Storing 4Runner for long period of time

[Clemsonfan15]

I'm about to head to CA for about six months. The 4Runner is not coming with me unfortunately, so I have to store it.

I need some help with how I should prepare it. It's going to be in a garage so it will be out of the weather for the most part.

The first thing I thought was to jack it up and put it on stands and just have my parents start it every now and then. Or I could leave it down and my parents would drive it about once a month. I thought that only driving it once a month might cause the tires to get flat spots though.

It will be washed before I leave and will have a tarp over it.

Anything else that I should do to keep it in good shape for several months till I get back?

Y'all think it's better to put it on jack stands and never drive it or to drive it roughly once a month?

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Forgot to add that the gas tank will be topped off. Might add some stabilizer too, if it's a good idea.

 

[Hepar]

I'd say it's definitely better if they drive it once a month. 6 months isn't too long. Disconnect the battery if it's going to be sitting a while.

 

[ajordan1975]

Add stabilizer to the tank. I doubt a radial tire will get a flat spot from sitting..... I could be wrong but I don’t think it will.
Driving it once a month should be enough. I just start mine about once every two weeks, let it run for about 20 min and shut it down. I’ve had my rig about 4 months and only put about 300 miles on it so far. It’s more of a crawler then a DD.

 

[dorton]

The tires will flat spot if sitting for six months with weight applied. Just disconnect the battery , add stabil, and set it on some jackstands.

 

[cfranck1]

If you parents can drive it about once a month, that the best thing for it.
Vehicles don't like to sit for any amount of time. I store my car for the winter here in CT and every spring I usually have to repair something..

On the second to last tank of gas put a bottle of Dry-gas and some stabilizer in the tank and run it down before you fill it to put it away. Then on the last tank dump some more stabilizer in the tank.

Some tires flat spot after a few days, some take a few weeks. Flat spots will happen with tires, after a few miles of driving the flat spots should be gone.

 

[RiFF RaFF]

I'm about to head to CA for about six months. The 4Runner is not coming with me unfortunately, so I have to store it.

I need some help with how I should prepare it. It's going to be in a garage so it will be out of the weather for the most part.

The first thing I thought was to jack it up and put it on stands and just have my parents start it every now and then. Or I could leave it down and my parents would drive it about once a month. I thought that only driving it once a month might cause the tires to get flat spots though.

It will be washed before I leave and will have a tarp over it.

Anything else that I should do to keep it in good shape for several months till I get back?

Y'all think it's better to put it on jack stands and never drive it or to drive it roughly once a month?

My 93 T4R was parked in my driveway for over a year after my accident. When I was healed enough to get back to her all I had to do was charge the battery, air up the tires a little, and she fired right up.

I did run a can of SeaFoam through on the very next fill-up just to be sure all the gunk/crud from sitting for so long was nice and flushed out. And no flat spots on the BFG A/T's.

With that said I would recommend adding a can of SeaFoam when you fill it for the last time, disconnect the battery, and you can put her on jack stands, or not. Shouldn't make a difference.

Something else I just thought of - make sure and put mouse/rat bait in the garage - especially if it's going to be parked there when the weather turns cold. Trust me - you don't want a mouse making it's home in your airbox. Mice also like to chew on wires.

:boink: