Long Term Storage Advice
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Trailering
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 17
Likes: 2
Long Term Storage Advice
Ok, looks like I’m leaving this summer to deploy for a year and I’d like some advice on how to store my F350.
Currently stationed in Tucson, AZ. I plan to cover it and do fresh fluid changes before leaving.
My wife can drive it, but I prefer she didn’t...so assuming she’s not going to drive it on a regular basis, how long is it ok to just sit with a battery minder?
What else should I be thinking about? What am I missing?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
Currently stationed in Tucson, AZ. I plan to cover it and do fresh fluid changes before leaving.
My wife can drive it, but I prefer she didn’t...so assuming she’s not going to drive it on a regular basis, how long is it ok to just sit with a battery minder?
What else should I be thinking about? What am I missing?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 878
From: Rome as it burns
Come back from overseas to a new truck.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,688
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
If it's a diesel, I would be sure to put an algaecide in the fuel tank. Motorcraft PM-22 will work for that. Is it good for 12 months in the tank? I don't know. It works in mine for 6 months. My last fill up in my truck was Oct 2020.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 424
From: Too close to Houston
Even though it’s not your first preference I’d just let the wife drive it about 30 miles every 8 weeks or so. Won’t need anything special done to it at all.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,016
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From: Texas
thank you for your service
from experience, if you cant get someone to drive it once a month for a good drive.
and plan to keep it, cover the tires, fresh fuel, with stabilizer, fresh fluids and air up tires to max pressures ans store truck tires on wood pads wide enough to catch entire tread width , will keep water and other crap from sticking to tires, good wash and wax. spread moth ***** around under the truck. your batteries will be dead, so either remove them or find a trickle charger to mind them
or take advantage of crazy used prices and sell it and save the dollars for a new one when you get home.
i kept mine in a climate controlled garage at home and it was fine for 12 months away.
from experience, if you cant get someone to drive it once a month for a good drive.
and plan to keep it, cover the tires, fresh fuel, with stabilizer, fresh fluids and air up tires to max pressures ans store truck tires on wood pads wide enough to catch entire tread width , will keep water and other crap from sticking to tires, good wash and wax. spread moth ***** around under the truck. your batteries will be dead, so either remove them or find a trickle charger to mind them
or take advantage of crazy used prices and sell it and save the dollars for a new one when you get home.
i kept mine in a climate controlled garage at home and it was fine for 12 months away.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,874
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From: SoCal/Wyoming
Jody can drive it while you’re gone...
. I guess you need to be .mil to get that one. Just have the wife use it for a day once a month and use a good fuel additive and it should be fine. I spent 17 of my 24 years on sea duty so I have left plenty of vehicles over the years in the hands of others to start/use while I was deployed. I never had an issue. As noted, unless you are really attached to it, you could sell it and get another when you get back. On a side note, I would not use a cover if it’s going to just sit outside. Dust/dirt will get under the cover and wind will blow the cover around and screw your paint up.
. I guess you need to be .mil to get that one. Just have the wife use it for a day once a month and use a good fuel additive and it should be fine. I spent 17 of my 24 years on sea duty so I have left plenty of vehicles over the years in the hands of others to start/use while I was deployed. I never had an issue. As noted, unless you are really attached to it, you could sell it and get another when you get back. On a side note, I would not use a cover if it’s going to just sit outside. Dust/dirt will get under the cover and wind will blow the cover around and screw your paint up.
Last edited by SARDiverDan; Apr 17, 2021 at 11:32 PM.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 345
Likes: 92
First, thank you for serving our country. Just wish our service members were better respected by citizens and especially our government. Ok, I would not want to take a chance trucks are either higher in price or hard to get so I would just have the wife drive it every three to four weeks for several miles to keep it running.
But if you are not attached to the truck and the wife does not care to drive it, then maybe selling with these inflated prices a plus.
God Bless my friend and may He keep you safe and all those who serve this great country and even the ungrateful people who live here. I for one still stand for the anthem and only kneel before my God.
But if you are not attached to the truck and the wife does not care to drive it, then maybe selling with these inflated prices a plus.
God Bless my friend and may He keep you safe and all those who serve this great country and even the ungrateful people who live here. I for one still stand for the anthem and only kneel before my God.
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 17
Likes: 2
Thanks for the support and the kind words!
I’m too attached to it to let it go to be honest. There are many F350 SD’s out there, but not a single one like mine.
Plan is to have it driven once a month, with a battery minder, and not under cover. The AZ sun can be brutal but I’ll wax and protect it before I go.
Now I’ll start a thread about which wax and protectants to use 😂
I’m too attached to it to let it go to be honest. There are many F350 SD’s out there, but not a single one like mine.
Plan is to have it driven once a month, with a battery minder, and not under cover. The AZ sun can be brutal but I’ll wax and protect it before I go.
Now I’ll start a thread about which wax and protectants to use 😂
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 769
From: SoCal/Wyoming
You could also schedule a mobile detail service to detail it a few times while you are gone. Even the best wax job is only good for about three months or so before it needs to be repeated in order to provide the best protection. Have your wife give it a look every week and use a warm washcloth to clean the bird mess and help keep the bird poop from getting into the paint. You might also look at ways of preventing rodents from making a home in the truck while you are away.
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