Mustang storage - Wheel ramps

[longjonsilver]

Hello - does anyone have recommendations for tire ramps while storing your mustang for extended periods of time. I am looking at these race ramps 10 Inch Wide Flatstoppers Storage Ramp - 4 Pack | Race Ramps and wondering if anyone else uses these. I think I can get by with the 10" ones. Just curious to know what others are using.

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[RLE55]

Yup, got some last year, do as advertised. Easier than putting car up on QuickJack and taking off wheels, major PITA.

 

[roadpilot]

Install Steeda jacking rails.
Raise car.
Put on sturdy jackstands.

Jacking stands will be far more useful than $265 (14" ramps for my DH) ramps when not in storage, too.

 

[Farmer Fran]

I am in the jack stand camp for practicality, but the Race Ramps because my laziness is overwhelming. And if you got a nice day, you could just back out and go!

 

[Grabber1]

In another thread I read about a concern letting the suspension just hang there with the wheel and tire weight. I put a little extra air in each tire and have never had a problem.

 

[GripTime]

Hello - does anyone have recommendations for tire ramps while storing your mustang for extended periods of time. I am looking at these race ramps 10 Inch Wide Flatstoppers Storage Ramp - 4 Pack | Race Ramps and wondering if anyone else uses these. I think I can get by with the 10" ones. Just curious to know what others are using.

I use these exact same ramps. They have worked for me. My car can sit up to 12 weeks and I have no issue with these. Keeps the Trofeos perfect.

 

[Skye]

https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/threads/winter-storage-options.164018/#post-3316574

A similar thread I've contributed to with some additional comments on tires and resting.

 

[Alan Applegate]

I must be getting too old. I believe vehicles should be driven and properly maintained. Sure you can store vehicles for very long times just like museums do. However, once it sits for 2 or 3 months or longer, you just don't get in it, and speed away. All this makes me wonder how much extra maintenance will be required for all of those unsold 2022, 2023 and 2024 models which have sat for over a year rotting away?

 

[longjonsilver]

I use these exact same ramps. They have worked for me. My car can sit up to 12 weeks and I have no issue with these. Keeps the Trofeos perfect.

Do the 10" ramps work or did you go with the bigger 14" ones? I have a GT Premium convertible and from my measurements it looks like the 10" will work, but curious if they are tight.

 

[longjonsilver]

I must be getting too old. I believe vehicles should be driven and properly maintained. Sure you can store vehicles for very long times just like museums do. However, once it sits for 2 or 3 months or longer, you just don't get in it, and speed away. All this makes me wonder how much extra maintenance will be required for all of those unsold 2022, 2023 and 2024 models which have sat for over a year rotting away?

I wish I could drive mine year round, but I live in an area where it's not feasible to drive it in the winter months, so I have to park it. Spring can't come soon enough!!

 

[60thBrittany]

Hello - does anyone have recommendations for tire ramps while storing your mustang for extended periods of time. I am looking at these race ramps 10 Inch Wide Flatstoppers Storage Ramp - 4 Pack | Race Ramps and wondering if anyone else uses these. I think I can get by with the 10" ones. Just curious to know what others are using.

I just ordered these after reading the reviews. They offer a 15% discount at checkout with code “cyber15” and free shipping so total was $165.75 for the 10 inch. There was only Illinois tax added to that. Very good deal to me.

 

[WayneK]

I just put in 50# and move the car a little every month.

 

[Skye]

With this thread, I went out to several sites and boards to study what museums do, how they maintain their vehicles. These cars are rarely driven and spend most of their lives in storage. I'll discuss them in two broad groups.

With any of these vehicles, maintaining proper environmental conditions is critical. Most museums will keep their temperature and humidity levels to those of an actual museum. Or a paint booth.

In the first group, pre-war cars, from WW2, back. For those that might be on static display, for years at a time, they are drained of all fluids, the battery removed, the car then pushed into place. For recovery, re-fills and priming is accomplished before starting.

For pre-wars cars that are driven occasionally and all modern cars, every museum I studied has a dedicated operational check and maintenance routine. For example, before storage, all fluids are fresh, any outstanding maintenance complete. In some garages, a small amount of fuel will be kept in the tank, enough to keep the pump assembly wet. Stabil will be used. Racing fuel is sometimes used. For some locations, they have no choice: they have to drain all fuel.

At least once a year, the car will be wheeled-off and thoroughly inspected. The car will be started and driven to check everything. Engines will be brought up to their full operating temperature. For some, all fluids will be replaced before putting back in storage. For others, they'll maintain a manufacturer's schedule. Or something in-between.

For those cars with fuel in them, it's the fuel which is probably driving a lot of these timelines. Off-the-shelf Stabil can keep fuel for two years. Modern cars have prescribed oil changes often once a year, minimum. Brake fluid, every three, etc. IMO, keeping a regular supply of good fuel moving through everything is probably most important.

I thought for a time about things like seals. The condition of the seals will probably degrade at a slower rate, because of the museum-level environmental controls. They're going to wear out, museum or not. Most do feel moving the car has benefits with keeping these seals pliable; they move with the mechanicals and encounter heat cycles.

Tires. Flats spotters can be used. Moving the car once in a while can be done. I'm aware of some places that jack a wheel up, turn it a prescribed amount and lower the car. From previous threads, tires should be replaced every 5-6 years, no matter how well maintained.

Batteries. Some museums will put some cars on tenders. Others, often larger museums, will remove the battery.

Any damage? It's difficult to see that, if brought back on-line correctly. For a pre-war car, it can be much simpler. Most of us are familiar with removing the distributor, inserting a tool and spinning the oil pump. The engine can also be physically turned over, without firing. As to the moderns, many engines have an "flood engine start mode".

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/cold-flood-engine-start-mode-eg-mopar.133399/

With an electric fuel pump and the car in accessory mode, the engine could be flooded by moving the gas pedal. To clear that condition, the flood mode spins the engine, while arresting the ignition system. Many like to use this feature when changing oil, or coming out of storage.

I store my car for as much as five months a year. I disconnect the tender, deflate the tires and start the car. It starts as easily as I turned it off moments before. Regular oil analysis for these intervals shows no degradation in the oil or additional shedding of mechanical materials.

In all the examples above, including my own, the first drive is gentle. The objective is to confirm everything is working correctly. Future drives, use the car how you like.

You can imagine at some of these museums, every day something is getting wheeled off, checked, run, possibly all fluids drained and replaced. The vehicle has to be detailed (amount of which will vary) before being put back. It's pretty intense. And definitely not cheap.

YMMV.

 

[Alan Applegate]

Good read Skye. The main issue is that most folks who store their cars for several months, just don't go through the requisite maintenance routines. At least now, they know what should be done.

 

[msquad]

Also there is this...

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...ingEnabled=False&userMarket=AUS&buildtype=web

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