Inliners International Forums General Discussion Tech Tips winterization

anyone out there in the frigid north that would care to share tips on hibernating these rigs for the winter?

Cold storage for truck: Change oil, check antifreeze, jack up, fill gas tank & add gas preserative. Cover with plastic if outside. Take the battery out & keep charged. "drive it like you hate it and fix it when its broke"

Don't forget to stuff the exhaust pipes with rags to keep the critters out. I use smelly dryer sheets in the interior, trunk area and moth balls under the car. I've never had any mice problems with this method.
Also a good idea is to put a rubber lubricant(ArmourAll) on your weather stripping and bumper shields. A good washing and coat of wax goes a long way to protect the vehicles finish.

RapRap
1940 ChoppedChevyCoupe

I am from the old school. I feel they should be started at least once a week and run for a good twenty minutes. And if the streets are clear driven as much as possible. But then I am from sunny Iowa.

Well, maybe I should re-think this.
If I take the 31" tall White Walls off the back and get some Hakkapeliitta's, drop the front an 1" or 2, add a defroster, some magnetic flashing lights,I can plow driveways & parking lots!

Bugman- You're not nuts, just an inline addict. I do not have collector plates on mine so I could drive it year round. With all of the slippin' & Slidin' during the dark months, I think it would be better to duck and cover until the salt's gone (and I don't mean Bonneville) LOL.

RapRap
1940 ChoppedChevyCoupe

Yeah, ok, I used a big word here. Hakkapeliitta's are a Nokian made tire from Sweden. They are the best snow/mud/rain tire I have ever seen. They are standard equipment on all Police, Fire, Rescue vehicles in Europe and now standard on Porsche's, and BMW's.
I have a set on my 2001 Dakota and have never had a problem with winter traction. They are only slightly more expensive than a Pirrelli or Michelin. In case you are interested, I am a Hobbyist Dealer for these tires and if you are interested, please contact me off the bulletin board through my email and I would be happy to explain all the features and costs.

RapRap
1940 ChoppedChevyCoupe

Up here in tropical Massachusetts I try to drive my specialty vehicles for 5 to 10 miles about every 2 to 3 weeks during the winter as long as the streets are dry and there isn't a lot of dried salt powder and/or sand on the roads. I do add Stabile to the gas tanks and change the oil just before they get tucked in the heated garage for the off season. The only time I deviate from this is when one of them is undergoing some major work that would prevent them from being driven.

I HAVE FOUND THAT USING ONE OF THOSE "BATTERY TENDER" TRICKLE CHARGERS DOUBLES THE LIFE OF MY BATTERYS.

Here's another tip for those who don't drive your cars in the winter: Stuff steel wool in the tailpipes, not rags. Mice will chew through the rags, but won't go past the steel wool.

-Jeff

P.S. my year round '55 Ply is only 2 3/4" off the ground(dropped 5 in front, 4 in back), so when they can't get the plow started, they call me

I start my Model T at least every 2 weeks in the winter, and let it run for at least 15 to 20 minutes. If the streets are clear i even take it for a drive. Why store it and forget it.