Vehicle Keys, Battery, and other tips.
Consider leaving your vehicle keys with your car while afield. Find a water safe, well hidden, location near the vehicle and put them there.
I had an extremely painful experiences where I had brought my lanyard toting keys with me and this was enough. Even if you have a good pack, you can always be sure, if the keys are left behind, your way out will be secure; plus they are an extra weight and every ounce counts.
Note that a weak battery, whether in the vehicle or your fob, will have an even harder time working if it's cold.
For the fearless solo, in true cold (-30c or lower) bring an electro booster pack. A better, cheaper option or alternative may be to simply haul along another fully charged car battery (if you have a spare) with booster cables. You can pick up a cheap small one at a pick your part or breaker.
For extended outings, I unplug my battery. Cars and trucks still have a small draw on the current when completely turned off; they also draw on the battery when you open and close your door and when the dome lights turn on. The last thing you want is not be able to start your vehicle when you need to. Unplug the battery (disconnect the ground BLACK wire (-) only - IF YOU REMOVE THE RED AND LEAVE THE BLACK, YOU WILL FRY YOUR ALTERNATOR AND YOU WILL NEED TO BE TOWED), but make sure you have taken all measures to be able to get back into the vehicle without the power source - mechanical key - NOTE: if it is very cold, make sure the mechanical lock won't seize (the best way to do this is not heating the key as this won't work in very cold conditions, not using wd40 in the key hole as this will gum up with dirt over time, but DO use a strong solution of alcohol in the key hole).
If you own a cabin and will not be using a vehicle or it will get very cold, remove the battery and bring it in; this spares the battery from freeze damage and mantains a strong charge. The battery is arguably the most important component in a cold start sucsess. ALWAYS REMOVE THE BLACK (-) FIRST AND CONNECT IT LAST - IF YOU MESS UP THIS ORDER YOU WILL FRY YOUR ALTERNATOR.
Also, if I am disconnecting the battery, leave the hood closed but not fully so I don’t wear out the pulley or if its cold, it freezes closed - and hope no one steals the battery.
On that note, pulling a battery from a car is one of the best things you can do for your car if you leave it, without driving, for extened periods (more than three days), in warn climate (you only need to disconnect the negative terminal after locking the car in this case), but especially when its cold; when the battery is then stored in a warm place, this gives you vehicle the best chance at a start; keeping a battery at above 0c will also extends the working life of the unit.
Consider puting some cheap dry pants on the car or some other indication you may be near the vehicle to deter potential vandalism, theft, or harrasment.
If you sleep in your car often or it gets otherwise moist or damp, you need an airing protocol. Bring a mosquito netting - chemical free (they are said to saturatethese with the worst chemicals to provide additional deterace) - or bead spread, and cover the open door while you eat breakfast or are otherwise near your car. If this is not done, moulds can and will quickly become an issue. Cover the door so the bugs don't fly in while it is airing out.
Plant a stick in the snow, a little away from your vehicl, which you can see from inside , especially if you sleep in your car. Know that if the snow falls beyond a certain level, which should never exceed the ground clearance hight if the snow is wet and heavy, then you need to relocate.
Direct your car back to the exit when you park. You dont want to have to turn the car arround after the heavy snow fall on narrow snow covered roads. Also, remove built up snow where the vehicle will sit.
If you sleep in the car, you can pile snow around the base to add some insulation to the interior; keep it on the windshilds and windows if you wish too
On the topic of moving snow, bring a 18ĺ pail instead of a shovel, a bucket is far more versatile and can move way more snow than any folding shovel on the market. You can store strash, food, tools in. Sit on it. If you need to move snow from under the vehicle, use a found log.
