Prep for Storage
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,339
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From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
Prep for Storage
I'll be leaving my truck at home when I head out for college next month, and since nobody will be driving my truck, I want to make sure I store it properly.
Beyond the basics of disconnect the batter and put it on a maintainer, use stabil storage in the gas, and make sure the cab is closed up good, what should I do?
My truck will be unused for ~4 months at a time, so should I bother jacking it up and putting it on jack stands? What about getting a cover that fits? Anything else I should or shouldn't do?
Thanks
Jameson
Beyond the basics of disconnect the batter and put it on a maintainer, use stabil storage in the gas, and make sure the cab is closed up good, what should I do?
My truck will be unused for ~4 months at a time, so should I bother jacking it up and putting it on jack stands? What about getting a cover that fits? Anything else I should or shouldn't do?
Thanks
Jameson
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 425
Likes: 3
No, I wouldn't bother putting it on jackstands. Covers are really only good for keeping dust off while storing it inside, for outside they are bad because they can actually hold in moisture and the wind will cause it to rub and flap against the paint.
I store my truck periodically for 6 months to 1 year and have never had a problem. I only do 3 things:
1. Fill the gas tanks with new gas and the recommended addition of sta-bil, and run it long enough to get the new gas and sta-bil mix run through the carb.
2. Spray a fogger into the carb until the engine dies (or have if it won't die on its own have someone turn the key off when it bogs down). Use something like this: STA-BIL/Fogging oil (22001) | Fogging Oil and Fuel Stabilizer | AutoZone.com
3. Disconnect the battery (have never used a maintainer and never had an issue).
Even after a year of storage like this all I had to do was reconnect the battery and it fired up like it was parked the day before. Also, if storing it outside make sure the bed is clean and water will drain out of it and you can put some kind of sun shade up in the windshield.
I store my truck periodically for 6 months to 1 year and have never had a problem. I only do 3 things:
1. Fill the gas tanks with new gas and the recommended addition of sta-bil, and run it long enough to get the new gas and sta-bil mix run through the carb.
2. Spray a fogger into the carb until the engine dies (or have if it won't die on its own have someone turn the key off when it bogs down). Use something like this: STA-BIL/Fogging oil (22001) | Fogging Oil and Fuel Stabilizer | AutoZone.com
3. Disconnect the battery (have never used a maintainer and never had an issue).
Even after a year of storage like this all I had to do was reconnect the battery and it fired up like it was parked the day before. Also, if storing it outside make sure the bed is clean and water will drain out of it and you can put some kind of sun shade up in the windshield.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 7
From: Shelton, Wa
You can drop it off at my house and I'll make sure it doesn't sit, but that would cost you cause I can't NOT work on anything. lol
Moonley has a great check list.
Wash the truck very well including removing the drain plugs in the cowl and blowing the pine needles and junk out of it, I periodically put a shop vac in my cowl access and suck the junk out.
Knowing our area I would park it facing slightly up hill to aid in water draining out of the bed, try to park it away from trees if you can, get a roll of fridge magnet material or something similar in order to cover the cowl vent entirely so stuff doesn't build up in there and hold moisture, if you can afford it I would get one of the pipe&canvas car cover/carport things.
Moonley has a great check list.
Wash the truck very well including removing the drain plugs in the cowl and blowing the pine needles and junk out of it, I periodically put a shop vac in my cowl access and suck the junk out.
Knowing our area I would park it facing slightly up hill to aid in water draining out of the bed, try to park it away from trees if you can, get a roll of fridge magnet material or something similar in order to cover the cowl vent entirely so stuff doesn't build up in there and hold moisture, if you can afford it I would get one of the pipe&canvas car cover/carport things.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,132
Likes: 5,777
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Mice could, can, do and will get in the cab.....So make sure it is sealed up and the vents are closed ect..... I always think my trucks are sealed up, but they always seem to get in anyway.
So I put the yellow block mice killer "snack bars" that kill them and dries them up from the inside out
='s no stink that way.
Follow the rest of the advice above and you should be ok.
So I put the yellow block mice killer "snack bars" that kill them and dries them up from the inside out
='s no stink that way.Follow the rest of the advice above and you should be ok.
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