I'm in the military and moving overseas for 3ish years and can't take my truck. I've had my '07 F-250 since it rolled off the dealer lot brand new. It only has 56,000 miles, in awesome condition and paid off! I hate to sell it and if I do, it won't be easy to replace. If I decide to store it in long term storage, what should I be worried about? I'm not sure if storage is best, or sell it and try to replace it when I get back. After 3 years, should I be worried about gasket leaks, water in fluids, engine gumming up, etc...

Appreciate any help!

 

I vote Store it

anyone you trust to take around the block OCCsion aly??

The Batterys might go bad

Turbo unisone ring may rust alittle

Its Paid for cant beat that

Plus Im not a big fan of the newer diesel but who knows what will be out there in 3 years

 

X 2 what Benny said.

 

I agree with Blade, but 3 years is a long while to let it set.....

If you are near Tulsa I will volunteer to "occasionally" take it around the block!!

 

I vote sell it. 3 years is a long time for any vehicle, and especially one like this. Also, that's a lot of depreciation. Sell it, invest that money, and you should have a nice chunk to buy what suits you when you get back. Good luck with whatever you decide and thank you for your service.

 

I also agree with Benny.
Store it.
If you can't find some one to drive it now and then
You could see if Ford has a pickling procedure for the engine
and other components. To pickle an engine means to treat an
engine to prevent corrosion by using chemicals and dryers
to help perserve it.

This may help give you some ideas.
Corrosion Protection of your Lycoming or Continental Aircraft Engine

You could also if you have to park it in storage is to. Get an inside heated location.
disconnect the batteries, put on a float charger and give it a fresh oil change
and to add an additive to the fuel and run it so it is
in the lines and injectors. If you can get someone to drive it. Then they should
drive it so the oil will reach at least 180F and stay there for 2 or more hours
minimum. The reason is to drive out any moisture out.
Then if more that a week then the batteries should be put on a float
charger in-between drives and in this case the fuel should be as full as
as it can with both a storage/stabilizer additive and the Ford cetane booster
in it or some thing that does both.

I think we can come up with some more ideas on the pre-storage prep.
Also this will sound silly but You should have some liability insurance on it.
That way if someone steals it or the building or place it is stored
has problems you will be covered. You also want to take photos
of it and one with the VIN in it. Just CYA. Liability insurance is cheeper
than having to fix problems when you get back if something happens.

Sean

 

I found this link when I was looking around.
It's about diesel longterm storage.
It may be helpful.

RV Tech Library - Diesel Fuel Additives

Sean

 

seals dry out

it's not uncommon to come home after a long deployment and find oil leaks and animal nests. I've had some interesting fun before when my wife let an old F-150 sit for almost 6 months without being driven.


I vote you sell her. It isn't worth the hassle IMO of tracking down all the issues that will occur when you finally get home.

If you do store her, buy a bunch of dessicant.
Run the tank down to 1/4 or so and treat it liberally with a diesel stabilizer.
Fresh oil change the day prior to final parking.
Put truck in storage unit and use jackstand to remove weight of truck from tires...at least 3" off ground
Disconnect both batteries
Disconnect the intake pipe and shove a dessicant pouch into that cavity
Cram a dessicant pouch into the tail-pipe (alternatively, you could remove downpipe and put one directly into turbo outlet)
Remove Air filter and block turbo suction with dessicant pouch
Put a couple dessicant pouches inside the cab


The goal of the dessicant is to draw all the moisture from motor, and prevent any from wicking in there over time. Get truck wieght off the tires to prevent flat spotting...also makes it harder for insects/rodents to get into the vehicle. Fresh oil to remove any suspended dirt/water..hopefully just nice clean coating for all internal surfaces. Disconnect the batteries just because. They'll be dead anyways, and most storage places won't allow you to utilize a battery tender.


It can be done. Just not worth the effort...and then hoping you avoid issues when you pick her back up. I go through this dilema every year. Luckily it's only 6-7 months at a time. Best of luck

 

1/4 tank will cause more problems than not.
Air will move in and out more and it will
carry moisture that will condense out and settle
in the tank. Water in diesel will get you algae
that will feed on the fuel and make all sorts
of nasty crap that tends to be corrosive and plug up
filters. To clean up you have to pump out filter and scrub
the inside of the tank to remove the algae mess.
This link from that last post is a way to avoid all that mess
RV Tech Library - Diesel Fuel Additives

Sean

 

My vote is to keep her, Use bounce dryer sheets to keep the rodents away & fill the fuel tank full. That way less moisture will form inside the tank. Maybe you will come back on leave to run her!

 

First would like to thank the OP for service to the country.

Swcond when I was in the Navy we would deploy for 180 days every other year. A few year hitch is a long one. What I would recommend depends on the OP.

When you say store it.... I would ask where... if you are talking a long term storge facility where it is parked in a lot exposed to elements for $25 a month. Are you talking a air conditioned garage unit for $100 a month. Or are you talking at mom and dads or some friends house....

If you are talking storing at a site (air conditioned or not).... I say sell her. All most of those sites do is disconnect the battery add some fuel additive and about 2 days before you get home they jump it and let the alternator charge the battery for a hour before you get home. There is to much risk of damage to your vehicle not to mention maintenance fees and depriciation you are better off getting your money out and investing it in a 3 year municiple bond of CD. That way it is trapped till you get back and can't be tempted to waste it

If you are taking her to mom and dads or some close (non military) friends that will start her once a week and drive her back and forth to church....(I say church cause it is a weekly part of a lot of peoples rountine). Then I would say keep her. The fluids will stay relatively current but the seals and gaskets will have some action. There will be some aging of the fluids but should be ok if you do a tranny flush and oil change as soon as you get back.

Remember you are taking a 23-50K gamble on how trustworthy and reliably these people are on starting and running your truck and the only reason I say nonmilitary is we were subject to deploment and other things way to often.... more than likely any military familt will relocate in the 3 years.....


Good luck.

 

I agree with this^^^
Thanks for your service. For all the reasons stated above, I believe I'd sell mine if I had to park it for 3 years. You may want something different in a few years anyway. Sell it now, and get the most $$$ for it.

 

For a small monthly fee you can store it at my place I offer a ton of special services like 30 mile daily commutes, full service packages, OEM upgraded parts installed for cost, work packages where it'll pull a minimum 10k trailer weight twice a month, and we're currently running a special called "winter ranch day camp" where your truck will get to work with a similarly aged group of other brand 1 tons on an actual working cattle ranch! Additional services have associated fees


But really, as much as it sucks because you'll never get to own a diesel engine like this one again from brand new, you should probably sell it.

 

That's one hell of a package!

 

Also consider $25 to $100/mo for 36 months adds up too!
Along with insurance and the cost to un-mothball it when you return.

My "heart" says store it (I'm emotionally attached to my vehicles).
My "brain" says sell it, then buy what you want when you return.

AND thanks for your service.