Show it or drive it

[rex]

Need your suggestion. Last year, i winter parked the truck.. Yes,I am happy wirh the show truck shine.. It always look good as new despite of the year( 2001). But, am i really doing justice on the truck? Am i really preserving it or just making mechanical problem in the future? Winter is here, drive it or park it? Suggestion appreciated... By the way, truck has only 40k kms

[johnnyspikesH3]

Sitting is never a good idea . Usally a death nail for a vehicle .Unless it is properly stored . I think you could run it 2 times a week and take it for 1- 2 km run and back . You would be golden . If you are wanting to put it in sleeping beauty mode . A few Mechanics on here can instruct you on the true way to do so . With your Rig you really don't want to take any short cuts . Good luck bro !

[rex]

Thanks.. What i did last year are the ff: fill up both tank ( well mixed with diesel performance additives), shut off the batteries, lift the whole truck using axle stand, spin the wheel atleast once per month(by hands while wheels are lifted from ground), park it in an insulated but not heated garrage, and never start the vehicle for the whole winter.. I don't know if these are enough already or the proper way of storing..

[Hesh]

Salt slush and chrome are mortal enemies, wrecking and pitting the finish of chrome, typically. I wouldnt advise running chrome rims in winter depending on where you live, but then again, I typically dont like chrome on hummers, so... run 'em till you wreck 'em? lol

[shotgun-cam]

use also a fuel stabalizer in mix in all tanks used to mothball motorbikes. found that even the best fuel can go south. Also either a tickle charger or Intelligent charger hooked to batteries atleast 1 time per month keeps batteries longer. best is to start truck and run it even on stands (not in gear) keeps all the seals happy. PS a heavy coat of good wax is always a good start. Rhino has 110000 kms as an 08 H3 and does shows and off road as an everyday driver. lots of wax on him

[nitrous]

I say drive it. I'm sure that is why you bought it after all. You don't need to drive it daily but I'm sure driving it would be more fun than just looking at it in the garage and turning the wheels by hand once in a while.

I really don't think the value would decrease if it was winter driven. I would however take those chrome rims off for the winter.

[Gadgets]

If you are not off-roading it ever, then I'd go with Johnnyspikes. not driving it not good, yes you can do all the right things to store it, but many seals etc need lubrication or they can dry out, running the engine and pumps and things to get oil and fuel flowing is always a good idea. So I'm with johnny couple times a week. I used to park a car for the winter, did it for 11 years, for the first 5 or 6 I had a lot of problems with seals and hoses letting go not long after bringing it out of storage. Then some old guy filled me, after that I took it around the block about once a week, rarely had problems after that. Today's fuel already contain a stabilizer so adding it doesn't do much unless storing for a very long time (which then the fuel should have been drained) just make sure the tank is full when parking it. Adding stabilizer won't hurt anything either, but is not totally necessary anymore.



That's my 50 cents! (yes I AM expensive) <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... feSpit.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':coffeespit:' />

[shotgun-cam]

another good idea is if heater and a/c installed to run each for a few minutes each month just to keep seals happy. ( Voyager van evaporator unit costs 1000 bucks to get to it cost more than 4 times that.)



NEVER DRAIN FUEL TANK FOR STORAGE!!!!!!!! This will promote rust in metal fuel tanks floats etc. If you do this atleast put methol hydrate in tank to gather moisture and prevent rust.

[rex]

Thanks for your input guys. I will drive it out tom for a good sunday ride.. Anyway, sombody told me bout i am just introducing water( through condensation) if i will fire the engine weekly or monthly.. The reason why i decided to park and not touch the vehicle last winter( oct-april) how bad really this is?.. I definitely agree of breaking the seals you guys mentioned if not driven..

[Sub]

im always storing my H1 till march 15th (when the salt gets washed away ) ,the sad news is that alluminum body rusts(oxydizes) and bubbles due to liquid and salt they trhrow on the roads...i am more concerned of resale value oppose the fun on winter roads...i also rustproof it with oil to make sure the metal is covered . if i had a 95 rig maybe , but newer models are still running good dollar and no need to show rust