Tips for Secure Car Storage

Tips for Storing in our Secure Car Storage Units

How do you store a car? The car storage costs for indoor storage units is a more expensive option than a regular home storage garage, but it offers the most conveniences. Your enclosed, secure car storage unit basically functions as a personal garage. You park your vehicle inside your storage unit, where it will remain completely sheltered from the elements and safe from potential theft and vandalism. Do not try a storage garage to rent for your precious vehicles.

Not just for security though, think about the paintwork and chrome, particularly for classic car storage.

Exposure to the elements can have several different detrimental effects on both paintwork and chrome, such as water spots, sun fading and of course scratches. Whether you own an unrestored classic car with delicate original paint or a freshly restored vehcile with a mile-deep shine, these components need protection.

The ideal conditions are indoors, dry, dark and covered. Accessing the correct knowledge for simple areas such as vehicle cover choice can have huge benefits to your paintwork, and although finding such a secure car storage space can be difficult, the investment is undoubtedly worth it. After all, it’s the first things anyone see.

When searching for secure car storage near me, its important not to focus just on car storage pricing, there are other key factors that need to be taken into consideration:

·       Drive-Up Access: With drive-up access vehicle storage facilities, you do not need equipment or machinery to move your vehicle into the self storage units

·       24-Hour Access hours, benefits from 7 days a week at no extra cost for any car storage specialists

·       Nearby Location for easily accessible vehicle storage when you need it

·       24 hour CCTV Video Surveillance: The sight of video surveillance cameras discourages potential thieves and gives you the peace of mind your vehicle is safe and secure

·       Electronic Gate Access and Flood Lighting: Added layers of security is always important for truly secure car storage facility

Before rushing out to rent self storage units, you first need to work out the storage space you need if your car is to actually fit into one. Most cars and vehicles can safely be driven into a shipping container and stored for longer or shorter periods. Shipping containers come in set sizes as laid out by the International Standards Organisation. 

The most common is 20 feet long, 8ft wide, and 8.5 feet high. These outside self storage units should be large enough for most models of cars in the UK – according to a study made by Direct Line, the average car is 13.6 ft (4.12m) long, 6.4 ft (1.95 m) wide, and 4.8 ft high (1.47m). A standard 20ft shipping container will hold up to two cars (depending on their size)

Important Steps for Successful Secure Car Storage

Every blissful summer of motoring must come to an end. The top-down coastal runs and pedal-tickling countryside cruises cannot last forever. When the nights draw in, road conditions worsen and journeys become a necessity rather than a pleasure, your thoughts will turn to keeping your pride and joy ticking over during its winter hiatus.

Whether you’re an investor or enthusiast, it’s not enough to throw a tarpaulin over your vehicle and stow it in a damp storage garage secured with an old padlock. If you are facing circumstances that will require you to store your vehicle for a long period of time, there are several steps to preparing your vehicle. Long term inactivity can seriously affect a car’s performance, engine, interior, and exterior, making that beauty you put into storage several months ago turn into something that is no longer drivable. Inactivity can lead to engine issues, useless tires, and perhaps even unwanted critters taking up residence. These preventative maintenance steps will help you prepare for long term car storage, so you know your car will come back to you in the same condition it was when you left it. Here’s our step-by-step guide

Drain all the fuel from the vehicle and disconnect the battery and alarm system. If you need to leave fuel in the vehicle then, to prevent petrol over time becoming "gummy", you can purchase and use fuel stabilisers like those is used for lawnmowers and garden equipment.

Before you put your car to bed for the winter, not only get a full service but pop the bonnet yourself and remove the dipstick – if the oil is so dirty that you can’t see the metal through the liquid, you should change it before the big chill. Next, top your car up with high octane rated fuel to stop it degrading, add a top-quality fuel stabiliser, and make sure you’re all set for anti-freeze.

For example, Wynn's Fuel Stabilizer is an additive for petrol and LPG engines to preserve the fuel when a vehicle is put into storage.

Prevent flat spots on tyres when in a storage unit
If you’re wondering how to prepare a classic car for winter storage, don’t overlook the tyres. It’s not necessary to remove them, but if your vehicle goes into long term car storage with a less-than-optimum PSI, you run the risk of flat spots, announced by a worrying vibration when you take your vehicle for its first spring run-out. 

