Putting Truck in Storage For College

[bball09124 10+ year member]

I am going to be heading off to college in a few weeks, and I am going to be leaving my truck in my garage for, probably, the next 4 years. It is a 1998 Dodge Dakota, with 105,000 miles. I haven't driven it in the past 2 months because it needed a new belt and water pump, so I decided to save on gas and just catch rides with friends until college.

What kind of preventative maintenance should I do, and what kind of repairs/replacements will I be looking at when I get back?

Please don't say to sell it, because it was my first car and has a cutthrough, so its not worth that much to begin with. Ideally, I would like to dump a bunch of money into it after I'm out of college with a decent paying job and turn it in to something like Tommy McKinnies truck.

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[silvercookie 5,000+ posts]

use up all the gas before storing it.

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

Is it being stored outside or in a garage? Are you not going to drive it once for the next 4 years?

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

use up all the gas before storing it.

That's terrible advice. You should store it with a full tank and treat it with fuel stabilizer.

 

[porksoda 10+ year member]

Dakota FTW!

I have a 98 dakota also lol

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

Whoops, saw it was going in a garage. My bad.

As for the fuel issue, storing gasoline for that long isn't a great idea, but you certainly don't want to store it on an empty tank. Leave the fuel in the tank, but in four years you're going to want to drain it.

As for preventative maintenance, there's really not much you need to do, especially if you plan on putting a lot of money into it after college to fix it up. Lubricate moving parts occasionally to prevent them from rusting up and locking in place. I would also spray some graphite based lubricant into the locks to prevent them from seizing.

If you want to keep the original paint, I would highly suggest a thorough wash, clay, and two or three layers of paint sealant. As for the interior, occasionally protect the vinyl with a good protectant as well as any leather. Spray the upholstery with fabric guard.

 

[bones22 5,000+ posts]

wouldnt hurt to either put some spairs on it or on jack stands so you dont fvck your tires up

unless someone will be using from time to time

 

[Racerx250 10+ year member]

****! 4 years?! ehh. I can tell you now. It would worse for the vehicle to sit that long than to floor it everywere you went for the next 4 years. hmm best advice i got is to tell somebody to drive it for you once a week to keep it running and in half decent shape.

 

[BushJ311 5,000+ posts]

****! 4 years?! ehh. I can tell you now. It would worse for the vehicle to sit that long than to floor it everywere you went for the next 4 years. hmm best advice i got is to tell somebody to drive it for you once a week to keep it running and in half decent shape.

I agree, Or sell it even though you don't want to.

 

[bball09124 10+ year member]

Perhaps I will have my Dad drive it to work one day a week or something like that. The KBB value on it is $3,000, but no one is going to buy a truck with a cutthrough. Plus, like I said, it was my first vehicle and I just couldn't get rid of it.

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

Yea I sadly ended up selling my first truck and totally regret it. Only got $1,600 for it and wouldn't gladly give em that much to get it back.

I would most certainly say get someone to drive it every once in a while. Not necessarily once a week maybe once a month but that would be the longest I would go between drives. Also make sure it gets driven, not just fired up. Put about a good 60 miles or so on it each time it gets out. This will get it up to temp for all fluids and get them all moving.

 

[KHARPS 10+ year member]

Are you moving that far away that you won't be home at all during the year, not even for holidays or anything? I'm sure if you plan on coming home a few times a year it will be fine just sitting there until you take it for a spin.

 

[bball09124 10+ year member]

Are you moving that far away that you won't be home at all during the year, not even for holidays or anything? I'm sure if you plan on coming home a few times a year it will be fine just sitting there until you take it for a spin.

6 hours away. My dad has a big truck right now, he doesn't really need it. I'm going to pitch the idea of him selling his truck and using my truck while I'm in college, hopefully he goes for it. My truck looks better, and gets better gas mileage.