Winter Storage Advice

[ByronF]

Hi All
Was hoping to get some advice on the best way to store my SSR for the winter months. I have spent a lot of time checking this site for information and have come up with the following plan based on the infromation I have gathered.
The SSR will be kept in my garage which is not heated. Have to order an indoor cover for it to keep the dust and stuff off.
Have an extra set of rims with Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires that I was planning to install so that I could take it out and run it say once a month on clear days when the roads are dry just to get things circulating and keep the battery charged.
I was also planning to change the oil this fall (and will probably) change it again in the spring.
Does this plan make sense? Is there anything else I should be doing or something I should not be doing?
Thanks for your help
ByronF

[RUN ROD RUN]

Wouldn't hurt if you get a battery tender.

[patm]

Canadian Tire had 2A battery tenders marked down from $ 34.99 to $ 19.99 last week. They work like a charm and even plug right into the 12V outlet in the back. It even comes with 3 different plugs.

They'll be on sale again before winter. Money well spent.

Motomaster Eliminator Intelligent Battery Charger, 2A | Canadian Tire

[xs-cash]

mine sits in my garage, i start it once a month, put in some stabil, thats all !!!

[xoxoxoBruce]

Might want to put some dryer sheets inside, in case a mouse gets in the garage.

[ohhawk]

I think you're pretty much on target with your preparation.

I put an extra 5 lbs of air in tires (35-36) as the cold will decrease tire air pressure over the course of months. Trickle charger of some sort would be an absolute purchase. I'm in the camp that says let the car sit on a trickle charge all winter vs. taking it out or starting up every few weeks. I also put a couple of small plastic bags (seal with rubber bands or whatever) over the ends of the exhaust tips to protect for any rodent entry.

I figure I've got another month before I do the winter prep as well.

CTEK makes a good charger. I've been using the 3300 for years.

Amazon.com: CTEK Multi US 3300 12V Smart Battery Charger: Automotive

Amazon.com: CTEK Multi US 3300 12V Smart Battery Charger: Automotive

[mike in orlando]

Originally Posted by ByronF

Hi All
Was hoping to get some advice on the best way to store my SSR for the winter months. I have spent a lot of time checking this site for information and have come up with the following plan based on the infromation I have gathered.
The SSR will be kept in my garage which is not heated. Have to order an indoor cover for it to keep the dust and stuff off.
Have an extra set of rims with Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires that I was planning to install so that I could take it out and run it say once a month on clear days when the roads are dry just to get things circulating and keep the battery charged.
I was also planning to change the oil this fall (and will probably) change it again in the spring.
Does this plan make sense? Is there anything else I should be doing or something I should not be doing?
Thanks for your help
ByronF

Bring or Send your R to Florida for the Winter,
I will take very good care of it for you!!
Your R will be here for the 4th Annual Rally in March

[ByronF]

Thanks guys for the advice. I will do the tire pressure and battery tender thing. I really like the Florida option. Does the offer of free room and board apply to the driver as well as the SSR - LOL!

[Krazy Ed]

Originally Posted by ByronF

Hi All
Was hoping to get some advice on the best way to store my SSR for the winter months. I have spent a lot of time checking this site for information and have come up with the following plan based on the infromation I have gathered.
The SSR will be kept in my garage which is not heated. Have to order an indoor cover for it to keep the dust and stuff off.
Have an extra set of rims with Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires that I was planning to install so that I could take it out and run it say once a month on clear days when the roads are dry just to get things circulating and keep the battery charged.
I was also planning to change the oil this fall (and will probably) change it again in the spring.
Does this plan make sense? Is there anything else I should be doing or something I should not be doing?
Thanks for your help
ByronF

I went out to Home Depot & purchased 7 pieces of 4x8x3/8 plywood and placed 4 side by side on garage floor then placed the finally 3 on top of the 4 so that the middle of the top is where the crack of two on the bottom is. This keeps the moisture down and helps tire from going flat on one side plus helps battery from draining. I start mine every 2 weeks and run 30 to 40 mins (at different rpm's) and back it out of the garage so to use the brakes. OEM battery still fine. This way i stay of the roads and save on insurance ( just have fire & theft for 6 months)
Have you got your move done yet. If you have send me a PM with your phone #. I'll give you a call and we can meet.



Krazy Ed

[ww50th]

Byron, I pulled up an old post of mine on winter or summer storage but I posted it under general discussions. Have a look there for what has worked for me. The one thing that I will add to that storage process is my position on not running your vehicle during storage. Starting the vehicle produces heat in a cold climate. That produces condensation when cooling down. If you do this multiple times you have heat-cooling-heat cooling-heat-cooling and it all produces condensation that promotes RUST within your engine. This is a personal thing and some will disagree with me on this point. It ends up being what works best for you. I have stored many cars for the summer and for the winter. Storing a car in Arizona for the summer is much easier than storing a car in Minnesota for the winter but I have had success with both. Take the best of this and use it to your advantage. Best of luck on your storage.

