I too was having problems starting my '96 when it was below 10*F. I could get it to start but I expected the starter to burn out every time I had to crank it. Verrry long crank times and sputtering until it would finally catch and run. Also had to keep my foot on the throttle for a minute or so to keep it running. Switching to a 5W40 sythetic (in my case Rotella) made a huge difference. It starts quite easily now down to minus 25*F. It hasn't been any colder than that around here since I made the switch. Switching oils was the best change you could make IMO. But then again I hate plugging in my truck. I don't use it on a regular schedule this time of year and many times I don't know two or three hours in advance anyways...

 

@Valv
It'll be a much colder day here in "paradise" than I've ever seen before I'll let you get away with my CTD.
Keeping them running is a common solution up on the slope, or at least used to be.

@Captain, ScottN & TSB
I'm thinking that a synthetic may be a very good idea. Especially if it will allow shorter warm up times to get it to fire up.

@ScottN
One is 1 year old and the other is 2 years old. They both check out to be in good condition. Moparmax also suggested a pan heater. To me that would be a good one because when it started it would pump warmed oil through the engine. The battery blankets do help keep the batteries warm enough to hold their power output up.

This may all have been for nothing. It warmed up into the 20's today and snow is forcast for tomorrow. Down right balmy conditions. My starting problems are over (I hope). Spring is finally on the way!!!

 

i have the same truck and live in palmer and have little trouble with mine this year i think there is somthing keeping yours from starting we do have differnt ulsf up here than most places and plays hell on fords on my idi turbo ford it will not run on the fuel now once warm. had to swap to a differnt pump and turn it up to handle the fuel took 2 new injector pumps to find that out. mine will start cycling it 3 times down to -15 it did sit at deshka landing for a week were it was down to -40 and 0 durning the day and started up did not want but did

 

Yeah, it snowed here today... the nice thing about snow is it always warms things up!

Spend your time in the summer taking pride in how many heaters you can jam in different places on that truck, and synthetic will definitely seem cheap when you see how big of a difference it makes.