Winter storage, Pennsylvania?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Elysburg PA
Winter storage, Pennsylvania?
What is your opinion on storing a Corvette in a enclosed car trailer for the winter. I would have it covered, hooked up to a battery tender and run the motor during the winter months. My garage is insulated but not heated and this would allow me to have my daily driver inside. I am in an area where inside storage is not available. The trailer would be parked in my the driveway. The daily driver is a 2000 GMC Sierra SLE 4X4 SB w/ 46K on the clock. A really sharp truck. Would this a good alternative? Also, the wife's Tahoe will not sit outside and I don't to take up residence in the trailer!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Elysburg PA
The front of trailer will be placed up against a fence with no access. Vette will be loaded after trailer is placed and will not have to move all winter. Thanks for your concern and any other ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 3
From: Fredericton NB
But make sure that the front of the trailer is weighted or tied down somehow if you plan to drive the car into it while it is unhitched..
Yes I know....crazy...
But just a gentle reminder
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,055
Likes: 9,817
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I don't know how much snow you get in your area but you need to think about the amount of support the roof of the trailer has. A friend of mine had a well made well known brand trailer that had its roof collapse under a heavy snow load.
Bill
Bill
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
I just put mine away today, in a nice warm garage for the winter.
Yes definitely use Battery Tender, change the oil, fill your gas tank to eliminate condensation. Add gas stabilizer to the tank, run the car for about 10 mins so the gas runs through the gas lines. cover her up and your done. I would not suggest that you start the car once in awhile. It will put more wear and tear for nothing. Just let her sleep until spring.
Yes definitely use Battery Tender, change the oil, fill your gas tank to eliminate condensation. Add gas stabilizer to the tank, run the car for about 10 mins so the gas runs through the gas lines. cover her up and your done. I would not suggest that you start the car once in awhile. It will put more wear and tear for nothing. Just let her sleep until spring.
Last edited by silverbullit99; Oct 15, 2008 at 09:40 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
I'd probably park the Corvette in the garage and kick out one of the trucks, but I suppose the trailer idea could work. The above poster is right, you're better off not running the engine unless you plan on driving (not idling) the car at operating temperature for a good 30 to 45 minutes.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Elysburg PA
Thanks for all the good advise. This appears not to an avenue used by other Vette owners. We do have self-storage facilities in the area, however, I prefer that the Queen be close at hand. For now, the Queen is in and the truck is out. Thanks again for the help with space problem. I can see a building addition in the future!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 53
From: Warrington Pa.
Put it in the garage... You live in Pa not Alaska. You get plenty of great days to drive the car in the winter. The trucks will be fine outside we don't get that much snow. Sure you have to scrape the windows, but a remote start will take care of that problem, and you'll know the Corvette is safe and secure locked in the garage with the battery tender hooked up for those nice winter drives, like down to Benton (still miss the Benton Hotel
), Stillwater, Forks, Bloomsburg. I drive from Bucks County to Benton often, even in the winter...... Bill
), Stillwater, Forks, Bloomsburg. I drive from Bucks County to Benton often, even in the winter...... Bill
Last edited by Bill Vett; Oct 16, 2008 at 03:27 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,069
Likes: 1,286
From: Central Ma
I agree with the not idling during the winter posts.
I try to drive mine once/month as the road conditions permit here in Mass.
There are usually days/road conditions that allow this.
Having you DD in the garage is soooooo nice. No scraping, almost instant heat etc.
Time to start sizing up that addition.
I try to drive mine once/month as the road conditions permit here in Mass.
There are usually days/road conditions that allow this.
Having you DD in the garage is soooooo nice. No scraping, almost instant heat etc.
Time to start sizing up that addition.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 860
Likes: 3
I agree with the not idling during the winter posts.
I try to drive mine once/month as the road conditions permit here in Mass.
There are usually days/road conditions that allow this.
Having you DD in the garage is soooooo nice. No scraping, almost instant heat etc.
Time to start sizing up that addition.
I try to drive mine once/month as the road conditions permit here in Mass.
There are usually days/road conditions that allow this.
Having you DD in the garage is soooooo nice. No scraping, almost instant heat etc.
Time to start sizing up that addition.
Letting the car idle only builds up moisture - if you are going to run it, drive it so it warms up enough to burn out the moisture.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
Put it in the garage... You live in Pa not Alaska. You get plenty of great days to drive the car in the winter. The trucks will be fine outside we don't get that much snow. Sure you have to scrape the windows, but a remote start will take care of that problem, and you'll know the Corvette is safe and secure locked in the garage with the battery tender hooked up for those nice winter drives, like down to Benton (still miss the Benton Hotel), Stillwater, Forks, Bloomsburg. I drive from Bucks County to Benton often, even in the winter...... Bill
), Stillwater, Forks, Bloomsburg. I drive from Bucks County to Benton often, even in the winter...... Bill
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
I don't know how interested you'd be, but there are guys at one of the local 'Vette clubs that store cars for the winter (in a heated garage) for $70.00 a month. That would be somewhere between $350.00 and $420.00....Depending on how long you wanted to keep it under wraps.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 2
From: Cambridge Illinois
Do all the suggested things. Battery tender, fresh oil, fuel stabilizer and run long enough to travel through the fuel system.
I do think that you would not have a problem with enclosed trailer storage. But skip the periodic starting. That is counter productive.
I do think that you would not have a problem with enclosed trailer storage. But skip the periodic starting. That is counter productive.
