How To Prep For WInter Storage

After toiling away on my new CJ this fall I plan on storing it for the winter in my unheated garage.

Winters are way to harsh around here SALT SALT SALT on the roads. The

1st thing the boys @ Trailquest said "DON'T DRIVE IN THE SNOW"

I have zero rust and intent to keep it that way. Oh yeah I have no to either...brrrrrrr

So what do I need to do...drain gas or full tank, disconnect batt, use stabil.

I have never stored a car and have no clue.

Thanks

Jack-Jack did pass the time by typing:

A few months isn't going to harm the gas at all, especially if it's freezing cold. You should disconnect the battery and put the battery somewhere it won't freeze. Check the antifreeze and make sure it's ok for the temperature you expect.

Why not drive in the snow?

We live in the Sierra Nevada and bought matching Jeeps, just because we have to drive in the snow. So what does he drive in the snow?

Anyway, my son stores a racing Trans-Am, during the winter, and I just start it up every so often. When I was in the military and went overseas we had all sorts of lists, from gas stabilizer, to trickle charger, but it sounds like he has the Jeep at hand, so I would just start it up and move it around a little, to keep everything from sticking, when he does have to start it up.

Same here, my Jeepster sits outside all year, ready to go whenever i am. The bikes get put away for a couple of months, but I can't imaging mothballing a

4x4 for winter as some of the best wheeling is on freshly powdered trails.. If they use salt there, you could hose it off every day by driving over one of those flat hoses with the holes in it, or do a heavy undercoat.

Blizz, where do you live? I'm in Hathaway Pines, east of Angel's Camp on Hwy 4.

Halfway between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe, on Highway 50, about the

4000 foot level, vicinity of Pollock Pines.

Local. We have a couple of Jeepster guys there, and my wife used to live in Placerville. I ride with the Motherlode Rockcrawlers out of Jackson, they are more active than the Sonora MSG club.

Heh, I'll have to look you guys up next spring when I go out to see my dad. He's in a home in Sonora, and I make it out there twice a year to see him(just got back a couple of weeks ago). Up to now, I've spent most of my spare time on those trips out there in Jackson, sitting in the kitchen of a friend from the Harley newgroup, drinking his beer. Might be interesting to hook up and see some back country with you guys(and maybe drink some of*your* beer).

And yes, I *usually* bring more than I drink...

-- Old Crow '82 FLTC-P "Pearl" '95 Wrangler YJ TOMKAT, SENS, BS#133, MAMBM, SLOB#13, DH#2

You are also welcome to forego the beer and sitting around, and do what Honda riders do, go for a long ride over the pass, have lunch, and come back over another pass, without stopping at any bike dealerships. Bring your dad, if he's able. We rode over Tioga pass a few weeks ago and then back over Sonora pass. It won't be long before snow closes them for winter.

Well, if I ever had my bike when I was out there, we wouldn't be sitting in the kitchen drinking beer. RE's got a route that he likes to ride that takes in the 4 northern most passes. Tioga, Sonora, and whichever the next two north are. Unfortunalty, I'm usually in a rental car because I fly out. I wish Dad could go, but last year was the last time we could take him out...he's 96 now and not in any shape to go anywhere, anymore. It's a damn shame, too, because he used to really love getting off the roads back up in the woods. Next year(well actually, next month)we'll be back to where both of us have vacation time(we both switched jobs within the last year). We've been giving thought to bringing the bikes out and actually enjoying some of the great riding out there.

-- Old Crow '82 FLTC-P "Pearl" '95 Wrangler YJ TOMKAT, SENS, BS#133, MAMBM, SLOB#13, DH#2

Up here in the Adirondacks, I also prefer not to drive my YJ in the snow, or more specifically, on snowy roads covered with salt. I feel my Saturn FWD is much better in the vast majority of conditions, and infinitely safer in a collision. However, I will take it out on those days when it is cold and the roads are dry - just to keep the battery charged, the tires round, and the seals working. This isn't necessary, but I find it easier than winterizing & storing it. As long as it is in your garage, why not use it when conditions permit?

Take a page from anyone who has classic cars and store them for the winter. Rust proof your vehicle (Rustcheck, Krown, Ziebart etc.) Change the oil fill the tank with gas, add stabilizer fog the engine with storage spray Place one container of moth balls on the front floor (poke small holes in the lid) Place one container of silica on the back floor (to remove moisture, again poke small holes in the lid) hang a new airfreashner on the mirror (cuts the smell of moth balls wash and apply a good coat of wax to vehicle lastly cover with a good breathable car cover

If you want you can place vehicle on jack stands to prevent the tires from going square

Snow...

This is a heck of a lot of trouble, when all you have to do, is move to the southwest, and put the car inside out of the sun. ;o)

Earle

I use the Fuel Stabilizer from POR-15. It works really well and my cars fire right up after the winter. I also use it in my lawnmower and tiller.

"Dana Rohleder" > Up here in the Adirondacks, I also prefer not to drive my YJ in the snow, or

I'm with you there. CJs are not a great snow car for paved roads. My front wheel drive VW with studded tires is much safer and more comfortable to drive than my Jeepster, which is fitted out as a rock crawler, not transportation. One of my customers does have a CJ with ARBs as his only vehicle, and he runs studded tires for winter and does ok, but even my crapped out 80 datsun 4x4 is a better road car due to a longer wheelbase and lower center of gravity. I enjoy winter off-roading as much as in warm weather, so the Jeepster gets it's doors and hard top back in a month or so, and will stand ready.

Well, an unheated garage doesn't activate salt by melting everything every day....

I love driving my Jeeps in the snow. We do just as many if not more winter trail runs up here in Canada as we do summer runs. A whole pile of the off road trips in my sig line photo album are winter runs.

I have run more than one winter with only a bikini top too. Some of the looks we get are wild. LOL!

Other than that, I recommend a full tank of gas and maybe parking it on some plywood squares to keep the rubber off the concrete. Make sure the antifreeze is up to par as well as the washer fluid. A fully charged disconnected battery is safest. A low battery can freeze too.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail >