Best way to remove snow

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Obviously if you have two feet of snow piled on then removing it is necessary.

I came into this world with two snow removal devices. No need to spend money for other things.
 
Put a good coat of wax on car before winter. It'll help the snow slide off easier. I use a a brush but I'm liking that Snow Joe.
 
Originally Posted by user52165
Originally Posted by OILJUNKIE
Move to Arizona.


Well................ parts of it. Some years ago I attended the mid term graduation of my niece from NAU in Flagstaff, elevation 7000 ft. We spent the night in nearby Williams but never made the ceremonies on time ................. snowbound. Some of the most beautiful scenery, ponderosa, and snow anywhere.




Some may not realize that Arizona is not all desert. The Flagstaff area is indeed God's country.
 
You get into trouble for that here. Snow and ice sliding off a semi trailer's roof has caused fatalities, Besides, driving a moving snow bank isn't a great idea either.
 
Up here road salt makes sure that it won't matter after 10 years anyhow. Road salt, potholes, door dings from other drivers. Not sure it is worth the effort, other than to slow down the wear and tear process a bit. So if snow removal leaves a small scratch each year, or does a bit of damage somehow, so be it. The car isn't getting any newer, anyhow.

I've noticed that using the ice scraper on the windshield will scratch the glass, over time I start to see long vertical lines which must be from that. It's balanced by the fact that when that occurs, odds are the windshield is badly pitted anyhow, from all the sand and rocks on the roads year 'round.

I have a variety of ice scrapers with brushes on them, not sure i've seen the brushes damage my paint, but since I don't wax my cars I guess I wouldn't notice anyhow. Put on a ski jacket, a good set of gloves (I prefer lobster mitts for winter, that or ski mittens, I've yet to find gloves that keep my fingers warm enough) and a decent brush. Takes some work after a good storm, but that's life. If it was a really big storm I'll use a shovel, very very carefully so as to not nick the paint, but it has to be a lot of snow for me to resort to that.

In a pinch I've used an ice scraper to get cars unstuck, using them to dig down into the snow.
 
When I have parked outside and it snows (or is cold and ice/frost builds up on the windows), I have a spray bottle of windshield de-icer (winter formula of windshield washer fluid) that I spray on the windows while the car is warming up. Works incredibly well !
 
My car is old enough that I just don't care about the finish. I just don't want it to rust. Someone sat on the hood and dented it in just a few days ago, oh well, those pesky kids. I just use a wide (36") brush which gets the snow off in 30 seconds. There is usually enough ice crusted on the surface of the car that it doesn't scratch much.
 
I've been using a snow joe for a few years now and they are great. I also have a windshield cover that attaches to the mirrors to eliminate some scrapping.
 
Originally Posted by mclasser
Originally Posted by PimTac
I clear the snow on the windows and mirrors. The rest will fall off on its own.

In many states it's illegal to not clear off the entire car.


I've heard of it being illegal not to clear off all of the windows, but I've never heard of a law that states the entire vehicle must be cleared off...makes sense though, that can be dangerous!...
 
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Originally Posted by grampi
Originally Posted by mclasser
Originally Posted by PimTac
I clear the snow on the windows and mirrors. The rest will fall off on its own.

In many states it's illegal to not clear off the entire car.


I've heard of it being illegal not to clear off all of the windows, but I've never heard of a law that states the entire vehicle must be cleared off...that's going a bit overboard...

Totally not overboard. If you've ever watched snow and ice launch off a vehicle that is traveling at speed, you'd marvel that there aren't more accidents from dodging those missiles. Or from the whiteout that can occur behind someone.

Obviously the law isn't to get down to bare paint, but whatever can be brushed off should be. Even if that involves getting out a ladder.
 
Originally Posted by supton
Originally Posted by grampi
Originally Posted by mclasser
Originally Posted by PimTac
I clear the snow on the windows and mirrors. The rest will fall off on its own.

In many states it's illegal to not clear off the entire car.


I've heard of it being illegal not to clear off all of the windows, but I've never heard of a law that states the entire vehicle must be cleared off...that's going a bit overboard...

Totally not overboard. If you've ever watched snow and ice launch off a vehicle that is traveling at speed, you'd marvel that there aren't more accidents from dodging those missiles. Or from the whiteout that can occur behind someone.

Obviously the law isn't to get down to bare paint, but whatever can be brushed off should be. Even if that involves getting out a ladder.


I edited my post. I meant it's going overboard when people drive around with 3 feet of snow or ice on their vehicles, and it's dangerous!
 
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Ah, gotcha. Yeah it's a big to do. They clamp down on the truckers once in a while, but they can have huge sheets of ice up there.
 
Originally Posted by grampi
I've heard of it being illegal not to clear off all of the windows, but I've never heard of a law that states the entire vehicle must be cleared off...makes sense though, that can be dangerous!...

Same here - driving with NO visibility has to be, or should be, illegal but leaving snow on the rest of the car ? I don't do it but someone show an example of this "law" that says it's illegal. Not every state - right or wrong - has identical laws either.
 
Found a news story that indicates by law you must clear your windows, license plates, headlights, and taillights but doesn't reference the ORC entry (typical journalism nowadays - they probably called a highway patrol post and asked the person who answered the phone!). It also says you do not, by law, have to remove snow from the rest of the car. Not in Ohio, at least, but it does say this applies in other states. What other states ? Doesn't say, of course....
 
Originally Posted by hallstevenson
Found a news story that indicates by law you must clear your windows, license plates, headlights, and taillights but doesn't reference the ORC entry (typical journalism nowadays - they probably called a highway patrol post and asked the person who answered the phone!). It also says you do not, by law, have to remove snow from the rest of the car. Not in Ohio, at least, but it does say this applies in other states. What other states ? Doesn't say, of course....



It all depends. The visibility is the important thing. Having 4-6 inches of snow on your roof shouldn't be a problem. If you have a foot or two then yes it should be removed.

This conversation can go into many details and gray areas. How many trucks and other vehicles build up large chunks of ice in their wheel wells and underneath only to be dislodged on the highway? That is a hazard but a knowledgeable driver will keep their distance from those vehicles.
 
Originally Posted by hallstevenson
When I have parked outside and it snows (or is cold and ice/frost builds up on the windows), I have a spray bottle of windshield de-icer (winter formula of windshield washer fluid) that I spray on the windows while the car is warming up. Works incredibly well !



That is very smart ^^^^^
 
Originally Posted by supton
Ah, gotcha. Yeah it's a big to do. They clamp down on the truckers once in a while, but they can have huge sheets of ice up there.


I've seen those big sheets of ice flying off the top of tractor trailers and they can be devastating...luckily I've managed not being hit by any of this flying ice...
 
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