Preparing Your Vehicle for Storage at Parkhaus Auto Storage
Before storing a car, truck, or motorcycle with Parkhaus Auto Storage, you should follow the steps outlined here prior to dropping off your vehicle. Whether you need short term or long term storage, properly preparing your vehicle will make sure it’s ready to drive when you pick it up.
Maintenance
Any maintenance the vehicle may need should be completed before bringing it in for storage. This ranges from simple things like doing an oil change to more complicated repairs like fixing leaks or worn out suspension components. While performing this maintenance, be sure to top off all fluids. This includes coolant, power steering fluid, transmission, and brake fluid. This is also a good time to check your battery’s condition, either with a multimeter or at a local auto parts store. While stored with Parkhaus Auto Storage, your battery will be placed on a battery tender to keep it maintained and healthy. Battery tenders are included with all Parkhaus Auto Storage memberships.
Fill the Gas Tank
If left empty, a gas tank can accumulate rust and corrosion due to moisture in the air and fuel. Before storage, fill the tank up to full with the correct octane fuel. Adding fuel stabilizer after filling the tank will enhance rust prevention and prevent the fuel from deteriorating.
Inflate the Tires
Even if equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, confirm all of your tires are fully inflated before storage. While checking tire pressures, inspect the tire’s overall condition. Ensure there is still decent tread depth, that the sidewalls are not cracking, and check the date code to determine the tire’s age. Tires older than six years are recommended to be replaced. Tires at that age can start to separate, crack, and bulge.
Finding the date code on your tires is simple. Look for the letters “DOT” on the tire, they will be followed by up to 13 characters. The final four numbers of that string of characters will be the date code. The first two numbers will be the week of the year the tire was manufactured and the last two numbers will be the year the tire was manufactured. For example, if the last four numbers are “4022”, then the tire was manufactured in the 40th week of 2022. Which would have been around the beginning of October 2022.
Clean your Vehicle
Completing a comprehensive hand wash before dropping your vehicle off is vital in ensuring there are no contaminants resting on the paint during storage. Don’t have time for a wash before dropping off? No problem! We can complete a hand wash for you while the vehicle is stored with us. It’s one of the many services our members can enjoy. In addition to cleaning the exterior, make sure the interior is clean and free of debris to prevent any stains or possible odors forming.
Our climate-controlled facility helps keep dust at a minimum, but a car cover may be desired for long term storage. We are happy to use a customer supplied cover or one of our complimentary temporary covers.
Why Parkhaus Auto Storage?
When planning to store your vehicle, choosing an appropriate storage facility is paramount. That’s why at Parkhaus Auto Storage, your car, truck, or motorcycle is kept in our climate-controlled, secure warehouse and kept on battery tender 24/7. Additionally, cameras and alarms provide peace of mind that someone is always keeping an eye on the facility. Finally, members have access to a wide range of additional services that can be completed at Parkhaus while their vehicle is in storage.
Ready to store your vehicle with Parkhaus Auto Storage? Contact us today to reserve your spot!