If you are an off-road enthusiast and do a lot of off-roading, it is vital to protect and store the vehicle and use it. Car storage should be done according to changing weather conditions. Be it a truck or a jeep; you invest both time and effort in maintaining your valuable machine.
Many factors can jeopardize your vehicle’s safety, such as animals, weather, thieves, etc. Vehicle theft is common in America. Please do some prep work to store your car.
So keep these tips in mind when you store your off-road vehicle.
Top 9 Tips for Storing Your Off-Road Vehicle
1. Animals
If you park your off-road vehicle in a garage or other location away from your home, you may not be able to check your vehicle every day due to work commitments. Warm weather indoor climates are an attractive time for insects and rodents to hatch. If you want to avoid them, you can use mothballs and mousetraps to stop these unwanted pests before they enter your vehicle. You can also cover openings around your rig, such as exhaust pipes. Rats, insect snakes, and other critters can crawl through the holes and damage your vehicle’s valuables, so always be proactive and take precautions to avoid them.
2. Garage Door
One practical way to prevent damage to your vehicle is to have a garage door that is secure in every way. You should inspect your garage and ensure that small changes will make your door extremely protected and impenetrable. A powerful garage door protects your vehicle from harsh weather conditions. Some things you can do to maintain it include:
- Lubrication
Lubricating the door is one way to keep your garage clean and look new. It will slide efficiently and prevent squeaking by greasing the hinges, tracks, and rollers.
- Weather Seals
A garage may use a strong weather seal in any climate. It prevents flood water, dirt, and other unwanted debris from entering and damaging your vehicle.
- Bolt Tightening
You should periodically check and tighten the bolts on your garage door. Because over time, they can become old, loose, and rusted and affect the door’s ability to open and close level as it should.
3. The Oil
Sometimes you may have to leave your off-road jeep or truck in a storage area for an extended period. You must change the oil of the car for its daily maintenance and keep it healthy. Because if you start using the parked vehicle without adding oil, your engine will sit, which means it may damage the engine. Changing the oil again before using the vehicle is another smart decision. You may consider using synthetic oil as it performs much better than petroleum-based oils in extreme hot and cold climates.
4. Garage Security
Maintaining a garage door can protect your vehicle from unwanted elements. However, adding anti-theft measures will provide additional security. You can install a security camera in your garage. Thanks to advanced technology, these security cameras allow for remote tracking and action from outside your garage. Motion sensor lights are another great option. Floodlights protect your garage so well that thieves are less likely to commit crimes under the spotlight because they are so bright.
If you are unable to keep your vehicle in a garage, there are other ways to protect your vehicle, including:
- Steering wheel lock
- GPS tracker
- Wheel clamp
- Brake and clutch lock
5. Tire Pressure
Your car’s tire pressure can drop over time, like a battery charging problem. You can inflate the 26-inch wheels tires on your vehicle to the proper pounds per square inch (PSI). Driving your car for a few minutes daily or weekly can help reduce tire pressure and prevent flat spots. One way to stay active is to overinflate your tires a little. This tactic is the best way to avoid flat areas on your wheels.
6. Charge Your Battery
Charging your battery is one of the essential purposes of vehicle storage. If your car sits idle in a garage for a week or a month, it’s normal for its battery to lose charge. A simple solution to maintaining a battery charge is to start the car at least once every other week and drive it for a few minutes. If you can’t drive your car for a long time, try connecting it to a battery maintainer. This device will charge your vehicle and extend its life.
7. Vehicle Height Protection
Another sensible way to keep saving your tires is to jack up your vehicle, especially if you plan to leave it in the garage for long periods. A common cause of flat spotting is a Jeep that sits idle for weeks or months. Consider placing your rig on a jack stand or using a lift. This method will reduce the weight on your jeep’s rims and tires and extend their life.
8. Give It a Good Coating
Like tires, you can think of coatings as simply ways to protect the paint job. While that’s part of their purpose, waxes and ceramics can also protect the exterior of your garaged vehicle from harmful weather conditions like water and UV rays. Coating your off-road vehicle will help protect it from debris and possible rust. Think of it as an extra layer of defense.
9. FUEL Stabilizer
Gasoline separates when it sits. Then it can clog up your fuel tank, fuel lines, or engine. A fuel stabilizer is inexpensive and prevents that from happening.
How Long Can You Store a Vehicle Without Driving it?
If you are storing a vehicle for six months, there are specific measures to keep it running great once you return to driving it. How long may You Leave a car without moving? If you have the plan to park your vehicle in the garage and walk away, be ready for an unpleasant surprise upon returning, even if it’s just a couple of weeks.
How Often Should You Take Your Vehicle Out on the Road?
It is best to take it down the road at least once a week for a twenty-minute drive and longer during the summer. Keeps the battery, fuel tank, tires, and everything else in good, healthy condition.
Why Do Vehicles Go Flat on One Side When Stored?
They go flat on one side to carry the vehicle’s weight for an extended period. A primary concern when storing a vehicle for six months or so is the draining of the car battery. It dies eventually due to parasitic draining.
What Do You Do to Keep Your Vehicle from Smelling in the Summer?
When storing a vehicle in a humid environment, spray waxing its body is an intelligent step. A well-fitting car cover is the easiest way to protect your vehicle. To avoid mildew collection and bad smells, keep the car windows slightly open before doing so.
Final Result
As a vehicle owner, you must take care of your off-road vehicle, just like you take care of your other belongings. A garage is a practical place to store your vehicle, including all the mods you’ve built, such as GRID off-road wheels. Alternatively, if you don’t have a garage, keep it somewhere that is securely locked. It’ll need a few tweaks when it’s time to take it out of storage and hit the trails.