Poor mans winterfront build thread

[noJeepshere]

Since I am headed to the great white north next week, and temps are looking to be near -40 north of Dawson Creek, BC, and money is a little tight, I needed to make a winterfront for my Yukon so that I can stay warm on the road.

Step 1: raw materials



Step 2: cut shapes to fit grill



I wanted vents for the warmer climes down south so:



Step 3: Tape is your friend



Step 4: velcro



And open:



---------- Post added at 09:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------

Pics of it mounted to come tomorrow

 

[99Yuk]

I really, really applaud your ambition and McGyverness, BUT...


1. Is that tape waterproof? If yes, is it on both sides of the cardboard? If yes, how about the edges? If yes, is it double layered all around?
2. Have you considered using plastic corplast sheets instead of cardboard?
3. Are you aware that the snow melter most commonly used in Canada thru which you will be traveling is a liquid calcium solution? Key factor here being it's wet, as is snow.
4. Have you seen what happens to cardboard when it gets wet?


At first glance I thought, cool! He's using some sort of galvanized sheeting for this. That's a neat idea. But then I saw the cardboard, then I saw the pixalized pattern tape, and thought oh, no... he won't get past the first day. Maybe a couple of days, if the tape is waterproof...ask me how I know...


I'm not knocking you at all, in fact, kudos for actually making it up! And adding velcro! And drinking the dew! Maybe just consider making it up in corplast? It's a plastic cardboard. Any sign shop will have it. It's cheap to buy, and easy to work with, AND it won't melt away when it gets wet.

 

[Tahoewhat]

Cool idea i guess. But i what is all this for? What is a winter front?

 

[99Yuk]

It is a cool idea! I see it alot up here, it covers the front grill to block airflow because the temps are so low that if the thermostat opens for a little bit, it cools the truck down so much that there's no heat comming out to keep you warm.

The most common ones is a vynl padding thing that costs $$$ with little velcro flaps so that you can add holes to allow for more airflow when you hit warmer temps.

His has all of the functions that the store bought ones have, which was kinda cool.

 

[Tahoewhat]

It is a cool idea! I see it alot up here, it covers the front grill to block airflow because the temps are so low that if the thermostat opens for a little bit, it cools the truck down so much that there's no heat comming out to keep you warm.

The most common ones is a vynl padding thing that costs $$$ with little velcro flaps so that you can add holes to allow for more airflow when you hit warmer temps.

His has all of the functions that the store bought ones have, which was kinda cool.

aaahh. Makes sense, being so cold. Sounds like op did some research. Man you guys up north have alot to deal with. Pretty cool though, and good way of saving alot of money if its just for a trip.

 

[99Yuk]

aaahh. Makes sense, being so cold. Sounds like op did some research. Man you guys up north have alot to deal with. Pretty cool though, and good way of saving alot of money if its just for a trip.

He did a really nice job of putting one together. Most people who make homemade ones use crazy carpet cut up or some shit...His is well thought out.


Oh, I forgot to add another reason for the winterkilt. Sometimes, when it gets really, really cold the tstat doesn't even open, it's the wind going through the rad that hits the block that cools it down enough that you can't get any heat out of it... That peice of cardboard will block the wind to prevent it from happening. If I find that happening to my truck (and it does), I just drop to third which increases my rpms which makes more heat.
Were talking HWY driving here, not in town stuff.

 

[drowndindreams]

where did you get that badass digital camo duct tape?

 

[99Yuk]

where did you get that badass digital camo duct tape?

Oh shit.....I'm laughing so hard.... It's camo tape????

I must have had one too many tonight...
I looked at it and thought, oh cool! 8-bit pixalized tape!
It never occured to me that it was camo tape......

Damn, I'm a geek.....

 

[noJeepshere]

I really, really applaud your ambition and McGyverness, BUT...


1. Is that tape waterproof? If yes, is it on both sides of the cardboard? If yes, how about the edges? If yes, is it double layered all around?
2. Have you considered using plastic corplast sheets instead of cardboard?
3. Are you aware that the snow melter most commonly used in Canada thru which you will be traveling is a liquid calcium solution? Key factor here being it's wet, as is snow.
4. Have you seen what happens to cardboard when it gets wet?

1. Um... pretty sure it's not. I tried real good to get tape over all the edges, and even the back (in bland silver tape) in an attempt to make the cardboard water resistant.
2. Honestly, I've never heard of corplast, I'll have to look into that, thanks for the suggestion.
3. Calcium Chlorate? the **** that turns cars white and melts steel? I think 80% of North America uses that crap.
4. Yup. But I don't really plan to permanently install this until I get to Prince George or even Dawson Creek, where the long range forecast is for cold and dry, and even down south the forecast is for dry, so we'll see when I actually install it for good.

where did you get that badass digital camo duct tape?

Wal-Mart. They have all the colors of the rainbow there. You can even find it at most hardware stores.

---------- Post added at 10:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 AM ----------

Finished product:

 

[TORONTO 95 GT]

Corplast, it is what they have been using for years to make signs and it looks like plastic cardboard. Steal a real estate sign or sumptin!!!