How many of you run a grill cover in the winter? It was -3 this morning and all warmed up very will I am just trying to descide if I need one or not. If any of you could please give my your thoughts that would be great.

04 2500HD Crew Cab Long Box LBY

Where I live, I put my grill cover on about the end of October to first part of November and don't take it off until April. I don't use the bumber cover at all.

I live in Michigan.

I live inthe Denver area, and this time of the year, the daily high can be in the 20s or 30s one day, and in the 50s the next day. Yesterday it was in the upper 60s, and tomorow the predicted high is about 35. I have had the grill cover on my truck for about a month. When the temps are in the 60s, the temperature guage never goes above about 200, or the same as driving in the summer with no grill cover. If you are not towing anything, it looks like you could leave the grill cover on until the spring.

Anyone know where you can get grill covers? Not sure if they come with the truck or not, and since I am the second owner so I have not clue if it came with thr truck or not

It looks like from your post that you have a 2004. I know that mine came with the covers (2003), but I thought that the 2004's did not come with them, that it was a $55.00 option IIRC.

Cool thanks for the info.

FYI, my '04 came with them. I've only installed the grill cover as it doesn't get THAT cold here in TN.

khb - In Wisconsin, you don't have a choice when it comes to the winter covers...GM requires the dealer to order the truck with them (part of the cold weather package) I would assume that michigan is the same way.......

Yep, GM made me get one when I ordered my '05. I just put mine on yesterday due to the cold weather we are having in MI. Ran it one day w/o in 2*F temps and engine wouldn't get above 185*.

Now it runs where it's suppose to. Will leave it on until weather consistantly gets into the 40's again.

My 03 doesn't warm up at all unless I put the grill cover on. I had sewn a zipper in the cover so if it begins to run to hot I don't have pull the cover off, I just open the zipper, fold the section back, and it cools down. I used the bumper cover one time.. a royal pita to get on and the sand and salt collected around all the openings.. foglights,wheelwells....Censored made a mess and scratched the bumper and painted surfaces.

I use the cloudrider winter front, what a difference than without it. My truck took forever to warm up without it and if I drove on the highway for awhile it would'nt stay warm. Now no problem.:cool:

I use winter fronts (grill and bumper)

For where you live, get a winter front. I would recommend getting a Cloud Rider winter front. The vinyl (factory cover) I don't think will last many seasons. The Cloud Riders can be installed/removed quickly and easily.
Max Power (member of this forum) sells the Cloud Rider fronts. Can PM him.

www.cloud-rider.com is where you can see what things look like.

The vinyl cover is a pain in the petunia to get on, in cold weather, also.

I got the Lund stainless cold weather grille inserts and they do a good job.

I got my Cloud-Rider from Max Power last week, & I'm really impressed with it. Winter finally arrived in NW Ohio this week (-3 F this morning), & it really helps the truck warm up & stay warm while driving.

I think grill covers look cool, too. Let's everybody else know you were smart enough to get a diesel! :ro)

KHBO1, you should be running with the winter front on at those temps. Proper warm up is essential. It also depends on wether or not your working it though too. Some of these trucks can be pretty cold blooded. Mine seems to be much better than my brothers and both were same year LB7's go figure. You'll get heat much faster with it on and reach proper operating temp earlier as well. The bumper cover is for covering the trans cooler vents. Most guys don't seem to use the bumper cover nor seem to need to.

Gm recommends NOT using the grill cover in temps above 32F, and NEVER if towing. I just put mine on yesterday, and will take my first long ride with it on today. I'm hoping it'll enable the motor and transmission to warm up to a more normal operating temp. It's been running about 180F during this little stretch of cold weather.

I have an 02 and didn't like the stock cover that came with the truck. Bad experience with "bra" type covers messing up the pain.

Bought the cold front through Summit. had to get the part numbers from the Lund web site first though. Works fine, Put it on Nov, take it off about April

I live in Michigan (Grand Rapids area) and run my WF from mid-Nov until early March. Truck seems fine up to 50+ degrees. If it's over 40 degrees and I'm going on a long freeway trip, I'll take it off - or for towing. Otherwise it stays on. Truck runs better, gets better MPG and the heater definitely works better.

Like Fred said.....using front allows truck to get closer to regular operating temperature and better fuel milage.

Driving to South Dakota on thursday and just realized that GM shorted me on the grill cover. I have the bumper cover, but no grill cover.

Crap.