How to Prepare Your 2017-2021 F250 & F350 For Winter

Posted by Corey Decker on 9/25/2021 to Before you Buy

Whether we like it or not, winter is coming. Unfortunately, I don't mean another season or book of Game of Thrones either. There is some tough terrain ahead for your 2017-2021 F250 or F350 Super Duty but luckily there are some awesome things that you get to help conquer what you need it to. The lower temperatures and bombardment of snow can really damper some family plans and adventures if you're not prepared. Luckily, there are some things that you can get for your Super Duty that can turn those dire situations of being stuck in the snow into hilarious memories you can laugh about as you drive back home after being stuck in said snow. Some of the 2017-2021 F250 & F350 Accessories that you can look into include; brand new tires that are rated for snow, winches, strong ropes, and tools such as shovels and recovery boards. Let's take a deeper dive into what you can look at for this upcoming Winter.

Off-Road Tires Rated For Snow For 2017-2021 Super Dutys

The first thing to look into is something that can add to your truck's exterior even outside of winter while keeping you and your family safe in winter. A new set of snow tires can make a difference in more than just the snow. The aggressive tread patterns can add to your F250 or F350s looks and the tread design can even help navigate better in heavy rain, sand, and other tough terrains the rest of the year. Take the LT37x12.50R20 E Falken Wildpeak A/T3W Tire, for example, the silica tread compound featured in these tires allows the Wildpeak tire to excel in wear life, winter, and wet conditions. USTMA and TRAC have qualified the Wildpeak tire for the Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake (3PMSF) symbol, giving this tire severe snow capabilities. In addition, A tough outer sidewall features a secondary bead apex that works like a heat shield for the internal casing of your tire. Falken also included 3D Canyon Sipe Technology interlocks the shoulders of your tread, giving them even more resistance from wear and tear while offering protection from high torque applications. Just in case Falken is not your speed or preferred brand there are also tires like the LT325/60R20 E Toyo Open Country A/T III that could also work. These tires feature a new tread compound and the design provides great handling and braking performance in wet conditions. The new tread compound also provides cut-and-chip resistance, off-road traction, and the quiet ride aforementioned. Increased lateral grooves provide additional traction regardless of the surface. Stone ejecting blocks will prevent stone damage to your precious rubber investment. Staggered shoulder lugs give the A/T IIIs more capable of biting edges for even more off-road traction. Evenly distributed void areas enhance off-road traction as well while increasing tread block rigidity for extra durability.

LT37x12.50R20 E Falken Wildpeak A/T3W Tire

Winches And Winch Accessories For 2017-2021 Super Dutys

After you get your tires, it may be time to look into something that will help with the recovery process. An awesome winch like the Warn VR EVO 10-S 10,000lb Winch with Synthetic Cable may be just what the doctor ordered to help pull your truck or your friend's trucks out of any ruts they are stuck in. This particular winch features an awesome look, compact design, and nearly unmatched reliability into a single 12V DC winch system that can handle practically any job or recovery task for your off-road vehicle of choice. The winch comes with a standard 10x4.5" bolt pattern that allows it to mount up to most winch plates and aftermarket bumpers without any issues. The system uses a synthetic cable and Hawse fairlead for a more reliable pull over competing steel cables. Though with your winch you could attempt to bolt it in the bed, or you can look at some exterior things that can hold the winch and even give an aggressive but practical upgrade to your truck. One option for this is the 2017-2019 F250 & F350 Westin HDX Winch Mount Grille Guard (Black). This guard is constructed from ultra-durable mild steel and powder-coated for maximum corrosion resistance, Westin's Sportsman Winch Mount Grille Guard was designed for the Super Duty enthusiast who needs superior front-end protection, as well as a strong and durable winch, mount for getting out of tight situations. The fully-welded one-piece construction ensures a rigid and stable fit while thick 1.5" diameter tubing serves as your first line of defense against everything with the misfortune of crossing paths with you. The integrated winch mount is compatible with most medium frames (8,000-12,500 lbs.) winches up to 10.25in tall. In case you want something a little more understated but still extremely capable you could go after the 2017-2019 F250 & F350 Warn Trans4mer Gen III - Mid Frame Winch Mounting Kit. Warn created this to easily attach to your Super Duty thanks to included mounting brackets that result in a clean and easy bolt-on installation process that does not require any cutting, drilling, or grinding. This particular mounting kit also includes a space to put a winch, provisions to mount lights, and it also comes with J-hooks that help out a ton when it comes to vehicle recovery. On the chance, you have a newer truck and want to upgrade the entire front bumper to provide extra protection and winch mounting capabilities there is stuff like the 2020-2021 F250 & F350 Warn Ascent HD Front Bumper available. The Warn Ascent front bumper is specially created to be able to accompany and complement oversized off-road tires and help add some protection to your front end as well. Built from 11-gauge and quarter-inch steel this bumper is created for maximum durability combined with an awesome design. It also includes built-in slots if you so choose to throw four awesome 3in cube lights on it as well. It has a durable black, textured powder-coat over 11-gauge steel that withstands rigorous 408-hour salt spray testing which delivers up to 2X corrosion protection. We also have the 2020-2021 F250 & F350 Warn Ascent HD Front Bumper (Full Guard) or the 2020-2021 F250 & F350 Warn Ascent HD Front Bumper (With Guard) available in case your style prefers a guard over the grille.

