Skip to Content

How to Keep Truck Cap Locks from Freezing?

How to Keep Truck Cap Locks from Freezing?

Truck caps can store the tools and items you want to protect. For example, you can place the repairing tools, tires, camping stuff, and even the food items while going on a long journey.

Truck caps vary in their composition from fiberglass to aluminum ones, depending upon the frequency of use, but fiberglass is most suitable due to its durability.

How to Keep Truck Cap Locks from Freezing? You can keep truck cap locks from freezing by using white lithium grease that resists water flow and stops freezing. In addition, silicone-based sprays, deicers, hot water, and petroleum jelly are helpful to melt the ice formation inside the lock. Furthermore, you can fix this issue by using hand sanitizers, rubbing alcohol, and covering truck caps with tape and plastic sheets.

These can be added at different places ranging from sides to the vehicle’s roof in the form of racks and shelves and on the backside. Freezing temperatures can cause many people to have trouble unlocking truck caps in winter.

Lithium Grease 

The white lithium grease is a better option to lubricate truck cap locks as it has resistance towards water molecules, which is the cause of your problem.

It keeps the dirt away from the inside arrangements and does not freeze as the winter proceeds with a low freezing point.

It is better to use lithium grease on metals but not on plastic locks because it has petroleum that can damage the plastic.

Lithium grease is a thick material that contains mineral oil in its constitution that is inflammable and is applied directly to the lock.

You have to remove the water and other dirt particles from the assembly, spray with the anti-rusting agent and go for a thick coat of lithium grease.

Heat truck cap locks

You can fix the truck cap lock from freezing with the flame for melting the ice inside it to have a better and more place for adding the cargo.

You can use a flame torch with yourself that provides a quick approach, but you have to manage it appropriately.

Keep it dry with the help of a hairdryer that will lead to it de-freezing, so it is better to keep this device with you.

You can heat the key and use it to melt the icy structure inside. This will fix the issue, and you can easily open the lock and use it.

Silicone-based Sprays

Silicone-based sprays like WD-40 are a mixture of some lubricants and help remove the moisture content, therefore, stopping the freezing process.

Polytetrafluoroethylene sprays are suitable as anti-freeze products because these are silicone-based sprays, and these work best against frozen locks.

It is better to cover the outer structure, and then you can spray it inside the lock by placing its nozzle near the opening.

It is easy to reach the internal structure, and it comes in the form of oil that reduces the mechanism of oxidation and does not react chemically with other materials.

I usually use it with an interval of 6 to 7 months, depending upon its use, and it is better not to use this more frequently.

You have to make sure that its residues do not become contaminated with dirt and debris, and you have to clean because it can cause corrosion.

Graphite

Graphite is suitable because it has long-lasting nature and does not prone to contamination by airborne particles.

It can resist moisture and works against the water molecules, but its frequent inputs are not good choices. It is a suitable product to prevent truck cap lock freezing.

You can apply graphite in the powder form that is carbon and commercially available in the market in the tubes.

It comes in greyish color, has slippery nature that prevents freezing of water, and is helpful in solid form.

Rubbing alcohol and coffee

The rubbing alcohol is helpful in the absorption of water from the truck cap locks, but you have to use it in large quantities to be effective, and because of that reason, some people avoid it.

It is effective to use your coffee or tea mug to provide heat to the key, which can defrost the ice present inside the assembly.

For the last 6 months, I have used rubbing alcohol and coffee for my pickup truck locks, and it always worked for me.

Petroleum jelly and hand sanitizer

The petroleum jelly provides a greasy and slippery surface to the key that will unlock the cap easily by removing the impact of freezing.

The use of hand sanitizers is suitable as a solution to this problem because it has sticky and alcohol content present in them.

These will result in a surface that will not collect the water content and other dirt particles that can clog the assembly. This means that the vehicle surface will not absorb moisture and, therefore, will not freeze.

They help by decreasing the freezing just in a few seconds with the help of ethanol in them and are easy to keep with you. Both of these products are readily available.

Use Deicer on a truck cap

There are a lot of deicer products that will break the ice particles, and with the removal of water, you can use the cap in the truck.

One of the famous deicers is the ethylene glycol that you can spray at the lock and its sides.

You can make a deicer at your home by adding the rubbing alcohol to water, but you have to ensure that you are using them in sufficient concentrations.

It is better to deice them regularly to prevent this freezing issue.

Park the truck at a suitable place

It is convenient to park the pickup truck on indoor sites can prevent the crystal formation of ice which can block the lock.

While it is best to keep them in a garage, if you do not have this option, then you can park your vehicle under the shades that can block the direct exposure to cold.

A light flame by a fire gun is sufficient for the vehicles that have ice even after their placement under the shade.

I always park my truck inside the garage in the winter to prevent this issue. This will also stop diesel trucks from gelling.

Pour warm water

You can pour warm water on these truck cap locks to avoid the effect of freezing because it will melt the ice and make things easy for you.

You have to take care that there is no need to use hot water because it can affect the efficiency of the plastic locks, and strains can appear on the surface.

You can use it in case of emergency as it is a temporary solution.

Use electric locks

New trucks come with electric locks in place of the old ones, but some people still have that old type of vehicle with old locks.

I like these new types of locks as you can use the wireless remote control to open and close these devices.

As a result, the outside lock is no longer required as there is no possibility of ice forming inside the assembly that requires anti-freezers and lubrication.

This thing always works best, and all of my friends are now electric devices to lock the truck caps.

Use of tape and covers

It is suitable to cover the truck caps and their locks present at the backside of the pickups by using tape that can at least last for a few hours.

This covering provides resistance to the entry of the water molecules inside the settings on the shell, and you do not need to worry.

You can completely cover your vehicle with a vinyl sheet after you arrive from the journey and place it in the parking area.

It keeps moisture from reaching the truck and will help you avoid the danger of freezing.

Related Articles:

Can You Unlock a Chevy Truck with a Coat Hanger?

Should I Fluid Film My New Truck?