Not using a car for extended periods
Discussion
I am after some advice of how best to go about laying my car up for a few months. From April next year my car will likely spend the majority of it's time, certainly at least 2-3 months not being used at all. I'm joining the Royal Navy full time, so won't have much time to use it. For the first 10 weeks (my basic training) I'll be at HMS Raleigh near Plymouth and I'm not allowed to have the car at all. It's going to be at home for this. Then I'll be spending 4 months in Fareham (where I can use it, but probably won't that often) for my specialist training and then onwards to wherever I'm sent next. Obviously I can spend months aways on tour. The security of the car is not a problem, it will be in a secure RN car park whilst I'm on tour. I'm going to get a car cover for it as it will be outside, what else should I do? Someone advised me to disconnect the battery. Cheers.
Park it up lock the doors and walk away.
Pumping the tyres up might be a good idea. One of those battery starter packs left in the boot might be a good idea if the battery does go dead. A good coat of wax will be about as good as the car cover for protection.
The car cover might flap about in a large open car park and do more damage through rubbing and scratching paint than just a decent wax and clean before you park it up.
Also it is advisable not to park it under a tree as going by your time scale it will be roughly spring and the trees will be spewing out pollen/sap which is a pain to clean off.
Pumping the tyres up might be a good idea. One of those battery starter packs left in the boot might be a good idea if the battery does go dead. A good coat of wax will be about as good as the car cover for protection.
The car cover might flap about in a large open car park and do more damage through rubbing and scratching paint than just a decent wax and clean before you park it up.
Also it is advisable not to park it under a tree as going by your time scale it will be roughly spring and the trees will be spewing out pollen/sap which is a pain to clean off.
Used to park mine a a just leave it.
Have a set of jump leads in the boot and there is always someone who'll help you out.
You have to leave a set of keys with the guardroom also in case they need to move it.
Hardest part is finding a place to park. Pompey dockyard was notorious for having little parking so we all used to leave our cars at Dryad as the car park was outside the wire and you didn't need a parking pass.
(All might have changed, retired ten years ago)
Good luck at Raleigh.
Have a set of jump leads in the boot and there is always someone who'll help you out.
You have to leave a set of keys with the guardroom also in case they need to move it.
Hardest part is finding a place to park. Pompey dockyard was notorious for having little parking so we all used to leave our cars at Dryad as the car park was outside the wire and you didn't need a parking pass.
(All might have changed, retired ten years ago)
Good luck at Raleigh.
Used to park mine a a just leave it.
Have a set of jump leads in the boot and there is always someone who'll help you out.
You have to leave a set of keys with the guardroom also in case they need to move it.
Hardest part is finding a place to park. Pompey dockyard was notorious for having little parking so we all used to leave our cars at Dryad as the car park was outside the wire and you didn't need a parking pass.
(All might have changed, retired ten years ago)
Good luck at Raleigh.
Have a set of jump leads in the boot and there is always someone who'll help you out.
You have to leave a set of keys with the guardroom also in case they need to move it.
Hardest part is finding a place to park. Pompey dockyard was notorious for having little parking so we all used to leave our cars at Dryad as the car park was outside the wire and you didn't need a parking pass.
(All might have changed, retired ten years ago)
Good luck at Raleigh.
Used to park mine a a just leave it.
Have a set of jump leads in the boot and there is always someone who'll help you out.
You have to leave a set of keys with the guardroom also in case they need to move it.
Hardest part is finding a place to park. Pompey dockyard was notorious for having little parking so we all used to leave our cars at Dryad as the car park was outside the wire and you didn't need a parking pass.
(All might have changed, retired ten years ago)
Good luck at Raleigh.
Have a set of jump leads in the boot and there is always someone who'll help you out.
You have to leave a set of keys with the guardroom also in case they need to move it.
Hardest part is finding a place to park. Pompey dockyard was notorious for having little parking so we all used to leave our cars at Dryad as the car park was outside the wire and you didn't need a parking pass.
(All might have changed, retired ten years ago)
Good luck at Raleigh.
