Long Term Storage Questions

Planning to store my 18 Tacoma with 42K miles for 1-3 years in my non heated garage.

Got few questions:

Is it better to completely remove battery or have it connected to a battery tender to continue running emissions cycle that truck does once in while?

Aside from changing engine oil, wash/wax, block exhaust pipe, set critters traps, put truck on the jacks, fill up with ethanol free gas and add fuel stabilizer, anything else needs to be done?

Looking for tips if you have experience in long term storage.

 

No experience in storage, but why are you storing it?

 

I got job that requires me to be all over country, lots of flying and hotel life with 2 weeks off every 3 months. There is no need for a truck at this point, but I still owe about $6K on the truck and it's a rare bird manual off-road ACLB, so I prefer to keep it for future.

 

I'd leave the battery in it and keep it on the tender. I'd also drive it on those 2 weeks off every three months, engage 4wd, etc.
Top it off and put it back to bed.

Edit: No climate control. If your garage is humid, I'd throw a bucket of Damp Rid in there too.

I had a garage kept truck I didn't drive much that I couldn't stop the interior mold on what was an otherwise immaculate vehicle. A year and a half fighting it, and Damp Rid finally did the trick.

 

The bold above plus get a Stor-Dri for the interior. Draws less than 100watts and circulates slightly warmed air via fan and very low power heat element. https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/stor-dry-warm-air-fan-for-mold-and-mildew-control-0743720p.html

 

If it is going to be stored for 3 years I would remove the battery.

 

Install a battery disconnect. Cheap and quick.

Also put it up on 4 jack stands when it’s sitting that long.for the sake of your rubber.

 

The OP said he will be out of town for 3 months at a time and then off work for 2 weeks. If he returns home for most of those 2 weeks off work then it is really 3 months storage and then drive it for 2 weeks. So battery tender, Stor-Dry to fight mold in the interior, no jack stands but put 10 extra psi in the tires in case they loose some air over time. Don't forget to check psi before driving. Driving every 3 months with some 4X4 use for lubrication, run the A/C etc., is without doubt the best way to treat the truck.

Keeping rodents out of nesting in an engine bay: Open the hood or put a low power light under the hood. Scented drier sheets are also supposed to work. I am not sure if they do, but I put some in my MR2 when I take it off the road for the winter.

 

Battery tender
Bucket of damp rid
Store in a Place without mice

 

2nd the jack stand comment.

 

Thanks for the tips everyone! I do plan to drive it once in a while, but most likely it will be parked for a solid 1 year at least.
I would have to switch my insurance every time I am in town from storage to a full coverage (i.e. xpensive if you are in Toronto).

On top of that I also don’t have any need (or want) to return back to Toronto for vacation time, so I can just hop on the plane and travel to places I want to go to.

I am not concerned about tyres as much, currently there is less than 10% left, but I would put it on jacks just to release tension on the suspension I guess, plus it’s a 5 minute job to do anyways.


I keep debating with myself if it’s better to sell this truck and let somebody enjoy it or store it and get back to it hoping nothing internally fails after long storage, decisions, decisions....

 

Doesn’t take long for flats spots depending on temperature. Makes for a bumpy first 100-200 miles