If your car has lube fittings, use clean grease on the steering and suspension fittings and the front wheel bearings. It's also worth greasing all the hinges, latches and locks to prevent them from seizing up, particularly for classic car storage.

Clean and Polish / Wax the Car Before Long term Storage
Before storage car you need to clean and remove the dirt from the car, especially the wheel arches and wells. A clean interior with no food particles will prevent rotting and the attraction of animals. It is important to think about the chemicals that people use for car cleaning, for example, using certain vehicle care products can cause issues in storage as they contain water

Use a Battery conditioner when in car storage
Batteries on cars are designed to be used constantly and when a vehicle is placed in storage the battery needs to be kept charged and allowed to discharge and recharge using an intelligent smart battery charger. The battery condition is vital for the cars electronic circuits and onboard computers.

A battery conditioner should ideally always be used. A normal car battery charger is not to be used. This will charge the battery and keep charging which can result in the sulfuric acid boiling.

There are many battery conditioners on the market including  like the BLACK+DECKER BM3B Connect to the battery terminals, plug into a mains supply and the Airflow Battery Conditioner will turn itself on and off as the battery needs it to maintain a full charge!

In addition, you could disconnect the negative terminal on the battery to stop acid leaks whilst preserving the charge in the battery itself. Please be aware that if you go for this option, you are likely to lose all radio and vehicle pre-sets when connecting it again.

Windscreen Wiper issues when using vehicle storage
Windscreen Wipers can stick to the glass if left in an uncontrolled environment and then if the car is started and the wipers are knocked by mistake this can cause damage to the wiper motor. You can wrap the wipers in clingfilm before storing or lift them off the screen and leave them in the up position.

Changing the Engine Oil
Dirty or old engine oil can thicken over time and make the engine difficult to start after storage. This step is recommended by most vehicle manufacturers as old engine oil can contain contaminants that can damage the engine over time

Do not leave the parking brake on when storing a car for an extended period
It is advisable to ensure the release of the handbrake to prevent the brake pads sticking to the rotors. For proper security, wheels must be blocked from the front, back, and sides with wooden blocks or wheel chocks. The wheels need to be strapped securely with ratchet straps and then fit the straps to all the wheels by using the heavy lashing points located on the bottom of the shipping container walls.

When you take you vehicle out of your car storage unit

1. Check the security of the windscreen wipers to see if the rubber is cracked or brittle.
2. Check the vehicle tire pressure and inflate the tires to the recommended specs.
3. Check the brakes and brake fluid. Rust may have accumulated on the disks. In most cases, it should go away after you drive the vehicle for a short time.
4. Check fluids to make sure there have been no leaks and that they are at the recommended levels. Particularly important for classic cars storage.
5. If the battery cable has been disconnected, make sure that you reconnect it and that the battery terminals are clean.
6. Wash your vehicles to remove any dirt that may have accumulated
7. Check the vehicle exhaust pipe is clear

We recommend when you collect your vehicle from the store, in most circumstances give it a full service, a valeting and make sure it is fully protected with fully comprehensive insurance cover before driving it.

 

All your loving winter preparations will be for nothing if you let your classic rot in a mildewed storage garage with poor ventilation and negligible security measures. Instead, follow the steps above and your prized car will be ready to roll come the driving season, our secure car storage is the perfect way to keep your car safe and shiny. No matter what your reason for storing your car, our self storage units in Corby will have you covered.

In addition to secure car storage units, our Self Storage facilities also offer storage solutions for vintage cars, motorbikes, small sailing boats, speed boats, canoes, kayaks, surfboards and other super-sized items in our 20' and 40' shipping containers. No matter what vehicle you need to store, rest assured you will have peace of mind with the best possible service.

We have a couple of other articles that may be of specific interest:

Guide to Self Storage Unit Sizes

If you are looking for secure vehicle storage in Corby then contact our friendly customer service team on 01536 402116 to see what services we can provide or email info@corbyselfstorage.co.uk  You can also book online, click HERE