Storing Your Off-Road Vehicle: 7 Need-to-Know Tips
If a man’s best friend is his dog, his next best friend might be an off-road vehicle. Whether it’s a truck, Jeep or something else, you put time and effort into protecting and maintaining your prized machine.
Animals, weather, thieves and other factors risk its safety. Car thefts occur every 36 seconds on average in the United States, so keep these things in mind when you store your off-road vehicle.
1. Animals
You may not see your vehicle every day to check on it if you leave it in a garage away from your home. A warm indoor climate will be attractive to bugs and possibly rodents. You could use mothballs and mousetraps to stop these unwanted pests before they enter your vehicle. You can also cover the open holes around your rig, such as the exhaust pipe. Mice, rats, moths and other animals can damage your prized possession, so be proactive.
2. Oil
Sometimes you may need to leave your off-road vehicle in storage for an extended period. Getting an oil change beforehand is necessary for maintenance because oil sitting idle in a car can harm the engine. Changing the oil again before you use the vehicle is another smart move. You may consider using a synthetic because it holds up in extremely hot and cold weather better than petroleum-based oil.
3. Garage Door
A practical way to prevent damage to your car is to secure the garage door. You should inspect your garage and make small changes to ensure your door is secure and impenetrable. A strong garage door protects your vehicle from extreme weather conditions. A few things you can do to maintain it include:
- Lubrication: One way to keep your garage maintenance up to date is to lubricate the door. Greasing the hinges, tracks and rollers will make it slide efficiently and prevent squeaking.
- Weather seal: A garage can use a strong weather seal in any climate. It will prevent flood waters, dirt and other unwanted debris from entering and harming your vehicle.
- Bolt tightening: You should check the bolts on your garage door now and then. Over time, they can become loose and affect the door’s ability to open and close as it should.
4. Garage Security
Maintaining the garage door can protect your vehicle from the elements, and adding theft-prevention measures will provide extra layers of security. You could install a security camera. Advancements in technology allow you to track it remotely and take action from outside your garage. Motion-sensor lights are another excellent option. Floodlights protect well because of how bright they are, and thieves are less likely to commit crimes under a spotlight.
If you are unable to put your vehicle in a garage, there are some ways to protect your rig, including:
- Steering wheel lock
- GPS tracker
- Wheel clamp
- Brake and clutch lock
5. Battery
Your battery’s charge is one of the most critical aspects of vehicle storage. If your rig sits idle for weeks or months at a time, its battery will lose its charge. An easy way to maintain it is to start the car at least once every couple of weeks and drive it around for a few minutes. If you can’t access your vehicle for an extended time, try hooking it up to a battery maintainer. This device will charge and extend its life.
6. Tire Pressure
The tire pressure of your prized possession can decrease over time, just like the battery’s charge does. Inflate your tires to the proper pounds per square inch (PSI). Driving your vehicle for a few minutes every once in a while can help bring the tire pressures up and prevent flat-spotting.
One way to be proactive is to overinflate your tires slightly. This tactic is another way to avoid flat spots on your wheels.
7. Vehicle Elevation
Another sensible way to protect your tires is to elevate your vehicle, especially if you plan on leaving it in the garage for a long time. One common cause of flat-spotting is a car sitting idle for weeks or months. Consider putting your rig on jack stands or using a lift. This method will reduce the weight on the tires and extend their life.
Storing Your Off-Road Vehicle
You devote time to building your off-road machine and want to take care of it like a Ferrari owner looks after their sports car. Keeping your vehicle in your secured garage is a pragmatic way to keep it safe, including all the mods you’ve added to it like a set of GRID Off-Road wheels. If you don’t have a garage, you can keep it in a facility locked up safely. Then, when it’s time to take it out of storage and hit the trails, all it will need are a few tweaks to make it fully operational.
And if you are in the market for new off-road wheels for your rig in the off-season, make sure to scope out our wheel offerings! We have cast and forged off-road wheels in various fitments and finishes. You’re bound to find something you like browsing the site! And when you find your favorite truck wheels (or Jeep or SUV wheels), email us at [email protected] to find an authorized GRID Off-Road dealer near you!
Author Bio: Oscar Collins is the founder and editor-in-chief at Modded, where he writes about cars, luxury topics and more. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for frequent updates!
