It is normal to want to store your car for an extended time. For many people, the reason can vary, from travelling, to delay in selling off an old car, or even not wanting to use cars anymore — embracing clean energy. The reason can be endless. But very few people understand the processes involved in storing their vehicles for the long term. This article will guide and show you the processes involved in Long Term Car Storage.
What is Long-Term Car Storage?
In simple terms, Long Term car storage is keeping a car packed and in storage for a long time. The time difference varies based on reason and other factors. For most people, three months, while, for others, cars can be stored for over three years.
Car storage ensures that the cars are kept safe and secured throughout the duration. All over the world, various storage facilities exist with different patterns, security types and protocols. The service takes away the burden of losing cars to rot and other damages in cases when they will not be in use for a long time. It is known throughout as providing economical storage and safety for stored vehicles.
When is Car Storage Ever Useful?
One question usually asked is, why would anybody want to store their cars for long periods? And usually, the reason can be as diverse as the people on the earth.
One popular reason for storing a vehicle for the long term is in the instance of an overseas trip. An individual might need to travel to a different country or continent for an extended period, such as for training, a graduate degree or an event. Individuals travelling for these sorts of trips might need to store their vehicles for the duration of their journey. Another scenario where long-term car storage is applicable is in the storage of seasonal cars. Seasonal cars or vehicles might include cars like sports cars, and classic or vintage cars. These cars are only driven at a particular season and might need to be stored properly to avoid damage or atmospheric effects.
A wealthy individual owning multiple car collections or vendors with fleets of cars are other users of the car storage system. To prevent damages to parts of their vehicles, they make use of these car storage services, to provide durability and maintain excellence in the condition of their vehicles. Lastly, a person recruited to the force or going for deployment would require a car storage service.
What to Consider When Storing a Car for Long Term?
The reason for wanting to store a vehicle and this difference in reason is necessary for determining the nature of storage for each vehicle. Some of the things to take note of before storing a vehicle for the long term are highlighted below.
What is the Type of Storage Required?
Storage types include indoor storage, outdoor storage and covered storage type. Depending on the expected cost, duration and level of protection required for the vehicle, an individual can decide on one of the various storage methods. Indoor storage provides the best protection from environmental, weather and atmospheric attacks. Covered storage might provide coverage from sun and rain, but its protection is limited when compared to the indoor storage system. The outdoor storage space, however, provides the most cost-effective option among the three types of storage listed.
Storage Size
Like storage type, size matters. It also plays an important role when deciding the best option for shelving a vehicle. The size of storage space differs based on the size of the car in question. It is important to know the length and width of the vehicle before deciding on the storage type.
Different vehicle sizes include;
- An SUV is measures 16.7 feet
- A large pickup truck is 18.4 feet
- A small car starts at 13.8 feet
- A medium-sized car is measures 14.8 feet
It is essential to consider the size of the car before deciding on the type of storage.
How to Prepare?
Here’s a checklist of things to note and do when storing your car for the long term. These things, if followed helps to keep the vehicle in the best storage condition pending the time it will be put back into use. They include;
1. Filling the tank
Ensure that enough petrol or diesel is in the trunk of the car. The motivation for doing this is to prevent moisture accumulation in the fuel tank. This can result in damage when left for a long time. Filling the fuel tank also prevent parts of the fuel tank from drying out.
2. Clean the interior and exterior
Whether or not you believe that cleanliness is next to godliness or want to prevent dirt accumulation on the surface of the vehicle, cleaning before storage is necessary. It also helps to slow down the activities of rusting.
3. Ensure the battery is charged to the maximum
While fully charging the battery is necessary, make sure to disconnect the terminals when storing them for longer than three months. Removing the terminals helps to prevent the battery from being drained — even while not in use.
Conclusion
It can be a difficult task to choose the ideal storage company for any vehicle. Discoveries about the security of the company and the nature of insurance are important things to figure out before making commitments. A long-term storage service is a good option for many people. However, taking the time to consider the factors above would help when deciding the appropriate option for storing a vehicle for an extended period.