2017-2019 F250 & F350 Warn Trans4mer Gen III - Mid Frame Winch Mounting Kit

Ropes and Straps That Can Handle 2017-2021 Super Dutys

Whether you put it in your winch or you just like to have an extra rope around to use in recovery situations, purchasing a rope that can handle the weight is extremely vital. There's nothing worse than putting your faith in a rope that snaps because it is not rated for what you need it for. Especially at times when you find yourself stuck in the worst possible places. The first one to take a peek at is the Bubba Rope "Big Bubba" Heavy Duty Recovery/Towing Rope. This monster snatch rope features a breaking strength of over 52,300 pounds! Bubba Rope "Big Bubba" uses kinetic energy to actually stretch and actively get your stuck vehicle moving again. Bubba Recovery Tow Ropes feature an inner nylon core, a braided looser to absorb more of the lower loads, and an outer nylon jacket that's braided tighter for higher loads. As opposed to other options like bulky and dangerous steel chains that can actually snap and launch back at the driver, Bubba Rope simply falls to the ground without any back-lashing recoil. Bubba Rope's unique kinetic-energy recovery ropes provide superior strength and durability that goes way beyond other typical recovery tow ropes, snatch straps, and chains. They're dipped in a polymeric base coat to give the ropes a protective shell against UV rays, water, and abrasion. In case you prefer straps over ropes, the Rugged Ridge 4" x 30' Recovery Strap (40,000lbs) may be worth looking into. Rugged Ridge's Recovery Strap is a budget-friendly recovery option that can still handle huge forces and help you pull yourself or your buddies out of tough jams out there in the brush. This strap features extremely strong construction and can be used for aiding in the recovery of just about any vehicle you have in mind. It is made out of a mildew-resistant nylon material with abrasion-resistant reinforced eyes. This material absorbs shock waves better than polyester and its elasticity quickens your recovery. This version of Rugged Ridge's Recovery Strap measures 4" wide and is 30ft long with a maximum breaking strength of 40,000lbs. Lastly, if you want to have something around that is easy to install that will make it easy to find a mounting point to attach the strap or rope to, check out the Monster Hooks Satin Black Recovery Hook. This massive recovery hook measures 16x7" and drops right into your off-road rig's 2" hitch receiver without any modifications. The Monster Hook Recovery hook is made out of a unique titanium-based alloy that gives it enormous levels of strength, and the Monster Hook is rated to handle up to 45,000lbs of load and can accept tow and recovery straps from 2" to 10" across. Each Monster Hook comes standard with a 3-1/2" stainless steel safety latch to prevent line slip.

Mounting Options For Recovery Tools For 2017-2021 Super Dutys

Lastly, there are some great tools that you can snag for your 2017-2021 F250 or F350 as well. Though you first should look at adding something that can hold said tools so you are not overcrowding your backseat passengers legroom. One option to take a peek at is the 2017-2021 F250 & F350 6.75ft Bed Putco Venture Tec Rack. This sleek rack is engineered to provide endless mounting options through its patent-pending TEC channel system. Created from 6061 t6 high-quality lightweight aluminum this rack is durable and will be able to handle most things you need to mount on it. Putco made this product with CNC 7 axis bending to be able to match your truck's cab height exactly. They also included a pass-through channel for in-stanchion wire routing in case you choose to add a light bar or any other product that requires electricity to your truck. This rack also is covered in a high-impact durable black powder coat finish and has 500lbs of tie-down strength. After getting that rack it may be important to snag the 2017-2021 F250 & F350 Putco TEC Mounting Plate which can help better attach tools and accessories. Something else that people can look into is the 2017-2021 F250 & F350 Putco Front Molle Panel if they would prefer their tools tucked into the bed and possibly able to fit under a tonneau cover. Crafted from heavy-gauge 1/10 in thick 6000 series aluminum, Putco has created these panels to be able to mount anything from trail gear to high lift jacks and shovels. The panel itself also has a black mini-texture powder coat finish for a long-lasting durable look. The previously mentioned product is for the front of the bed. Putco also has driver and passenger side mounts for short and long beds. The ones for the short bed are the 2017-2021 F250 & F350 Putco Driver's Side Molle Panel (Short Bed) and the 2017-2021 F250 & F350 Putco Passenger Side Molle Panel (Short Bed). Also, the ones for the long bed include the 2017-2021 F250 & F350 Putco Passenger Side Molle Panel (Long Bed) and the 2017-2021 F250 & F350 Putco Driver's Side Molle Panels (Long Bed). For the Molle Panels, they can work separately from one another, though if you want the complete setup it's important to make sure to find the ones to fit your bed.

