Storage Question

[DarthMarauder]

Figured I'd ask this now as alot of people are starting to store there MM's for the winter. Wondering what you do when you store your MM cause in Feb I head to boot camp for the Marine Corps and my MM will be stored for 3 months and wondering what I need to do to keep her top notch when I get back. So far I'm going to set her up on jack stands all four corners with the suspension compressed like it was on the ground won't let the tires hang. Putting blankets under it on the concrete to help with keeping the ground warm to prevent condensation. This will be an unheated garage. Thought about a cover but wont have enough money for a good one. Was thinking of fuel stabil wondering what you guys thought of that. Was gonna pull the battery and keep that in the house on a trickle charger. Also when I come home from boot I'll be driving it for my 10 days but after that I may be away for 2 years so wondering what I would have to do for long term storage like that anyone doing that and what have you done??

[mpearce]

I store mine from November until April. I used to do it heated...but now it's unheated, but in a garage. I usually wash it, fill the tank with gas, fill the tires to the proper pressure, disconnect the battery, turn off the air suspension, and cover it. This will be my third year of doing it the same way, and I've never had any problems. When I fire everything back up in april...the first place I go is to the dealer for an oil change. Others get more complicated I'm sure. This is just what I do. Hope this helps.

-Mat

[dwasson]

Before I put mine away, I change the oil, add some Stabil to the tank, and top up all of the fluids. Then I zip it into the Car Capsule and ignore it until spring.

[jgc61sr2002]

Best Wishes and Good Luck in the Corps.:D Semper Fi
USMC 1964 - 1970

[DarthMarauder]

Best Wishes and Good Luck in the Corps.:D Semper Fi
USMC 1964 - 1970
Thanks my only regret is not going earlier definitly gonna be an old man there since the cut off age is 27 and I'm 26 but it will be an experience.

Didnt even think about changing the oil before. I'll add that to my list I'll change it when it goes in and when it comes out.

[martyo]

Add a battery tender too. Try the one by Delran -- I have a couple of their chargers and love them.

[martyo]

Best Wishes and Good Luck in the Corps.:D Semper Fi
USMC 1964 - 1970


Geez John, you are older than you look! :D

[DarthMarauder]

Add a battery tender too. Try the one by Delran -- I have a couple of their chargers and love them.
Thanks that looks better than putting in on a trickle and have to worry about someone turning it off. So that would charge it then shut off when full and just turn on and charge when it drops to a certain voltage. Do you think that would damage the battery if left on for 2 years or cause it to explode or anything?

[martyo]

Thanks that looks better than putting in on a trickle and have to worry about someone turning it off. So that would charge it then shut off when full and just turn on and charge when it drops to a certain voltage. Do you think that would damage the battery if left on for 2 years or cause it to explode or anything?



I think that charger can stay on indefinitely, but if you want to be sure, just call the tech service folks at Delran. They are quick with answers over the phone.

[jgc61sr2002]

Geez John, you are older than you look! :D

Thanks Marty.:)

[jabo731]

Reminds me of a funny story, I stored my Mustang at my grandmothers house in North Carilina when I was in Boot Camp. The day I picked it up, I felt wierd like I coundn't hold the car in the road especially on those dark country roads. I was so use to force walking, running and humping everywhere that being in a vehicle was strange. My grandmother asked me to go to the store and get a loaf of bread, I took a nice paced run to the store 2 miles there and 2 miles back. My family thought something was wrong with me, they didn't realize that it was just the Green blood running through my viens.

[Dragcity]

I keep my '65 T-Bird in storage most of the time, for 4 yeqars now....

It is in my nieghbor's garage, unheated.

I fill the tank with gas, check all fluids, fil tires to spec. Do a detail job on it; wash, wax, vacume, silicone door seals......This is important.....Get two bars of "Irish Spring" soap and cut each into four peices. I cut the little box they come in into eight pieces too.... Take two chucks of soap on the cardboars an place them in the trunk. Two peices on the rear floor, two peices on the front floor and yes, you guessed it, two peices in the engine compartment.

This will keep mice out of your car, and your car won't smell like your Grandparents when you get home...(Mothballs) If you have mice around where you store the car, this step is VERY Important, especially for storage greater than 3 months. I also do use Mothballs on the garage floor around the car. I have never had a mouse problem.

I sweep up the floor, ensure no items hanging on the walls will fall or need to be accessed, lay down 2 layers of thick palstic sheating, and park the car tight to the walls. Jackstands on all for corners for long term (greater than 3 months). Lock it, Cover it. (even if you just use old clean blankets, cover it....) You can have have somone sew two old King bedsheet bottoms, end to end, and put them over the car.

That's it. I leave the battery in the Thunderchicken, as there is no draw on it. Our Marauders do need current for alarm and computers. If I had to store my Marauder, a trickel charger would go on, attached from underneath, so as the hood would not be left ajar....

Please consider plastic instead of blankets (or in addition to) Moisture from the concrete will rise up through the blankets. Plastic will keep it out....Think "Vapor Barrier"

Good luck, and stay safe....

[ahess77]

I like the capsules with continuous positive air pressure, but I haven't used one. I'm assuming the mice won't chew through the plastic.

I have a mice problem where I'm at, they chewed a $700 wiring repair into my new truck last year (and I drove it everyday).

For the mice problem, I buy an 8 pack of Irish Spring soap, cut it up and distribute it throughout the car. I also put a few dryer sheets throughout the car. Both are suppose to ward off the mice, I haven't had a problem with the Marauder doing that so far. It takes a few days in the spring to get rid of the spring fresh smell.

I put the wheels into curved wheel dollys. That way I can position it at the wall and free up garage space. It also doesn't flat spot the tires since the pan that the tires sits in is curved and the load is distributed across much more of the circumference of the tire.

I also use a battery tender since I store it for just a few months and I see the vehicle daily. It's not true that there's no current draw when the key is off. There's about 6 to 10 milliamps current draw. That'll pull your battery down in a couple of months. Best option is to remove the battery if long term. That will completely remove the risk of electrical short/fire/etc.

I also fill the fuel, same as on aircraft, this minimizes water condensation in the fuel tank. I put Stabil in the fuel when I store it. Best option is to drain the tank for long term storage (1+ years), takes a lot more work though. Again, minimizes risk of fire.