[mike s]

Byron here is my two cents worth. I have been putting cars away for winter for years and do the following.

A piece of carpet under each wheel.
Disconnect the battery.
Bounce sheets inside and under the hood to fend off mice.

I don,t start vehicles as this causes condensation. I also do not use a cover as I found this caused condensation to collect inside.

Mike
PS I winter in Florida with my R (drive it down and back) but the other 3 cars are stored this way.

[XSELER8]

Originally Posted by mike s

Bounce sheets inside and under the hood to fend off mice.

My mice used the dryer sheets for bedding, nests and a place to hang out. I had plenty of dryer sheets and moth balls around a stored car. WORTHLESS.
I found dryer sheets in the door wells and other places. The mice dragged them around. Try something different.

[coltfanatic]

I never start mine up at all once it is laid away, earlier post is right you bulid up lots of condation in doing so. I use the battery tender, still on orignal battery 04 with 40000 miles. I lay down cardboard under the whole vehicle. Hope all of these posts helps.

[3yello]

Byron,
I store mine in winter in Illinois. I use dryer sheets wrapped around major electrical connections and in the top well. I also use Irish Spring soap bars, cut in strips, on paper plates in the pass.compartment, top well, and truck bed. Hot/cold cups in the tailpipes keep critters out. I do try to start it once a month. I hope this helps.
3Yello/HOBBY BOB

[twooldfarmers]

all these posts on the build up of condensation within the engine and other parts on down the line is absolutely so. You can not under any circumstances build enough heat to push the condensation out of the motor.

use Stabil and run the R after it has been put in the tank. Pull into your storage area HOT off the road. Drop your drivers window just a touch and disconnect the battery, cover it and walk away.

The usual fresh coat of wax, treat your leather and an oil change before that last run to circulate the Stabil goes without saying. Bump your tire pressure and/or block it up

[Daffy]

Trying something new this year.

The normal filled tank with stabil and run enough to be present in the lines.
Cleaned and waxed, fresh oil, and on a battery tender.

that part has been the norm where I store it is going to change this year... Normally I store it in my main garage where I do mouse battle all year long. This year my little black girl is going to winter in my shop... only heated when I'm out there and I don't go after the mice .... we co exist. no food except what they store from the fields.

So a little trick I learned from another car dude is to ...
1. Park on a vapor barrier, temp changes during winter will condensate on the floor, ok seen that before, plastc on the floor.. check.

2. Jack stands in a bucket with a couple of inches of old car oil.. The claim is if a mouse gets into the bucket the oil will keep it from getting up the jack stand and it will die. Thinking back to when I did an oil change and left the oil in the drain pan for more than several days because my reclaim jug was full... couple of dead mice in it when I went to pour it out... Logic tells me this will work ... any thoughts?

I'm still going to set a trap inside and check it frequently.

FWIW I don't start any properly stored vehicle and "let it run" during storage.. bad bad idea.

The idea of storing it in my shop instead of my garage is simple.. 2 trucks 1 car 2 bikes and a tractor in my attached garage... SNUG!!

[Highrider]

Originally Posted by patm

Canadian Tire had 2A battery tenders marked down from $ 34.99 to $ 19.99 last week. They work like a charm and even plug right into the 12V outlet in the back. It even comes with 3 different plugs.

They'll be on sale again before winter. Money well spent.

Motomaster Eliminator Intelligent Battery Charger, 2A | Canadian Tire

What 12v outlet is that and where is it located? I want to install a battery tender as well, looking to attach at the terminals under the hood, but this response is interesting.

Can somebody fill me in?

Thanks

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by Highrider

What 12v outlet is that and where is it located? I want to install a battery tender as well, looking to attach at the terminals under the hood, but this response is interesting.

Can somebody fill me in?

Thanks

Inside the tailgate on the right hand side of the bed near the top is a power port with a cover on it. This port is fused at 35 amp so it can handle the power draw of the pump which is behind the driver's seat.

[DOOPHUS]

Originally Posted by Highrider

What 12v outlet is that and where is it located? I want to install a battery tender as well, looking to attach at the terminals under the hood, but this response is interesting.

Can somebody fill me in?

Thanks

There's an outlet in the right rear corner of the cargo area plus one on each side of the ashtray.

[BlueStreak]

I actually did use the jumper post under the hood because I keep the locked even when it is in the garage. By using the under hood location I run the cable under the windshield wiper arm on and have to walk past it to get into the vehicle. It reminds me to remove it before I try to drive off.

[BLU*T]

Move to west Texas, over 300 days of sunshine and less than 14" of presip.