Wanted: Tips on properly storing a cruiser

[LAVA]

Hi Folks

Looking for some advice/recommendations. I will probably be leaving for a job and will need to store my cruiser for 6-7 months while I am gone. My wife refuses to drive my cruiser (or learn how to drive stick for that matter ) so its going to be parked collecting dust.

I have made arrangements to have it parked in a covered garage....I was wondering if I needed to do anything special to it besides disconnecting the batteries?

I am due for an oil change in 1000km, I was planning on getting one done before I leave. I also was wondering if I should leave the diesel tank filled or 1/2 filled or close to empty? I was going to get it detailed and washed but not using any shampoos or anything that would fester over time.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Alan

 

[Enigma]

Mine has a tarp over it, seems to do the trick.

 

[AJAEbj42]

If it was me, I'd also put the truck on blocks to relieve the weight off the wheels, suspension and tires. I don't know if that's necessary for only 6-7 months, but it's what we did with muscle cars many years ago.

As long as it's a garage and not a car port, you shouldn't have to worry about mold but that would be a concern if it was parked outside for sure.

Leave the keys with the garage owner in case they need to move it (in case of fire for example)

Starting it once per month to put fresh oil up on top of the motor wouldn't hurt either. Not sure if that's possible or not with whoever is storing it for you.

Carry a picture of it with you wherever you go. right next to the picture of your wife

On second thought, it is a landcruiser, you could probably bury it in a swamp, pull it when you get back and it'll fire right up!

 

[Fantom]

Best way is to leave it in another cruiser owner's hands. That way it will be used and not rust away. I would be willing to sacrifice my time to do that.
If that fails, the biggest issue especially during winter is rust, oxidizing of anything that won't rust, moisture and temperature. If you have a heated storage place then you don't have to worry about anything. If it's just covered but not heated then you are going to need to take certain precautions. Leaving the tank full is better then empty (depending on how well it's pressurized), the only thing is that diesel will go a bit stale. Since it's only 6-7 months it shouldn't be a big deal. There are additives you can throw in there just for that. Drain your water separator, change the fuel filter, change the oil, run it for a bit then park it. I would look at spraying a light coat of oil (Rob M. knows which one - I can't remember) on the engine and any non painted components as they will oxidize and look like crap when you get back. Seal up your air intake and exhaust, to prevent moisture and little critters form getting in. Leave a small opening in the windows so the inside doesn't get mouldy. A heated storage would be your best bet because you wouldn't have to do anything other then sealing the opening so nothing gets in. I left mine over the winter with a friend who was supposed to fire it up a couple times a week, I was gone for a month and a half. When I got back, he didn't fire it up a single time and all the clean and shiny fuel, brake, clutch lines and many other aluminium components were badly oxidized. Spray them with a protective oil.

 

[Cruisin']

I read in an article about storing cars that mice don't like the smell of mint leaves. You could put some in the intake, and the ventilation system and that should keep the critters at bay. That would be in addition to sealing it up of course, its just that mice are very sneaky and can get into places you would think they couldn't. Might also be good to sprinkle some under the seats so if any get into the interior they won't use your seat padding for a nest.

-Jason

 

[canucksafari]

The Safari I bought this fall sat outside for a year and a half in Japan and then here on the docks. It fired up right away and corrosion wise it didn't look like the iron oxide gremlins had their way. However, I think if I were to leave it sitting for a long time, I would pull the injectors and put some motor oil in the cylinders. Then crank it over a few times and then put the injectors back in. I would also put it up on blocks and cover the tires. The tires on the Safari had some pretty bad sun cracking. Not sure if it was because of it sitting or the exporter changing out the good tires with crappy tires before shipping. I also second sealing up the intake and exhaust. The Safari's intake had some serious primary filtering from busy spiders.

 

[brownbear]

6-7 months..... I would not get carried away. Fill the tank so condensation doesn't get too bad in there. Wash the truck and keep it covered is plenty. If mice are a problem, then worry about the other stuff.

6-7 months is not long enough to need to worry about things like fogging engines or what not. Thats my thoughts.

 

[Scalp]

Some good suggestions there. I also hang a trouble light inside the vehicle and leave the light bulb burning to help drive moisture out. I notice that sometimes my speedo display on the dash gets water vapour behind it, so this year I may put the trouble light down by the pedals so that the heat rises under the dash. And yes, those mice can be a real problem. There are sonic rodent repeller units available somewhere. Also, damned #%&**%rats can be a problem too, they can nest on top of your engine and nibble on the wiring.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Fill the tank,pull the battery and put it on a trickle charge,leave some charcoal in a pan or baking soda to absorb smells and condensation in the cab. Pour stabilizer in the tank run for 5 minutes. Mike

 

[LAVA]

re

thanks guys

Much appreciated

 

[toynut]

you can buy a thing from rv places that has the moisture absorbing pellets it basicly extracts moisture fom the air put a couple in the cab they are about $15 each.

 

[bikersmurf]

I left mine parked for two years with no problems... The seven year old battery needed to be replaced but that was it. I wouldn't sweat it to much. Disconnect your batteries and park it. Six or seven months is not a big deal.