Keeping my tuck cap/topper rear window lock from freezing? Let's hear your tips

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Keeping my tuck cap/topper rear window lock from freezing? Let's hear your tips

Posted: 2/11/2019 7:12:17 PM EDT

I am sick and tired of having to take the torch to the lock on my truck cap to get it open.

I have tried the aerosol spray lock deicer---no luck

I have used graphite lube (after getting it open, as a preventative measure)--No luck

I have used Slip EWL--No luck

Please share your tips on how you keep the lock on your truck cap functional in the winter

Posted: 2/11/2019 7:14:20 PM EDT

[#1]

Move to Texas.

Posted: 2/11/2019 7:18:17 PM EDT

[#2]

I sprayed ballistol on all of my work truck exterior compartment locks and handles and it keeps everything smooth all winter long. Even when we were down to the negative 20s a few weeks ago.

I don’t know why EWL wouldn’t work just as well.

Posted: 2/11/2019 7:22:11 PM EDT

[#3]

No cap, no problem.

Posted: 2/11/2019 7:22:43 PM EDT

[#4]

WD 40 couple times a year.

Posted: 2/11/2019 7:25:31 PM EDT

[#5]

silicone?

Posted: 2/11/2019 7:27:53 PM EDT

[#6]

Only old people have a truck cap/topper.

Stop being old and it won't freeze because you won't have one.

Posted: 2/11/2019 7:28:39 PM EDT

[#7]

They make vinyl covers for the T-handle style of locks.
https://www.google.com/search?q=t+handle+cover&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiCgbet6rTgAhUF0oMKHdVRANIQ_AUICSgA&biw=1308&bih=657&dpr=1

Posted: 2/11/2019 7:29:39 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Move to Texas.

View Quote

Worked for me.

Posted: 2/11/2019 7:59:19 PM EDT

[#9]

I spray lithium grease in the lock on mine.

Posted: 2/11/2019 8:01:17 PM EDT

[#10]

Before it froze, you should have applied one of those fixes. Now you just gotta wait. Or pull the assembly off, take it apart, clean it, lube it, and reinstall.

Posted: 2/11/2019 8:30:43 PM EDT

[#11]

plastic bag and a rubber band. (after you get all the moisture out)

Posted: 2/11/2019 8:35:05 PM EDT

[#12]

WD40. All you'll need.

Posted: 2/11/2019 9:02:53 PM EDT

[#13]

A squirt of antifreeze from a syringe should take care of it.

Posted: 2/11/2019 9:30:34 PM EDT

[#14]

WD worked for me

Posted: 2/11/2019 9:33:21 PM EDT

[#15]

Park your truck inside?

Posted: 2/11/2019 9:52:20 PM EDT

[#16]

glad i only have to worry about my tires melting on the summer asphalt.

Posted: 2/11/2019 10:37:15 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Park your truck inside?

View Quote

This and moving to Texas cured a lot of cold weather ills for me.

Though the new truck doesn't quite fit, yet. Need to remove the shelving/racks on the back wall and reorganize a bit. The garage door needs about 12" and it'll juuuuuust clear the hitch.

Posted: 2/11/2019 10:43:59 PM EDT

[#18]

Heat gun or hair dryer to de-ice it. Then shoot Aerokroil in the lock.

Posted: 2/11/2019 10:44:53 PM EDT

[#19]

Silicone spray lube.

Edit: I know you're going to think "Florida Man" what would you know about cold. But, I visit my family in Tennessee and learned the hard way about seizing topper lock.

Posted: 2/11/2019 10:49:51 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
Only old people have a truck cap/topper.

Stop being old and it won't freeze because you won't have one.

View Quote

Retarded response is retarded. Maybe he's a working guy who has a shell to keep his tools and equipment in? Maybe he's someone who does a lot of outdoor activities and sees the utility of having one? I'm not old (not quite yet anyways) and I've always had one on my trucks since I tend to do a lot of camping. I have a utility trailer if I need to carry larger items; the shell also tends to keep people from asking if I can help them move.

When I'm traveling in cold areas I shoot some WD40 in the lock and smear a thin layer of silicon on the rubber bulb seal.

Posted: 2/12/2019 3:11:57 PM EDT

[#21]

I thought you are supposed to heat up your key with your lighter and then unlock it.

Posted: 2/12/2019 3:16:20 PM EDT

[#22]

Froze lock?

Spray the lock with high-alcohol rubbing alcohol, it will open/unfreeze.

Then Rem-oil or like oil to displace the water, protect the lock...

Posted: 2/12/2019 3:19:09 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
Before it froze, you should have applied one of those fixes. Now you just gotta wait. Or pull the assembly off, take it apart, clean it, lube it, and reinstall.

View Quote

I unfreeze locks all the time with rubbing alcohol...

I have an old car where a key entry is missing the flange and lets just enough water in to keep the key from turning... alcohol/rem oil. Problem solved.

Posted: 2/12/2019 3:20:35 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
WD 40 couple times a year.

View Quote

This is your answer OP. WD 40 sucks for virtually everything except keeping locks de-iced.

One other thing you may want to look into is enlarging the hole that your handle goes through.

It may be freezing up between the handle and the gate itself.

Posted: 2/12/2019 3:20:58 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
WD40. All you'll need.

View Quote

Wd40 won’t displace ice when it’s well below freezing...

Displace/get rid of the ice with alcohol or anti-freeze.

Then apply oil.

Posted: 2/12/2019 3:22:02 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
A squirt of antifreeze from a syringe should take care of it.

View Quote

I use rubbing alcohol in a squeeze bottle... buy it that way...

But anti-freeze will work, too...

Posted: 2/12/2019 6:42:23 PM EDT

[#27]

FPNI

Posted: 2/12/2019 6:50:01 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
WD worked for me

View Quote

Posted: 2/12/2019 6:54:38 PM EDT

[#29]

Heat it up good with a hair dryer (including heating the key and inserting it and turning a few times). Then lube key with WD-40 and insert and turn a few times.

Posted: 2/12/2019 6:56:40 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:

Retarded response is retarded. Maybe he's a working guy who has a shell to keep his tools and equipment in? Maybe he's someone who does a lot of outdoor activities and sees the utility of having one? I'm not old (not quite yet anyways) and I've always had one on my trucks since I tend to do a lot of camping. I have a utility trailer if I need to carry larger items; the shell also tends to keep people from asking if I can help them move.

When I'm traveling in cold areas I shoot some WD40 in the lock and smear a thin layer of silicon on the rubber bulb seal.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Only old people have a truck cap/topper.

Stop being old and it won't freeze because you won't have one.

Retarded response is retarded. Maybe he's a working guy who has a shell to keep his tools and equipment in? Maybe he's someone who does a lot of outdoor activities and sees the utility of having one? I'm not old (not quite yet anyways) and I've always had one on my trucks since I tend to do a lot of camping. I have a utility trailer if I need to carry larger items; the shell also tends to keep people from asking if I can help them move.

When I'm traveling in cold areas I shoot some WD40 in the lock and smear a thin layer of silicon on the rubber bulb seal.

Ok old man.

To be fair I've looked at caps for my F150 before.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Keeping my tuck cap/topper rear window lock from freezing? Let's hear your tips

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