Wheel pants in winter?

[cowman57]

It's my first winter with the pants on here in NE Wi. Just wondering what the general opinion is here on the forum about pants during winter concerning snow/slush freezing and causing problems.

[strangebird]

I used to take them off in the winter so as to not have snow and slush build up inside them, brakes can freeze and you want to have access to free them need be. and not have wheel issues, it s amazing how much will get in there same with grass and leaves on grass strips.

[hilltop170]

Take them off. No good reason for them in snow, slush, and freezing conditions. Leave the backing plates in place so they quickly go back on next spring.

[n3833v]

I always take mine off in winter. 15 min off and then back on in spring. I don't need to have them freeze and do a ground loop.

John

[bagarre]

Flying in Maryland, I keep mine on for the most part.
I took them off once when the snow was too deep to taxi out of the grass.
Most everything I land on is paved tho.

[GAHorn]

Ever since I married the right girl I fly with my pants on. (Had to take them off once to wash out the mud, tho'. No. Not that kind of mud. Not those kind of pants.
Last year, on the way to Bardstown we took off on our recently-rained grass strip and packed mud in them. I landed ten minutes later at a nearby airport and borrowed an elect. screwdriver to remove them and wash them out with a water hose. I was worried the mud would dry before the next landing 3 hours away, and prevent wheel rotation. It is a simple matter but I can see how snow/ice might be a concern. That's what the "scraper" is there for.)

[Joe Moilanen]

If you paint them pink and turn them upside-down they also work good for planting flowers in

[flyboy122]

It's my first winter with the pants on here in NE Wi.

Hey Cowman,

Whereabouts in NE WI are you? I'm in Oconto and its my first winter with a 170 as well. (And yeah, my wheel pants are staying in the hanger.)

DEM

[GAHorn]

Let me say this about pants.... they keep water-puddles from covering up the windshield and slinging muddy water all up under the wings and fuselage...and they keep rocks and dings off the tail.... and that's the primary reason I have 'em and like 'em.

[blueldr]

Hey, you guys up there in Wisconsin, if you take the pants off of your airplane in winter, does it take any longer to get the engine warmed up?

Or maybe the lower part of the turn and bank indicator would shrink up and become sluggish.

[cessna170bdriver]

Let me say this about pants.... they keep water-puddles from covering up the windshield and slinging muddy water all up under the wings and fuselage...and they keep rocks and dings off the tail.... and that's the primary reason I have 'em and like 'em.

But they won't keep cow crap off of the windshield; just ask Bob Coats...

[hilltop170]

Let me say this about pants.... they keep water-puddles from covering up the windshield and slinging muddy water all up under the wings and fuselage...and they keep rocks and dings off the tail.... and that's the primary reason I have 'em and like 'em.

And we live in Texas! Mine are on all winter too. I wouldn't think of leaving them on if slush or muddy water was anywhere near freezing when I splashed thru it.

[GAHorn]

...And we live in Texas! ....

Hey, Richard! You think we should add spurs to them on the trailing edge?

[cowman57]

It's my first winter with the pants on here in NE Wi.

Hey Cowman,

Whereabouts in NE WI are you? I'm in Oconto and its my first winter with a 170 as well. (And yeah, my wheel pants are staying in the hanger.)

DEM

Clintonville....Not too far away. Do you ever get to any of the Friday dinners at central county 68C, or any of the Wisconsin flying hamburger socials during the summer?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMBE2V8HuVA

[hilltop170]

...And we live in Texas! ....

Hey, Richard! You think we should add spurs to them on the trailing edge?

You go first, I'm not a cowboy.