2017-2021 F250 & F350 Putco Front Molle Panel

Recovery Tools and Kits For 2017-2021 Super Dutys

Now we can get into what to attach to said panels should you choose to do so. Here at Stage 3 Motorsports, we have recovery accessories that need little to no explanation on why they are important like the Krazy Beaver Super Shovel with Fixed Head. This shovel is built tough and features aggressive teeth on its blade that allow you to punch through the ice, frozen ground, rocky soil, and hard-packed earth much better than standard shovels you find at hardware stores. The Super Shovel measures 40" long from handle to tip and is built around a head made from heat-treated, 13-gauge steel that's twice as thick as standard hardware store shovels. The head is topped off by a red powder coat finish for corrosion protection and a great look. The handle is made from durable, yet lightweight fiberglass with a reinforced core at the head connection to prevent breaking. The handle has a high-visibility yellow color. The Super Shovel is topped off by a D-grip made out of a durable polymer with a fairly soft and tactile feel that's comfortable like rubber, but won't degrade over time. Another thing to look at that can be mounted is a good off-road jack like the Hi-Lift 48" Patriot Edition All-Cast Steel Jack. This particular Hi-Lift Jack stands 48" tall and is made using all cast steel components and zinc-plated hardware, and features a blue finish on its body, a red finish for the handle keeper, and white finish on the handle itself so you can show your American Pride wherever you go. The 48" Hi-Lift Patriot Edition All-Cast Steel Jack weighs just 30lbs but is rated to handle up to 5000lbs of load, and has been tested up to 7000lbs. The jack comes complete with a rugged two-piece handle and a base plate with 28 square inches of surface area. Hi-Lift fits each jack with an adjustable winch clamp that allows you to use the jack in clamping or winching applications. The lifting nose is 4.5" long to provide excellent contact with your lifting surface. Lastly, something else you can look into is traction aids like the ARB TRED Pro Recovery Board - Monument Grey. The TRED Pro is designed using 3D scanning and CAD modeling to better engage with the evacuation channels of the most popular off-road tires on today's market. The design features ergonomic handles for shoveling out whatever is beneath your tires before using the board as a traction aid. ARB's Tred Pro Recovery Board is designed as a lifelong off-road recovery solution, built from an extremely tough, patented nylon composite with glass-filled teeth/nodules. Plus, the TRED Pro is backed by an unprecedented lifetime warranty so you never need to worry about taking on the trails unprepared. Any one of the previously mentioned products can help get you or a friend's truck out of a rut and back on the road in no time. They also should be able to attach to the previously mentioned racks and panels for easy access.

Krazy Beaver Super Shovel with Fixed Head

Though this is mainly winter-focused, there is a lot here that you can get your money's worth out of even outside of the winter months. For example, a lot of tires that are created with treads that can handle snow also can perform in heavy rain and mud. Straps, winches, and ropes are also able to be extremely useful outside of winter. Some stuff like the previously mentioned shovel can also help on the beach in the middle of summer should you find yourself somewhere like the northwest United States where they have beaches you can drive on. It is also important to note that each product mentioned in this article comes from well-known companies that stand behind their products and take pride in constructing them with high-quality materials.

Products Mentioned In This Article:

Before You Buy: How to Prepare Your 2017-2021 F250 & F350 For Winter

Off-Road Tires Rated For Snow For 2017-2021 Super Dutys

Winches And Winch Accessories For 2017-2021 Super Dutys

Ropes and Straps That Can Handle 2017-2021 Super Dutys

Mounting Options For Recovery Tools For 2017-2021 Super Dutys

Recovery Tools and Kits For 2017-2021 Super Dutys

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