Failures of alternators on late model vehicles are often due to a problem with the battery; the excessive draw from an internal short can wreak all sorts of havoc. Battery problems can actually begin in hot weather, but don't fully manifest themselves until the heavier demands of winter operation.
Take your battery out to someone who can give it a full charge and proper load test.
Once the battery has been eliminated as a problem, check the condition of the cables - including the wire gauge. A 6V system requires heavier gauge than 12V.
Even if you swap out regulators, you'll still need to perform checks and adjustments, per the shop manual, which also provide a check of the generator. So, why not do it now, with the old regulator?
You may also find additional insights in the
Serviceman's Training Book - Scientific Diagnosis.
EDIT (11/1/11): A latent error was discoverd in the Scientific Diagnosis Training Book, regarding the use of a jumper lead on the regulator as part of a generator output test. Details of the corrected text were provided in
STB 51T-34 and reiterated in
SC Vol. 26, No. 1.
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