I do this alot also as I live most of the year in Oz.
I have a jump pack in the boot but also solar power trickle charger (meant for a boat but works well on a car), I leave out of gear and handbrake off. Hadnt really considered pumping the tyres up before but I have an electric tyre inflator in the car anyway so usually pump up before use.
I tend to run my car almost dry then put in some fresh fuel when I get back from a jerry can. Mine are usually left about 8-10 months between and always start first time. I have a TVR Chimaera and a Passat W8. They are stored in garages with no readily available power. They do have the clear plastic roof which is why the solar trickle works so well. Both are covered to keep out most of the moisture
I have a jump pack in the boot but also solar power trickle charger (meant for a boat but works well on a car), I leave out of gear and handbrake off. Hadnt really considered pumping the tyres up before but I have an electric tyre inflator in the car anyway so usually pump up before use.
I tend to run my car almost dry then put in some fresh fuel when I get back from a jerry can. Mine are usually left about 8-10 months between and always start first time. I have a TVR Chimaera and a Passat W8. They are stored in garages with no readily available power. They do have the clear plastic roof which is why the solar trickle works so well. Both are covered to keep out most of the moisture
In my experience:
1) If you can, put it up on axle stands to avoid the tyres going out of shape.
2) Disconnect the battery or even better put a solar trickle charger on it.
3) Put a tray of dehumidifying crystals in the cabin to absorb any moisture that gets in.
4) Leave the hand-brake off.
1) If you can, put it up on axle stands to avoid the tyres going out of shape.
2) Disconnect the battery or even better put a solar trickle charger on it.
3) Put a tray of dehumidifying crystals in the cabin to absorb any moisture that gets in.
4) Leave the hand-brake off.
We had a discussion about this on the Mustang forum where cars are often laid up for months and we determined that tyre flat spots are a bit of a myth (and if they do exist, use soon unflats them), a trickle charger will keep the battery in shape and otherwise it just needs a normal garage, kept dry.
LuS1fer said:
We had a discussion about this on the Mustang forum where cars are often laid up for months and we determined that tyre flat spots are a bit of a myth (and if they do exist, use soon unflats them), a trickle charger will keep the battery in shape and otherwise it just needs a normal garage, kept dry.
My MGB's tyres started to crack slightly around the point where they'd bulged out after it had been stood for a time. They were pretty old, though., new tyres might not suffer from the same problem.Don't worry too much about it while at Raleigh .
I recon you will use it more than you think at Collingwood , it's a bit grim spending all your time there ! You will want to go out or home for "weekenders" I did when I was at Sultan
Plus MacDonalds just outside the gate is a massive hike from the accommodation blocks !!
Good luck with Raleigh ! Remember just keep laughing to yourself on the inside and you will fly through !!
I recon you will use it more than you think at Collingwood , it's a bit grim spending all your time there ! You will want to go out or home for "weekenders" I did when I was at Sultan
Plus MacDonalds just outside the gate is a massive hike from the accommodation blocks !!
Good luck with Raleigh ! Remember just keep laughing to yourself on the inside and you will fly through !!
philbrooker said:
Don't worry too much about it while at Raleigh .
I recon you will use it more than you think at Collingwood , it's a bit grim spending all your time there ! You will want to go out or home for "weekenders" I did when I was at Sultan
Plus MacDonalds just outside the gate is a massive hike from the accommodation blocks !!
Good luck with Raleigh ! Remember just keep laughing to yourself on the inside and you will fly through !!
Thanks.I recon you will use it more than you think at Collingwood , it's a bit grim spending all your time there ! You will want to go out or home for "weekenders" I did when I was at Sultan
Plus MacDonalds just outside the gate is a massive hike from the accommodation blocks !!
Good luck with Raleigh ! Remember just keep laughing to yourself on the inside and you will fly through !!
Whilst I'm at Raleigh it will be parked outside my house, nowhere else to keep it!
I'm lucky I live in Poole, so Collingwood is 45 mins away. I'm there for 4 months.
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