Parked for the winter :( Need Advice

[BarnabyHooge]

I've decided that instead of keeping my "rough around the edges" '71 on the salty streets of Chicago over winter, I'll be parking it next to my in-laws garage in the 'burbs. It'll probably sit for from mid Nov. until about March.

Is an expensive outdoor cover really necessary? My only concern is rust since the paint is roughed up anyway. I'm certain snow will still be getting at the bottom with or with out a cover. Can I just tarp the bed?

Thanks!

[RPBurris]

My truck has sat outside since i owned it. I would suggst getting a cover made to withstand staying outdoors. They are only about $200. I got mine from LMC and it fits good. Only complaint would be one of the corners ripped at the seam by the bed. I have a bed cover on mine and if you dont it will fill with snow and water. Maybe put something in the bed to keep it from sagging. i think it is the best $200 spent.

[LilD]

Any cars Ive stored outside have went uncovered. Snow isnt gonna hurt anything. The salt that wouldve been getting on the truck is what you want to avoid. I would suggest focussing more on winterizing. Anti freeze level, gas stabilizer, getting the tires off the ground..........

[Zoomin]

Wouldn't hurt to sprinkle a few mothballs on the manifold and under the seat to make sure critters don't take up residence.
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[don t. - 72gmc]

Originally Posted by BarnabyHooge

Can I just tarp the bed?

FWIW....We put a blue tarp over a car for the winter. It left scratchs in the doors, fenders, quarter panels, roof. Anywhere it wasn't tied down completly, the tarp flapped in the breeze and left scratches. In our case, not a big deal, it needs a paint job anyway.

Have fun....don t. ....

[rsavage]

You can buy one of those temporary type garages with side curtains, front and back for a couple of hundred bucks (conduit type pipe frame with tarp roof/sides. It would need to be securely staked down so strong winter winds wouldn't take it for a ride. Maybe your inlaws wouldn't object? If you get one of those, I'd also put a tarp down underneath the truck. The ground moisture can do a lot of damage.
There are also a lot of places that store cars inside during the winter around my snowy/salty neck of the woods for a 2-300 bucks. Well worth it I think. Check around with other car guys in your area.

[Lee H]

"rough around the edges" will be just fine without a cover. As mentioned above, antifreeze, gas stablilizer, moth balls. Fresh oil and filter would be good.

[Hottrucks]

NOT MOTH BAQLLS INSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

use drier sheets put a few in the vents and make sure you set the heat to HOT over the winter it keeps the vents closed to the inside!!!!!

[Longhorn Man]

if they use sale brine in your area, then you'll want a cover. In areas that use brine (salt water calcium mixture) you can taste the sale in the air miles away from the roads.
It's real bad stuff.

[Dads69C10]

move to Texas and drive your truck all year !

[ETsC10]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

NOT MOTH BAQLLS INSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

use drier sheets put a few in the vents and make sure you set the heat to HOT over the winter it keeps the vents closed to the inside!!!!!

I agree! I know of no way to get the smell of mothballs out of upholstery except by removing it from the truck and airing it in the sunshine for several weeks.

[epashhans]

Yeah, DON'T use moth balls unless you love that smell. I had a neighbor put them throughout his camper to keep mice out. It ruined that camper... you could smell them 5 years later in that thing!

I agree...

1. Make sure Antifreeze is good to however cold its going to get
2. Fuel stabilizer (I use seafoam...great stuff)
3. I pull the battery and put it in the basement on a 2x6 and cardboard (then trickle charge before I put it back in)
4. I usually pull the wheels and tires and put them inside for winter. Or fold over cardboard and put that and wood between them and the ground.
5. Set a few mouse traps and check them occasionally.

If your cab/or windows leak at all, it might be good to get a tarp or cover. We get snow and then thaws all the time, so there is always water running down everywhere...and it will find those leaks into everything.

Thats about it!

[sailed2japan]

I'd also suggest that when you ad the fuel stabilizer be sure to runn the truck enough so that all the fuel in the whole system has stabilizer in it. Also top the tank all the way to the top to prervent condensation forming on the insides of it and causing rust. Personally I like to run wintered vehicles every couple weeks, just to keep them fresh. Keeping the rubber of the ground is also a great idea, otherwise you can develop flat spots on your tires. Maybe get some junk wheels/tires to slap on for storage. A friend of mine used to use an engine fogger that oiled the top end of the motor on his boats before he put them away. I've never used one, but he said you just spray it down the intake until it causes the motor to die. Supposed to keep the top end for getting any surace rust.

[mikey531]

This is what worked for me

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=370267

[mrein3]

I've stored at least one car for the winter every winter since 1987.
Here is what I do.
Antifreeze - test it. Make sure it is good to -40.
Now that all gas has some ethanol in it, you HAVE to treat it. In MN you can get ethanol free gas but I would treat even that. Sta-bil says one ounce treats 2.5 gallons. A twenty gallon seat take needs 8 ounces. Go to the filling station. Pour in 8 ounces of Sta-bil. Fill the tank to the top. Drive to the in-laws. By the time you get there you probably have treated gas in the carb.
No moth balls. If you can stand the smell of Irish Spring soap, get a bar and whittle it into chunks into a plastic container. Divide it in two. Put one on the floor of the cab, and one under the hood.
I pulled tires once since 1987. Just leave them on the ground. If they don't leak, they'll be fine.
No tarps! You will scratch your paint with one. MOST communities have rules against those temporary garages. Check with your in-laws local government unit before you plunk down any money for one. Snow doesn't hurt them. Salt does. Keep it off the road and you'll be fine there.
Pull the battery. I put mine on boards but that isn't for the old wife's tale about them losing charge to the concrete. I put them on boards so any acid on them doesn't hurt my floor.
I fog every outboard I own (I own five right now). I have never fogged a V8 car engine (I own seven right now).

Next spring charge the battery a day before you want to run it. Install battery. Remove coil wire. Crank engine until you get the oil light off or see pressure on the gauge. Start it. Drive it home.

[BarnabyHooge]

Thanks for this tips everyone.

[KEL]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=411066