Considering moving to Mitchell from NJ (Sioux Falls: water heater, schools, stores)

[mjm0771]

Greetings Everyone,
My wife and I are seriously considering on migrating to Sioux Falls from New Jersey. I've looked through a few threads I and I REALLY like what I'm reading.

I am curious about something.
The winters... (probably a touchy subject)
We're willing to endure the cold temps of SD instead of dealing with the atrosities that are running rampant in NJ. (if we can pick up and move tomorrow we would!!)

Anyway my question:
Do you guys typically have to plug in your cars during the cold months?
(i.e. battery blankets, and engine block warmers)
Just curious...

-mike

[ElkHunter]

That's a good question that should get a lot of different responses.

I used to plug in my vehicle (water heater, block) all the time. Now I plug it in only when the temps are getting extreme.

But I'm retired so I don't "HAVE" to go anywhere.

Used to be that engines needed to warm up a lot before putting them in motion. With today's alloy's being used in engines, they only need about 60 seconds and away you go. Just have to put up with a cold drive for a bit.

[debey]

Welcome, to City Data!
Or 05 GMC truck, has no engine heater, but is a garage...
our 72 Chevy truck we plug in, @ -15. Temp, not wind chill
our 92 Caddy....When it's -15~ish, we tend to start it, every 8 hours, and let it run, for 5-10 minutes, just for good measure, so it will start, if we need it. (does not have a block heater)
I think, as important, to a block heater, is a battery, with enough cranking amps, to handle the cold?

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by debey

Welcome, to City Data!
Or 05 GMC truck, has no engine heater, but is a garage...
our 72 Chevy truck we plug in, @ -15. Temp, not wind chill
our 92 Caddy....When it's -15~ish, we tend to start it, every 8 hours, and let it run, for 5-10 minutes, just for good measure, so it will start, if we need it. (does not have a block heater)
I think, as important, to a block heater, is a battery, with enough cranking amps, to handle the cold?

Excellent point. I have two, 1100 amp CCP, batteries. So it will start in just about any weather.

[rjl78]

The 98 F150 doesn't have a block heater. The 79 F150 has a block heater.

[mjm0771]

Thanks for the quick answers!
I guess it depends on the quality of the battery in most cases. (Cold carnking amps) Also, I guess it doesn't hurt to have a block warmer installed for those 'just in case' situations.

From what I gather, SD typcially get a lot of snow (which I love BTW! NJ rarely gets good snow storms anymore... )

How are the people with it?

In NJ, if more than 6 inches falls, the majority of peole go into a state of panic. Grocery stores get cleared out of milk, eggs, & bread; schools close or open late; some businesses close. It is sometimes rediculious.

-mike

[rjl78]

6 inches of snow I am thinking about firing up the 4 wheeled drive. The wide open makes the drifting and visibility more of an issue than snow fall amount.

[ElkHunter]

6 inches of snow, blowing or not really doesn't effect people in town, or not traveling from town to town. Usually in town there's enough of a break from wind to drive pretty well.

At 6 inches, I'm thinking the snowmobile needs gassed up.

[my02ctd]

If you have a garage , don't worry about plugging it in. It would be a good idea to have a block heater on your vehicle just in case you have to leave it outside in sub -zero temps.Above zero and outside I wouldn't plug it in unless it is a half hour before i use it but really isn't needed. I have run diesel pickups for 30 years and havn,t had much trouble at all. Just have to use common sense. Winters usually aren't all that bad here. Maybe a storm once in a while but rarely will it shut things down for more than a day. I'ved on a farm/ranch all my life and I rarely use 4 wheel drive and have been in some deep snow and bad storms. You won't mind the winters here.

[DannyBanany]

Are NJ winters that much different from SD winters?