to take care of your truck. By the way, on the website www.truck-wash.com you can find all truck washes in the immediate vicinity. A little tip: As it is the case for the car, one should dry the door rubbers of the truck after the drive through the car wash, as otherwise they will freeze quickly. If this happens, the driver will neither get out nor in.

The thing with the road salt

Make sure the truck looks good

Anyone who values the good looks of their truck also takes a critical look at the bodywork and possible damage from stone chips. At high speeds, grit, dirt and salt are whirled through the air and hit the paintwork unbraked. This causes small paint flakes and scratches, especially in exposed areas such as the bonnet or wheel arches. These should always be removed and repaired quickly.

Also check roofs

Of course, the roofs of the vehicles should also be maintained in winter. On the one hand, it is important to remove ice and snow from them before starting the journey (it is also worth taking a look at solutions like the DrySystem). On the other hand, it is important to check the tarpaulin for cracks, for example.

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