Long term storage

[rent]

I may need to store my GX 550 for up to 6 months at a time. It will be in an indoor vehicle storage facility in Houston, but the facility does not have climate control. So we are talking about hot & humid summers, and potentially sub-freezing winters. Please review my plan below and comment, especially regarding the vehicle battery:

1) Over inflate the tires by 10 psi-ish, park on tire saver ramps (like this one)
2) Fill up fuel, add STA-BIL fuel stabilizer
3) Replace windshield washer fluid with all-season 0ºF if storing over winter
4) Put key fobs to sleep
5) Vehicle battery: This is what I'm not sure about. I can either hook up a trickle charger, or disconnect the battery altogether.

• Trickle charging: I have experienced a power outage to the outlet in my storage unit. So if that happens again, I would have no way of knowing until I return.
• Disconnect: Will leaving the vehicle disconnected for such a long time cause any issues?

Anything else I missed? Thanks for your input.

 

[Jesse H]

Six months really isn't that long but you're doing what I would do. I'd go the trickle charger route.

Something to repel rodents.

 

[serbiansizzle]

The trickle chargers will work as long as they are plugged into an outlet, you won't have to reset it each time that power is interrupted. When we winterize our boat, I do pull the batteries and put them in the garage hooked up to a trickle charger for 5-6 months at a time. They've been working great for the past 5 years and continue to maintain the batter uninterrupted. Just disconnecting the battery will deplete the battery over time.

I agree that I would probably get something that does repel rodents and moths - that would be my primary concern.

Regarding overinflating tires - I don't think that will prevent flat spots with your tires. Low-profile tires are more susceptible to this vs an AT tire. My recommendation would be to put the car on jack stands and you can keep the tires on there while the car is suspended.

 

[jpto]

I'd be concerned about rodents/pests, if possible I'd put some mesh around the cowl air intakes and the vents in the back (not sure what the proper terms are) and some deterrents under the hood.

Also I'd get a large bucket of damprid for the humidity since you mentioned you're around Houstan.