Winter storage tips / steps?

[MK0412]

Does anyone put their Bronco in storage for winter time? If so, any tips?

trickle charger?
Fresh oil change?
Over inflate tires to stop flat spots?
Full tank of gas?

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[CarGuy]

I bought mine with winter use in mind. I do have “summer only” cars and do the following:

• fill gas tank and add stabilizer
• over inflate tires
• battery tender
• clean vehicle and cover
• on a nice winter day, run the car to temperature and short drive if roads are salt free

 

[Mlarv]

I used to store my 2013 Shelby GT500 in the winter.

Get a good cover
Wash and wax it, let it dry over night, before putting cover on it
Damp rid inside the car, place on floor in drivers foot well, on a rubber mat.
Leave windows opened a little bit.
Fill gas tank use stabilizer if you want
Sock full of steel wool stuffed in exhaust pipe, place a sock on gear shift to remind you.
Laundry sheets under hood in trunk, I would leave an empty box inside in the foot well to remind me they where there.
Trickel charger
If you can put it on jack stands, over inflating the tires is an old trick for bias ply tires. It may help on modern tires, but I never did it.

I always did the oil change after I take them out of storage. I run it until it gets hot let it cool a bit then change.

 

[CarGuy]

Jack stands is not recommended, since the suspension is fully extended for a long period of time. I’ve never had flat spots leaving a car in storage for 4-6 months.

 

[Roger123]

If you're going to use stabilizer you should run the car so it's all through the fuel system and not just sitting in the tank. Yes to a full tank to reduce condensation that could form in the tank.

Yes to a battery tender.

I would not periodically run the car unless you're taking it out to get everything completely up to temperature.

I wouldn't worry about the tires for a few month storage situation.

 

[CarmeloS]

Why? Whats the daily?

 

[ksdon]

You may need a trickle charger if you left your Bronco sit for 2 (+/-) weeks any time of year.

 

[Scott R Nelson]

Jack stands is not recommended, since the suspension is fully extended for a long period of time. I’ve never had flat spots leaving a car in storage for 4-6 months.

I get flat spots leaving mine parked overnight. The Goodyear tires on the Sasquatch tend to do that. After driving a mile or two they go back round again.

The only thing I would do if it's parked for months at a time is stick a charger on it once every month or so to keep the battery topped up. I wouldn't start it if you're not going to drive it. Isn't the fuel tank plastic? If so, no real point in filling it up.

 

[CarGuy]

I get flat spots leaving mine parked overnight. The Goodyear tires on the Sasquatch tend to do that. After driving a mile or two they go back round again.

The only thing I would do if it's parked for months at a time is stick a charger on it once every month or so to keep the battery topped up. I wouldn't start it if you're not going to drive it. Isn't the fuel tank plastic? If so, no real point in filling it up.

Filling it prevents condensation and makes calculating the stabilizer easier. I have summer only tires on my other cars and haven’t had flat spot problems. You ca get something like these to help with flat spots.

 

[Fly by Nite]

Filling it prevents condensation and makes calculating the stabilizer easier. I have summer only tires on my other cars and haven’t had flat spot problems. You ca get something like these to help with flat spots.

I could use some of those for my '91 F-150 that I barely drive.
I see them advertised as 'tire saver ramps'.

 

[Cliff White]

Also, make sure you windsheld washer fluid is rated for below freezing temperatures.

 

[604Bronco]

Part of the reason I bought a Bronco was for the Winter-time fun

 

[TacosTuesday]

i (kind of) had to put the hard top back on it. does that count?

 

[BEM-S4]

Trickle charger, full tank and Race Ramps FlatStoppers for all of my winter storage cars. I also use this quick connect kit for my CTEK chargers, some Lotus club guys sell it works nicely.

https://hethelsport.com/tools/charger-connection-kit/

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